Undergraduate Research Accomplishments Accomplishments: 2023 Designers Lighting Forum Scholarship for Interior Design Major

Established in 1968, the Designers Lighting Forum of New England (DLF-NE) is a non-profit organization dedicated to lighting education in an informal setting. The organization informs the Design Community about the newest lighting technologies and cutting-edge lighting applications through professionally-led seminars and site visits to actual installations. As one of the most diverse organizations in the Northeast, they offer research and networking opportunities with other lighting designers, architects, interior designers, engineers, consultants, manufacturers representatives, educators, students, and anyone with an interest in or love for lighting. Morgan Palm, an Interior Design major at UMass Dartmouth's College of Visual and Performing Arts was the recipient of the organization's prestigious and generous annual scholarship in the research and the scholarship of "Lighting."  Morgan Palm believes that lighting is a commonly overlooked part of everyday life that needs more attention. She writes, "As artists and designers, we are taught to look at lighting differently and learn to appreciate all the details and nuances that it brings. One aspect of lighting is exposure, something that most people do not have cross their minds. Exposure in the simplest terms means being exposed to something. In the art/design world exposure can mean a few things; exposure to the elements, or light exposure to name a few." Morgan believes that just as a photographer can play with the lighting aspects of their photo, an interior designer can do this with the room they are designing. She adds, "The lighting exposure can change the way a room feels. For example, taking a 'creepy' dimly lit basement with tons of corners casted over by shadows and then adding light that grazes over the space the basement becomes less haunting....The exposure to light can also change the color of the makeup that the individual is using. This same concept can be presented to the elements in the room. The lighting can affect the color of the paint. The same paint that is on wall that is also on a ceiling can look like two different colors because of the exposure to the lighting. In some interior spaces high light exposure is wanted or needed while in others a cozier or less exposed light is better suited. For instance, a theater or an intimate dinner in a restaurant would want more of a darker moodier lit area. This calls for less light exposure....Knowing what a room is used for will help a designer know what type of lighting to use and the exposure of the light that is needed." Morgan presented her scholarship and research on lighting at the DLF-NE Annual Scholarship Event and won first place in that competition. With the generous award fund, Morgan hopes to advance her research on bettering interior design through lighting.