Earlier this spring, on May 22, 2017, the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD), headquartered in Chicago, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Light Association (ILA). The agreement entails “planned cooperation and information exchange between the two organizations.” The agreement was signed by IALD CEO Marsha L. Turner and ILA president Anadi Martel.
The MoU is the latest cooperation agreement the IALD has signed with various lighting-related organizations, such as manufacturer associations, professional lighting associations, and scientific societies, over the past several years as the IALD seeks to fulfill its mission as an association and broaden the awareness of lighting design and lighting designers.
The International Light Association (ILA) was founded in Belgium at the 2003 Light Medicine Conference, and is made up of a diverse constituency. The association describes itself as, “…a uniquely collaborative group of light and color therapy practitioners, health professionals, scientists, educators, product manufacturers, artists, architects, interior designers, and philosophers who are passionate about learning and applying the latest theories, techniques and technologies regarding how light and color can promote health, enhance performance and learning and raise consciousness. Our mission is to share and disseminate information, educate, initiate and promote research, and create an open-hearted, broad-minded and integrative community in the field of light and color.”
The IALD has signed MoUs with the following groups over the past seven years:
Global Lighting Association – Signed on April 28, 2016
Institution of Lighting Professionals (ILP) – Signed January 2011
Commission Internationale de L’Eclairage (CIE) (The International Commission on Illumination) – Signed April 14, 2013
U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) – signed September 2013
