Designooor Lighting Media proudly presents a global celebration for the International Day of Light on May 16th, 2025.
Join us live on our official YouTube channel at 9:00 PM Dubai time for an evening dedicated to exploring the transformative power of light and its profound impact on our world. This year’s theme, “Light, Innovation, and Society,” shines a spotlight on how light-based technologies continue to shape our communities, industries, and the ways we live, connect, and evolve.
The International Day of Light is more than just a symbolic occasion, it is a globally recognized initiative established by UNESCO to acknowledge the essential role light plays in science, culture, art, education, and sustainable development. Held annually on May 16th, this day commemorates the anniversary of the first successful operation of the laser in 1960 by physicist Theodore Maiman. Through this celebration, UNESCO aims to raise awareness of how light science and its applications can help achieve critical goals in areas such as healthcare, energy, agriculture, communications, and climate action. The International Day of Light brings together a diverse network of institutions, researchers, artists, designers, and innovators who all recognize that access to light, in its many forms, is fundamental to human progress.
Don’t miss out, subscribe to Designooor’s YouTube channel and join us live on May 16th.
This year’s virtual panel, hosted by Designooor Lighting Media, will feature an exceptional lineup of speakers who represent the forefront of lighting design, architecture, education, and editorial leadership. These individuals have been shaping the discourse around light through their practice, thought leadership, and global contributions. The event offers an opportunity not only to hear from experts but to reflect collectively on how lighting innovation intersects with societal development.
Meet the speakers:
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Nima Bavardi, Founder & CEO | Designooor
Nima Bavardi is an award-winning lighting designer and the Founder & CEO of Designooor, a forward-thinking lighting media platform that connects global design talent with innovation in light. With a distinctive design philosophy that fuses form, function, and emotion, Nima has earned international recognition across product design, lighting, and visual storytelling. At the helm of Designooor, he has cultivated a creative ecosystem that amplifies the voices of designers and pioneers new dialogues in the lighting industry. His leadership continues to position Designooor as a key cultural force in redefining how light interacts with design and society.
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Sabine De Schutter, Founder & Director | Studio De Schutter
Sabine De Schutter is the Founder and Director of Studio De Schutter, a Berlin-based lighting design firm focused on human-centric and sustainable lighting solutions. With a background in architectural lighting and interior design, she brings a poetic yet practical approach to urban, cultural, and hospitality projects. Sabine is also a passionate educator and speaker, advocating for emotional and inclusive lighting in public spaces.
- Yah Li Toh, Founder & Principal | Light Collab
Light Collab is a lighting design practice specialising in the art of using light to enhance the visual environment and experience. Based in Singapore and Japan, we engage in a wide range of projects and are keenly committed to highlight the importance of using light to create qualitative perception. Through our discipline, we hope to make a difference to the luminous environment in Singapore and worldwide.
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Martin Klaasen, Managing Partner | Nulty + iVLD
Martin Klaasen is a globally recognized lighting designer and the Managing Partner at Nulty+ iVLD, with a career spanning over three decades. Known for his thought leadership and sustainable design philosophy, he has contributed to award-winning projects across Asia, the Middle East, and beyond.
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Randy Reid, Publisher & Editor | Edison Report
Randy Reid is the Publisher and Editor of EdisonReport, a leading platform for news and insights in the lighting industry. With decades of experience, he is a respected voice in lighting journalism and actively promotes innovation, education, and sustainability in the field.
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Sunnia Cheng, Design Director | Licht Vision
Sunnia Cheng is a Taiwan-born lighting designer with over 15 years of experience across Asia, India, and the Middle East, now leading the Asia Pacific team at Lichtvision Design in Germany.
Her work blends storytelling, empathy, and a deep understanding of human experience in space, marked by thoughtful leadership and cross-cultural insight.
She is currently exploring innovative, integrative lighting approaches that connect people and create meaning across boundaries.
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Heba Hani, Associate | The Lighting Institute
Heba Hani is a multi-disciplinary lighting professional with 12 years of experience, rooted in a background in interior design. Based in Dubai, she blends marketing, design, and storytelling to spotlight the power of light. She’s known for her high-energy talks, guest lectures at AUD, and for turning every conversation about lighting into something unexpectedly inspiring. For her, light isn’t just seen—it’s felt.
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Faraz Izhar, Lead Designer | AE7
Faraz Izhar is a seasoned Architectural Lighting Designer with over 20 years of experience, currently leading projects at AE7 in Dubai across hospitality, cultural, and urban sectors.
Renowned for his innovative, sustainable, and human-centric lighting solutions, his work has earned multiple regional and international awards. Faraz is a thought leader exploring the intersection of Generative AI and lighting design, actively shaping the future of the field through global collaborations, education, and advocacy.
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Malak Adel, Managing Director | The Lighting Institute
Malak Adel is the Managing Director of The Lighting Institute, the first professional lighting education hub in the MENA region, offering masterclasses and hands-on training.
A Certified DIALux Evo Trainer with over 16 years of industry experience, he has contributed to iconic, award-winning projects across the Middle East and Europe.
Driven by a passion for lighting’s transformative power, Malak is committed to sharing knowledge and advancing the role of lighting in architecture and urban design.
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Momena Saleem, Designer & Ambassador | Women in Lighting Pakistan
Momena Saleem is an award-winning lighting designer, educator, and public speaker, recognized as a pioneer in Pakistan’s architectural lighting scene with projects across Asia and Europe.
She holds a master’s in Lighting Design from Politecnico di Milano and has earned international accolades including the 40under40 and Silhouette Award.
As Pakistan’s Women in Lighting Ambassador, she champions inclusion and shares her cross-cultural design journey through global platforms like ARC magazine.
Whether you’re a design professional, student, researcher, or simply passionate about the role light plays in our world, this event promises meaningful insights, inspiring ideas, and a celebration of the shared human experience through light.
Don’t miss out, subscribe to Designooor’s YouTube channel and join us live on May 16th.
