Classes at CLTC
The California Lighting Technology Center offers a comprehensive suite of courses designed to bridge the gap between fundamental lighting principles and cutting-edge industrial and architectural applications.
DES 136A Lighting Technology and Design
You learn how to design light for architecture and interior spaces. We explore how light reveals form, defines spatial hierarchy, and shapes the way materials and volumes are perceived. You’ll understand architectural lighting systems, daylighting strategies, fixtures, controls, and industry guidelines, and learn how to evaluate and document lighting decisions within the built environment. By the end of the course, you’ll be able to approach lighting as an integral component of architectural design.
DES 136B Designing with Light—Industrial Design
You learn how to design and prototype luminaires for architectural and interior environments. The course explores the relationship between light source, material, form, and distribution, with an emphasis on LED technology and lighting controls. You’ll develop a form-follows-function approach while addressing performance, manufacturability, cost, and aesthetics. By the end of the course, you’ll understand how a lighting product moves from concept to working prototype.
DES 137B Daylighting Design—Architectural Lighting
You learn how to design with natural light in architecture and interior spaces. The course explores how daylight shapes form, atmosphere, visual comfort, and energy performance across seasons and climates. You’ll develop skills in climate analysis, daylight metrics, HDR photography, and physical modeling to evaluate both the quantity and quality of light. By the end of the course, you’ll understand how to integrate daylighting strategies into the architectural design process from concept through performance evaluation.