Experiential Landscape Lighting Initiative (ELLI)

ELLI Live Training: 'Designer Workshop 1' As part of our growing educational program, ELLI is offering 2 'live training' events this year open to anyone interested in attending. This workshop is good for all landscape lighting practitioners--beginner to advanced levels. We will cover design content that will improve your proficiencies as a landscape lighting designer. This training will be conducted over 3 days & nights in Sacramento, CA, from 6/16/2025 - 6/18/2025 of this summer, and is limited to a maximum of 10 attendees. Also, it is to your advantage to be a member of ELLI--you'll save money by our member discounts. Our registration and sign-up will begin on 3/19/2025. This small group gathering is meant to ensure a solid educational experience. More information will be provided soon.

ELLI's Mentor Studies One of the best benefits of being a 'Premium' level member of ELLI is having access to our Mentor program. Each month, we provide insights from our highly seasoned Mentor team, whether in the form of a case-study review, an insightful topical discussion, or a group design study. ELLI is the only program to offer this type of educational experience. Our Mentor team includes: Mike Gambino (Gambino Landscape Lighting), Kyle McKelvy (Oregon Outdoor Lighting), George Winterling (Winterling Lighting Design), Steve Schafer (Milow Outdoors), Chris Mitchell (NiteLiters, Inc.), and Mark Carlson (Avalon Lighting Design). Each of these professionals is an artist within the landscape lighting art form. If you are not yet a member, then you are missing out on these exceptional learning opportunities. Sign-up now: https://lnkd.in/gwEFhEVU

Revised ELLI Membership Program--2025 We realize that this is another change, but it is necessary to implement a greater benefit to our program offerings--this was not discussed in the earlier release. ELLI has a goal of improving our processes as well as concentrating our efforts on those who are dedicated to learning. Unfortunately, ELLI operates by a small team, which limits our ability to serve all member types equally. With that said, we must keep our focus on those who are committed to learning. Please see these updates on the attached flyer. Thank you.

Notice: ELLI has Updated its Membership This next week, we will share more detailed information about ELLI Membership in 2025. You can see this information now on our Membership page of the website: https://lnkd.in/gwEFhEVU All membership levels are based on one's activity and commitment to learning. If you cannot commit to a routine learning schedule and only wish to be a part of our organization, then our 'Foundational' membership is for you. For those more seriously wishing to advance themselves, our 'Premium' membership is your choice. This gives you full access to our programs, and it allows you to be in a position to be "selected" for our 'Exclusive' membership program. The primary reason for joining ELLI is that we are the only organization dedicated 100% to design and design advancement. Design knowledge has been at a standstill since the 80s and in our opinion, it needs to be placed at an equal priority as installation, sales, and technology. ELLI provides that difference...check us out. For more questions, contact Mark at [email protected].

Tuesday's Mentor Studies--Guest Designer, Kyle McKelvy! Kyle is the owner and principal landscape lighting designer at Oregon Outdoor Lighting. I've been a huge fan of his since 2019 and his company does excellent work. ELLI members have access to be part of this webinar, as it's part of our Mentor Group Studies. We'll discuss Kyle's background, company, and how he specifically approaches design. It's a great opportunity to meet Kyle and to ask questions. But, you must be a member of ELLI. For more information or to sign-up, please contact me at: [email protected] or (916) 532-9699--Mark.

This week's Class for ELLI members: Introduction to Emotion We provide monthly classes, webinars, and mentor studies to aid our membership in landscape lighting design knowledge and skill proficiencies. Contact us at: [email protected] for more information. Visit our website at: https://lnkd.in/gGiS22ja

ELLI Membership--2025 I wanted to share the updates we've made within the ELLI framework, as it applies to membership. These changes reflect how ELLI was utilized or not utilized this past year by our members. Please contact me for any details: [email protected]. In a nutshell, we are focusing our efforts towards those who are dedicated to routine learning. Additionally, we will stay focused on "Design"--landscape lighting design practices and skills proficiency. Thank you to those that continue to be members of the industry's only organization to concentrate on advancing this form of design practice.

Designer's Collective Workshop--Takeaways A week ago we wrapped up our first live training event that consisted of 15 landscape lighting practitioners from across the USA and Canada. It was established as a 4-day program but included part of an extra day. The DCW addressed most aspects of this trade--design processes, lighting application types, installation methods, tools, tips & tricks, and operational practices. We began at 8am and ended between 8:30pm-9:30pm every day--full days! Additionally, we visited various job sites and even installed a 53-light job. As far as one of the big takeaways...we had several students express how the 'light bulb' went off in understanding "light levels". Those who can properly manipulate lighting designs can better develop scenes with depth. This occurs when one varies the level of brightness within the space (foreground, mid-ground, and background). This is an important skill proficiency to learn, if we are to become 'good' landscape lighting practitioners. Our program allowed for 2 opportunities to practice these techniques over the 5 days. I look forward to future live training events with ELLI. Should you be interested in advancing your skills in such a manner, then please reach out to me for more information and how to sign up for upcoming events at [email protected].

Providing Depth & Expanding Space I wanted to share a simplistic photo of a small landscape space...with a single focal point (Tree Fern). This photo was taken of an installation provided by Mike Gambino of Gambino Landscape Lighting, one of the country's finest landscape lighters...just saying. I have used many of his photos as relevant examples of 'good' lighting design because he has mastered this skill and artistry. As I said, this scene is simple, but it shows the point of establishing three areas to develop depth (foreground, mid-ground, and background). By ensuring that these areas exist, you develop the scene/setting to create depth. Many landscape lighters provide light only at the featured item without expanding the space--this is why their work looks 'flat' and 'spotty' with sharp contrast between light and dark. Lighting designers should learn to use light by "levels of light", from strongest to weakest...some say, Level 1, 2, or 3...3 being the strongest. In this scene, Mike illuminates the tree fern with a Level 3 because it's the focal point or emphasis. Level 2 is just behind it at the tree, and Level 1 is in the background...layered to promote a concentration on this subject matter. There also looks to be a downlight used to the right in the mid-ground area. ELLI is dedicated to teaching these basic concepts, as they relate to lighting composition. We are the only current educational program to dive into deeper discussions and training for this. To learn more, please visit our website...contact me for questions: [email protected]. https://lnkd.in/gGiS22ja

We are 18 days out from the official start of the "Designer's Collective Workshop" in gorgeous San Diego, CA! We are readying things at the training site (Nate Mullen's 5 acre property) and preparing for the food, beverages, and activities. This is ELLI's first collective effort with the Lighting Trade School, so we are all encouraged--we have a full program/small group. We'll be taking lots of pictures and videos of those involved. You may have missed it this time, but no worries...we intend to have more events throughout 2025. Here's a photo of the back part of one training area...this will be a great opportunity to learn. Here's to the start of 2025!