Lighting Education Resource Network

World Class Education for Lighting Designers

Launched in 2025, the Lighting Education Resource Network (LERN) is an essential program connecting manufacturers and IALD lighting designer members. A panel of IALD members curates and reviews educational content created by manufacturer partners, researchers and academics, and industry leaders to ensure the excellence of that content and provide it to membership with the credibility of the IALD's endorsement.

Educational materials provided in-person and online are used to serve continuous professional development opportunities to IALD members as a part of their membership benefits. Non-IALD members will be able to access the same content for a fee.

Digital Content Delivery, Interaction, and Record

LERN connects you with quality online learning resources wherever you are, whenever you need them. It provides access to a range of curated content you can engage with, pause, and return to later. The platform adds completed courses to your online member profile to maintain permanent record of your learning history.

In-Person Content Presentation

Within the LERN structure, lighting design instructors and content partner providers can offer in-person training and education. An independent review panel of IALD professionals evaluates and approves all presentation and seminar content, bringing high-quality learning opportunities directly to the lighting design community.

Testimonials

Designers

“As the lighting profession grows and research develops, lighting designers need continued access to quality education to stay up to date. LERN provides this through peer reviewed content anywhere in the world allowing an exchange of ideas that transcends borders.”
- Julia Hartmann, IALD, CLD | Founder, Principal, and Creative Director @ Lightsphere

“The lighting industry is constantly evolving, and as a specifier it can be difficult to stay on top of quickly changing technology, codes, products, and market conditions. Having access to an organized lighting industry specific continuing education platform is a wonderful tool that both I and my team will fully engage with and benefit from."
- Rachel Fitzgerald, IALD, CLD, LC, IES, LEED AP BD+C | Principal and Discipline Lead, Lighting @ Stantec

“As a Certified Lighting Designer, the IALD LERN program will help satisfy the required Continuing Learning Units (CLU’s) and is so essential for our continued professional development!”
- Rosemarie L. Allaire, FIALD, CLD, MIES, ILLI, AIA Allied Member | Founder @ Rosemarie Allaire Lighting Design

“The availability of quality continuing education content for IALD members will serve as a great resource library and reinforce the core mission of the IALD.”
- Jered E. Widmer, IALD | Principal @ The Lighting Practice

Manufacturers

"Technology is evolving rapidly. iGuzzini is committed to share knowledge and state of the art knowhow with Designers to support the creation of innovative and futureproof lighting solutions. IALD LERN is the perfect platform for this purpose."
- Peter Roos | Product & Project Solutions Director @ iGuzzini illuminazione srl

“The Zumtobel Group is committed to sharing knowledge, new ideas and different perspectives and to enable everyone to achieve the best possible performance in their daily work.  Continous learning feeds the mind and the soul…without learning we are going nowhere.”
- Graham Whittaker | Director, Lighting Applications & Sales, New York City & New Jersey @ Zumtobel Lighting Ltd.