Now, physically based renderers allow designers to work in virtual spaces, showing real-time lighting effects in high-fidelity simulations. Does this virtual world-making replace the need for language and drawing notations? These tools no doubt offer unparalleled qualitative assessment and clarity of communication, as well as capabilities that extend human senses, or collapse time and space.

This course situates current and rapidly developing digital visualization tools within a larger arc of discourse under the framework of Modeling Light. Part historical narrative, part technical exposé, this course will ground students in today’s avant-garde lighting design practices, project near-future opportunities (including promises and challenges of artificial intelligence and the metaverse). Lectures and discussions will be augmented with project-based activities employing a range of modeling techniques: physical, notational, mathematical, digital, and generative. Modeling Light seeks to provide students with a solid foundation in the language of light, and facility in contemporary tools for operating in real time with lighting simulation. While there are no explicit prerequisites, a solid foundation in digital modeling tools will be advised, as well as any experience working with light or lighting. Specific digital tools will include Climate Studio in Rhino, and 3ds Max.