process:
Halper Lighting Solutions has built long-term relationships with numerous craftsmen, manufacturers, and materials vendors at the local, national and international levels. These companies have come to expect open communications and honesty whenever they partner with HLS. They appreciate the innovation and attention to detail they receive throughout the process, including budgets, designs, specifications, UL testing and on-site management. HLS has close ties, and stays on top, of current trends in the lighting industry.
Bob Halper’s expertise is best utilized when brought in at the outset of a project, where he provides a seamless transition from initial concept to fixture design. Bob liaises between the engineers, architects, clients, and designers, providing valuable support in all aspects of lighting design, development, procurement, and/or production. His expansive knowledge of all things lighting enables him to advise throughout the entire process, from addressing manufacturing necessities, to assessing control systems, or assisting in decisions about aesthetics. Bob’s LC Certification combined with his theatrical lighting background help him to create a lighting solution that’s practical, functional, and beautiful.
Bob brings his passion and knowledge for exceptional lighting solutions to each client. Bob makes it his job to accommodate the needs of each player, while exceeding the expectations of the client.
General Process:
Design Consultation
Bob will provide an initial consultation to understand the space that the lighting is going in and what general design and effect is desired free-of-charge. After a scope of work has been determined and fee schedules discussed, he will meet with engineers, electricians, designers and/or architects to understand the technical requirements of the project. Once he has a comprehensive view of the entire scheme, from the needs of the client to the industrial specifications, Bob can begin to develop a sense of how to breathe life into the project. Based on the concept, Bob will either specify ready-made lighting products or will custom design lighting fixtures.
It’s beneficial to all parties involved to bring Bob in at the beginning of a project. He understands the nuances and needs of each project – aesthetics, design, development, and technical issues. As a project unfolds, there may be challenges or complications, but because of Bob’s proficiency, he navigates around these and finds innovative solutions easily. Bob will always find a way to make it happen.
Depending when Bob is brought in during the process will determine the role he can take when designing and procuring lighting. Bob can create drawings, source components, or custom design an original fixture for clients. An excellent project manager, Bob will oversee plan design and development, product specification sheets, custom product detailing, the competitive bid process, and completed lighting package procurement.
Mock-Up Prototype
An important early conversation in all custom fixture design is the process by which the fixtures will be realized. Normally, this begins with thumbnail sketches. Rough hand drawings, and simple CAD renderings. When the basic design criteria has been determined, it is necessary to make the decision as to which “models” will actually be produced. These models are identified by HLS as either “Mock-up,” “Prototype 1,” and “Prototype 2.”
Mock-Up: In a mock-up, dimensions and overall functionality are at a crude stage, usually made of the minimal materials necessary to demonstrate scale, proportion, light output and other conditions. As the most reasonably priced starting point, this process helps determine whether or not a design fulfills the larger conceptual vision of the project, and provides practical information to sub-vendors (metal shops, acrylic and glass vendors, etc.) that will help them provide accurate quotations to HLS.
Prototype 1: The prototype 1 is a full scale, functioning model of the fixture in all capacities, save the production level fabrication. For example, mechanical attachments may be substituted for welds, stock acrylic may be used in place of specialty acrylics, and various lamp and reflector options may be used to simulate different effects. This process is extremely valuable in its ability to define the fixture down to its most minute detail. Fixtures in this category are used as the basis for acquiring UL certification, and when necessary, photometric calculations.
Prototype 2: The prototype 2 is a completed, fully functional production line fixture, UL compliant, and ready for installation.
While the above process is obviously linear, it is sometimes preferable to skip or double back on certain steps: reconsidering mock-up characteristics, or reviewing prototype 1 manufacturing details. When completed, the final fixture can be assured of having gone through a rigorous and highly detailed review.
:::::: peak under the hood (more photos) ::::::
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