Light Justice NOW 2026!

Presented by designing lighting and Light Justice

An award that celebrates beneficial lighting design for underserved communities.

Light Justice NOW recognizes exceptional achievement in lighting design and implementation that positively benefits and measurably impacts the visual environment for an underserved, marginalized community and/or its occupants. The program, started in 2025, is collaboratively administered by designing lighting and Light Justice.

Beyond exhibiting lighting design creativity and quality, award-winning projects and initiatives demonstrate meaningful stakeholder engagement and responsiveness. The results exemplify and promote quality lighting investments for exterior and/or interior spaces that are typically overlooked and underfunded, such as public parks, public housing, schools, and community centers that serve historically under-resourced, underserved, and vulnerable communities.

SCHEDULE

  • 1 February 2026 - 15 March 2026: Application portal open for submissions

  • 1 - 30 April 2026: Judging 

  • 1 - 15 May 2026: Awardees notified

  • 13 - 15 August 2026: Awards presented at IES Annual Conference in Denver, CO, USA

Project Award

This is for a built lighting installation completed within the last three years. The project may be for exterior and/or interior lighting.

Submitted by a practicing lighting professional (lighting designer, sales representative, lighting contractors, or others).

The electronic submission to the Light Justice NOW application portal must include:

    • A .ppt file with at least 5 but no more than 10 images with short captions on the template provided by Light Justice NOW. Download template.

    • A .pdf file of the project narrative (and images), minimum 500 to maximum 1,000 words, addressing:

      • project objectives and challenges

      • methods for engaging stakeholders

      • strategies for optimizing visual comfort, daylighting, and views

      • tactics for handling budgetary and other constraints

      • techniques for addressing safety, security, affordability, and maintainability concerns

      • outcomes that demonstrate the achievement of project goals and community benefits.

Criteria and Submission Requirements

Initiative Award

This is for a lighting improvement program or initiative begun within the last three years.

Submitted by a practicing lighting professional, community organizer, or governmental agency.

The electronic submission to the Light Justice NOW application portal must include a .pdf file of the project narrative, minimum 500 to maximum 1,000 words, addressing:

    • program objectives and challenges; 

    • methods for engaging stakeholders; 

    • tactics for handling budgetary and other constraints; 

    • techniques for addressing safety, security, affordability, and maintainability concerns; 

    • outcomes that demonstrate the achievement of project goals and community benefits.

Judging Criteria

The judging committee will consist of 5 experienced, qualified judges selected by the program administrators. The committee will include at least one Light Justice advocate and at least one previous Light Justice NOW award winner.

Submissions will be judged for:

    1. Clarity of the project narrative and graphics to communicate intent, methods, and outcomes.

    2. Evidence of stakeholder engagement and involvement in the lighting design process. 

    3. Explanation of project challenges and constraints successfully addressed by the lighting approach and results.

    4. Demonstration of investment in visual comfort, lighting quality, maintainability, access to daylight and views, prioritization of back-of-house spaces, and other aspects that improve the visual experience for under-served, under-resourced communities.

    5. Strength of stakeholder testimonials, community bulletins, local media articles, or other success indicators.

    6. Bonus consideration for:

      1. Using Light Justice strategies of engagement, education, empowerment, and deployment; 

      2. Boosting community economic value; 

      3. Deploying a marketing strategy (placard, website, etc.) for the community to showcase this lighting project as civic pride and placemaking, with the community participating in the design process.

Submit for Light Justice NOW 2026

Upload PPT and PDF documents using this form.

Contact ljnow@lightjustice.org with questions.