Gender and the Architectural Lighting Design Team; A Study into the Real and Perceived

Abstract: Studies suggest that diversity is advantageous to group work. As lighting design teams become increasingly diverse, there is an increased opportunity for innovation as well as miscommunication. In an effort to improve communication and inter-team empathy, this master’s thesis explores the implications of gender on the architectural lighting design collaborative team.  Based on previous research, a survey was conducted of architectural lighting designers of any gender located in the US. This thesis concludes that a gap exists in the gendered perceptions among colleagues in a lighting design environment. In addition, it cannot be assumed that tendencies seen in the general public are representative of architectural lighting designers. This research culminates in the conclusion that increased diversity within teams strengthens and supports design problem solving, in line with previous work done on this topic.