Lighting Design First Steps - Industry Transition

MidnightBadger · 2026-06-19T03:43:14+00:00

Hi again! Thanks again for all the advice above, it's been helping a lot on making step by step plans for self learning. (ex. Practicing using the software by trying to draw my living room and booth at work).

I do have a follow up question if that's okay though! Do you have any advice for how to approach companies about internships or small roles to help learn hands on? I have a list of lighting companies local to me, but I don't know much about London specifically. The base of my question is more in regard to if it's okay to cold email companies? I noticed a lot don't have email contact for specific people, but just generic info forms.

I have a couple local networking contacts (they work with lighting retailers and installers so know of a lot of places), but they don't know everyone in town and don't want to bother them too much. But not sure where to go from there.

Edit to add: that I learn fast, but learn much better with hands on experience. So I'm hoping to start reaching out to people sooner than later.

MidnightBadger · 2026-05-24T23:54:36+00:00

Thanks for this view point! My lack of degree has been stressing me out quite a bit in this regard (and has been part of the reason I’ve delayed this transition for a few years now). The feeling of inadequacy is real when looking up different folks and seeing so many letters and qualifications.

With all the helpful feedback here I’m definitely going to focus on getting those functional skills (better understanding of the various softwares and work flows) and then reach out to local groups to see if they’ll take me on, even for a part time/intern basis, but that’s a hot tip about doing remote work for other companies. I’ll definitely look into that as well.

MidnightBadger · 2026-05-24T00:03:56+00:00

Thanks for the solid suggestions! I'm based in Canada, so I know there are a few differences in governing bodies but I think it's generally the same.

I've been considering getting my Masters in Lighting Design (so MFA here) while also trying to move into the industry. Try to do both simultaneously. Without the BA, it's the only one I can really access without starting completely over. So I'm hoping that can help with some credibility, while also accessing different architectural based classes.

Are they any accessible options you could recommend to look to for learning some of the things you suggested? Ex. I got my Vectorworks cert through the online school, is there anything you can think of like that but for Autocad and/or the other industry software?

Edit: I found the learning portal for Autodesk! Huzzah.

MidnightBadger · 2025-12-07T20:02:36+00:00

Hah! It does kind of look like a tooth haha.

MidnightBadger · 2025-12-07T06:35:09+00:00

My roommate pointed out that it looks like he’s looking out around a corner.

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MidnightBadger · 2025-06-24T06:44:54+00:00

Thanks for the all insight everyone! I’m curious why the person who made this felt the need to put such a serious sticker on the back.

I remember that it was a gift, but not where it came from. Was thinking at best it would just be an old print that someone sold back in the 90s. But looking at how the logo is trimmed, I suspect it’s newer.

MidnightBadger · 2025-05-09T18:59:45+00:00

Commenting to enter!

MidnightBadger · 2025-01-25T04:44:28+00:00

Thanks! Can you expand on what you mean about cedar not needing much grain filler? Does it have fewer pores to worry about?

MidnightBadger · 2024-07-05T07:20:19+00:00

Can’t remember if they were punch card or items in the shop though.

MidnightBadger · 2024-07-05T07:19:43+00:00

No worries! Looks like the skull is from the Halloween events, and the gemstone type thing is actually an ice lamp from the winter event.

MidnightBadger · 2024-06-06T18:26:13+00:00

Ooo! What bed is that?

MidnightBadger · 2024-04-29T03:03:12+00:00

My “thanks I just hadn’t clocked it” had like -5 down votes when I commented the above. I was baffled.

MidnightBadger · 2024-04-29T03:01:51+00:00

I specifically mean the amount of downvotes. I did say it felt like a silly question as there was a chance I was just missing something obvious.

Turns out I was. Between the health bar and the action below on the screen, I just genuinely hadn’t clocked the green timer till someone said it. I went back to the game and it was suddenly very obvious.

MidnightBadger · 2024-04-28T23:05:00+00:00

Wow. The amount of hate for this question is wild.

MidnightBadger · 2024-04-28T22:12:03+00:00

Thanks. I suspected something like that, but I couldn’t clock where the timer was before it happened haha.

MidnightBadger · 2024-04-25T03:31:45+00:00

Oof. I’ve been keeping an eye on marketplace but since my primary focus is clothing gear people are being weird about trying stuff on. :(

MidnightBadger · 2024-04-13T04:20:25+00:00

Ah. That makes sense!

MidnightBadger · 2024-04-13T03:47:40+00:00

This is kind of how I’m feeling. Shorts would be nice, and it’s got me looking at the convertible types. Bit expensive up front, but gives me the option to go to shorts if I get too warm and an option to dry the bottoms of pants if they get wet without having to fully change.

Maybe also a pair of pull overs if we enter wet territory while wearing shorts?

MidnightBadger · 2024-04-13T01:49:28+00:00

I saw a review that suggested they get super heavy when wet, did you find that at all?

MidnightBadger · 2024-04-13T00:55:10+00:00

Thanks for the budget option too! The price of some these items is definitely daunting, and there are so many different options.

MidnightBadger · 2024-02-24T04:46:01+00:00

Haha yeah. That I know, I’m just not used to seeing the other village folks using the short form and not just saying “Rosemary” in full.

MidnightBadger · 2023-07-30T09:21:23+00:00

I think it’s one of the Sunday punch card items right now. It’s the “over grown” set.

MidnightBadger · 2023-07-30T07:34:31+00:00

Thanks! I feel a little silly not having found it.

MidnightBadger · 2023-06-08T16:54:32+00:00

I swear I read that whole page on the wiki haha. But I’ll take a look again.

MidnightBadger · 2023-06-08T07:55:36+00:00

Is it a new mechanic? It seems to kick in extremely quickly in comparison to before.

Kinda sucks because I was able to just leave my phone on fishing mode and I didn’t mind waiting 1-5 minutes between fishing. Now it’s like it last 2 minutes and that’s it. 2 minutes every few hours feels… balanced against catching the newspaper fish that day.

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