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Last updated: 8 January 2025
How to become a lighting designer
Lighting design for homes is potentially a rewarding and lucrative career. In recent years, lighting designers have been in increasingly high demand. This is true for both the domestic and commercial sectors. Want to know more?
Why become a lighting designer?
Becoming a lighting designer can be an excellent career choice. Lighting designers are highly skilled and respected professionals. They work on a wide variety of projects and are constantly in demand across the country.
For example, in 2024, there were over 11,000 job searches for light design on the Checkatrade website.* Sound like a niche profession to investigate?
As a lighting designer, you’ll never be bored as the huge scope that falls under lighting design work is enough to keep you busy and learning new skills for your entire career.
What does a lighting designer do?
One of the most attractive things about becoming a lighting designer is the variety of work you’ll do. As a rough overview, lighting designers can:
Design lighting installations
Plan how they fit and how they will work
Install systems and lighting units
Maintain lighting systems and fittings
Repair lighting and associated electrical systems
Integrate lighting with home automation
They may work in residential, commercial, or industrial settings. They may also work closely with interior designers, engineers, and architects.
As an alternative career path, rather than working as a tradesperson, some lighting designers will work for large entertainment companies, designing and installing much larger lighting rigs for events and venues.
As a lighting designer, you will need to adhere to strict safety regulations and you may also need to work to tight schedules, particularly in the commercial sector.
How to become a certified lighting designer
As mentioned above, lighting designers are highly skilled professionals. With this in mind, becoming a certified lighting designer, will take a lot of time and dedication.
Lighting designers are often educated to degree level. They may have studied for a bachelor’s degree in:
Electrical engineering
Architecture
Interior design
Alternatively, some lighting designers may study for a National Higher Diploma in lighting design or a related subject.
Another way to get into lighting design is to enrol on an apprenticeship scheme. This way you can learn ‘on the job’ while attending a local college to study the theoretical side of lighting design.
Become a lighting designer with Checkatrade
Find more work in your local area as a member
Lighting designer courses
If you’re seriously considering becoming a lighting designer, you’ll want to enrol on a lighting design course. There are lots of course available that will give you the relevant skills and experience to become a lighting designer.
As an example, CIBSE (the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers) in collaboration with the Society of Light and Learning (SLL) offer a dedicated course on lighting design.
The CIBSE run a wide variety of course at different levels. They are an industry recognised organisation, and their qualifications are respected across the construction industry.
Official trade qualifications in the UK
Now is a great time to be a tradesperson in the UK. Because becoming a qualified tradesperson has never been more accessible. Getting official trade qualifications sets you up with the right skills to do the job well. Plus, it shows potential customers that you’re dedicated to your trade. Types of
How to gain lighting design experience
Once you’ve qualified as a lighting designer, you’ll want to begin work and start earning as soon as possible. Whether that is from a background in design or electrical work, lighting design work can be found all over the country.
Wherever you live, you should be able to get some vital experience to grow your skills. There are a number of places you could try:
Looking for any vacancies they may have is a great place to start
Contacting local property management companies
Try searching through online databases
Looking on job sites for local vacancies in the lighting design industry
Speak to electrical businesses about their side hustles (such as lighting design)
In the meantime, if you're already a skilled electrician looking to upskill, you could try out your lighting design skills at home. This is a great way to hone your talent. Testing out your skills means you’re confident when you start your first paid lighting design project.
If you’d prefer to go it alone and set up your own lighting design business, have a read of our guide on how to start a lighting design business as this will give you an idea of what you’ll need to do.
Checkatrade members get more for their money
Our members save ££££s every year on business essentials
Become a lighting designer with help from Checkatrade
One of the best ways to gain more lighting design work and save on business essentials is by becoming a Checkatrade member.
Our members get access to a range of exclusive benefits including:
Discounts on tools, equipment, materials, and workwear
Branded marketing materials to help grow your business
More leads that convert into paying customers
A trusted reputation with the Checkatrade tick
An online profile where you can promote your building skills
Use of the dedicated Checkatrade trades app for better job management
Plus, we'll even guarantee the quality of your work (of course T&Cs apply)
Join Checkatrade today by starting our verification process now!
Is a Checkatrade membership worth it?
One way to figure out whether the cost of something is worth it is to look at ROI (Return on Investment). In its most basic sense, this is how much something costs compared with the income it generates. Working out the ROI of a Checkatrade membership is definitely a must-do for any trade business
FAQs
What qualifications do I need to be a lighting designer?
As mentioned above, many lighting designers are qualified to degree level in a relevant subject such as electrical engineering or architecture.
A good knowledge or qualifications in maths or physics will also help you with the technical side of lighting design.
Although you don’t need a degree to become a lighting designer, the more qualified you are, the more chance you’ll get at winning the best work.
How long does it take to become a lighting designer?
If you study for a relevant bachelor’s degree, you’ll be qualified as a lighting designer in three to four years.
What is a lighting designer’s average salary?
In the UK, the average salary for an entry level lighting designer is £25,225.00 per year.
This can increase to upwards of £34,700.00 per year for experienced lighting designers.
For business owners and lighting designers with a niche specialism such as lighting for music festivals or events, salaries can be far higher.
Are lighting designers in demand?
Yes. Lighting designers are in high demand in all sorts of areas form residential lighting design to commercial lighting and event lighting management and installation.
Lighting design is also a great career if you want to travel. If you choose to go into event lighting, for example, you may get the opportunity to work in different countries across the world.
If you’d prefer to stay more locally, lighting designers are becoming more popular with homeowners wanting to create bespoke ambient lighting in their homes.
Checkatrade members get more for their money
Our members save ££££s every year on business essentials
* Internal search data for users of the Checkatrade.com website in 2024
