ALA, NeoCon and brands highlight design trends and business opportunities | Lighting Report
The American Lighting Association said it concluded its annual conference held earlier this month in Louisville, Ky., with a clear mandate from members to accelerate innovation, expand advocacy and deliver measurable business value.
Post‑conference surveys revealed that 92% of attendees left with actionable ideas to strengthen their businesses, and 88% rated networking opportunities as “excellent” or “very good,” according to the ALA.
ALA President & CEO Jon Melchi outlined the association’s strategic priorities, emphasizing Advocacy and Industry Relations, Education, Business Intelligence and Connections. He was joined by Government Affairs Consultant Palmer Schoening, who provided a targeted briefing on legislative and regulatory developments, reinforcing ALA’s commitment to ensuring members’ interests are represented in Washington, D.C., Ottawa, and state capitols.
A ceiling fan technical update session was “packed,” the ALA said. It previewed the upcoming launch of ALA’s new ceiling fan training manual, a resource designed to elevate technical proficiency and customer service.
Survey respondents also said they enjoyed the Women in Lighting (WIL) program that highlighted leadership journeys from Cathy Choi, Martha Graham, Laurie Gross, and Maria Mullen; 85% of respondents said the session inspired them to pursue new leadership or mentorship opportunities.
Next year’s conference will be held Sept. 27-29 at the Westin La Paloma in Tucson, Ariz.
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NeoCon, Chicago’s show for commercial interiors, is launching a lighting exhibit for the built environment next year. Debuting June 8-10 at The Mart, Illuminate at NeoCon is a new show-within-a-show dedicated to architectural, technical and decorative lighting.
The Mart’s 7th floor exhibit hall will be redesigned to accommodate premiere and emerging lighting brands, interactive vignettes and immersive installations, educational programming, design collaborations and special events.
Illuminate exhibitors will benefit from all NeoCon exhibitor assets, including opportunities to participate in NeoCon’s sponsorships, programming and the Best of NeoCon awards, with new and expanded categories for lighting, show organizers said.
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Clayton Home Building Group, an attainable home builder, has partnered with Visual Comfort to provide interior and exterior lighting for Clayton’s manufactured homes.
The two companies have worked together previously on Clayton’s site-built homes.
“Working with Clayton over the years has been an incredibly rewarding experience,” said Michael Incardone, vice president – builder at Visual Comfort. “Their commitment to quality, innovation and people-first culture aligns perfectly with our own values at Visual Comfort. Expanding our partnership with them represents not only a major milestone for our business, but also a deeply personal achievement for me. I’m proud of what we’ve built together and excited for what’s ahead.”
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Arteriors just launched its Fall 2025 collection, which it said includes groundbreaking sustainable materials, award-winning designs, and an expanded collaboration with celebrated design firm Workshop/APD. For the first time, it is incorporating coconut shells into its lighting designs, repurposing waste materials into luxury fixtures. The collection also includes an extensive mirror collection, which Arteriors is positioning as an alternative to traditional art investments and as “impactful focal points at accessible price points.”
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Hudson Valley Lighting Group will exhibit for the first time at Decorex International in London next month. HVLG will feature its brands — Hudson Valley Lighting, Mitzi, Troy Lighting, and Corbett Lighting — in stand H42. It will highlight its collaborations with Ariel Okin, Mark D. Sikes and Tali Roth to UK designers. The show takes place Oct. 12-15.
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Acclaim Lighting said it is refreshing its brand and its mission to focus on cutting-edge technology and sophisticated design. It has revamped its website to highlight real-world project applications and showcases how designers use Acclaim’s products, and rolled out a new visual identity to support this renewed mission. Its new visual identity “reflects the rhythm and fluidity of light as it moves an intersects with its surroundings,” the company said.
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