Designing shadows
Light Bite

Light has so many good connotations. When we get a great idea, we "see the light". When we achieve deep understanding, we are "enlightened". But the art of lighting is much more than simply introducing a light source into a dark space. Enabling thoughtful lighting design, Philips enhances the power of light by balancing it with its eternal counterpart: shadow.

Light and shadow are like yin and yang. To achieve harmony, you need both. In his essay In Praise of Shadows, Japanese author Juni'chirō Tanizaki wrote: "were it not for shadows, there would be no beauty".With the evolution of LED technology, shadows are no longer simply a side effect of lighting. We can now design shadows to meet our needs and lift our mood.

An example is the new range of Philips Metronomis street lighting, which can project a variety of patterns onto the surface below. This gives designers greater freedom to choreograph shadows as decorative elements - a valuable addition to the designer's toolbox, helping to bring out pattern and texture and creating a richer overall lighting experience.