BOONE—Students, faculty and the general public are invited to kick off “Power of Design 16” by attending a reception and panel discussion at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 6 in the Valborg Theatre at Appalachian State University.

Admission is free, and participants will meet and mingle with national lighting experts while learning more about light as a visual design element.

Moderated by Cindy Limauro, a professor of lighting at Carnegie Mellon University, the panel discussion is titled “Sustaining a Bright Future: The Beauty of LEDs,” and it will feature six industry experts from across the country.

Panelists include:

Moderator Cindy Limauro, who designs for theatre, opera, dance and architecture as design partner in C & C Lighting in addition to her teaching role at Carnegie Mellon. She was a fellow of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology for Outstanding Contribution to the Theatre, and she has received the Henry van de Velde Award for Architectural Education for her support of interdisciplinary design education. In addition to exhibiting internationally, her work has been featured in “Mondo Arc” magazine.

Christopher Popowich, a theatrical and architectural lighting designer whose work has been seen across Canada, the U.K ., Asia, Europe and the United States. As a design partner in C & C Lighting with Cindy Limauro, their projects include the Gulf Tower in Pittsburgh, the award-winning Hunt Library and the Randy Pausch Memorial Bridge at Carnegie Mellon University.

Andrea Hartranft, LC, IALD, of Hartranft Lighting Design, LLC. She has 30 years of extensive design and project management experience in lighting and control systems for commercial, institutional and industrial projects. She holds a degree in architectural engineering from The Pennsylvania State University and has received international lighting design awards from the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) and the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES).

Kristin Keilt, an industrial designer and fine artist by training who is now a design lead at Lowe’s. Keilt has earned numerous design awards and takes special interest in the convergence of technology and the arts, as well as the ways in which design and lighting promote the well-being of people in their environments and everyday interactions. Her work has been published in several trade magazines and design books.

Harvey Henry, a lighting consultant and manufacturer’s representative with Bodwell Associates in Charlotte. He has a background in commercial architecture and lighting design. He has been involved with projects such as residential, healthcare, office, hospitality, restaurant and religious lighting designs and has won numerous international lighting design awards.

Brian Bookwalter, an assistant professor in the Commercial Photography program at Appalachian State University who has owned and operated Bookwalter Photography LLC since 2002. He specializes in architectural, editorial and commercial photography, and he has had more than 2000 of his images published in regional, national and international magazines, including 120 cover photos.

“Power of Design 16” continues Oct. 7 with several student workshops presented by Limauro and Popowich throughout the day. Community members are invited back to campus the evening of Oct. 7 to observe students as they put their knowledge into practice and light up the façade of Plemmons Student Union 7 p.m. – 11 p.m.

“We’re thrilled to have Cindy and Christopher lead ‘Power of Design 16,’” said Jeanne Mercer-Ballard, an associate professor of interior design in Appalachian’s Department of Applied Design. “Students across campus can benefit by attending the workshops, and the community will see a spectacular show as students transform the mall with light on Friday night (Oct. 7).”

Students must pre-register to attend all workshops. For more information, or to register, contact Mercer-Ballard at 828-262-7832 or [email protected].

About the “Power of Design”

“Power of Design” is an annual event that brings together students, faculty and members of the professional community in disciplines such as interior design, graphic design, industrial design, architectural design, theater design and photography. This year’s event is sponsored by The Nuckolls Fund for Lighting Education, the College of Fine and Applied Arts, the Department of Applied Design, the Department of Art, the Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment, the Department of Theatre and Dance, and the Design Council.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

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