Yesterday marked a significant occasion as I attended the in-person segment of the Silhouette Awards at LEDluks’ stand in Hall 3.0, supplementing the virtual presentation held on February 28. Now in its third year, the mentoring program celebrated a commendable gender distribution among this year’s awardees, with women representing 75.5% and men 24.5%.
The event was kicked-off by Katia Kolovea of Archifos, a co-founder of the Silhouette Awards, who set the welcoming tone before handing the floor to the first speaker, Martin Klaasen from Klaasen Lighting Design. With 45 years in the lighting industry, Martin delivered a stirring speech that bridged his personal and professional journeys. He candidly shared the trials he faced in business, from company politics to the brink of bankruptcy after leaving a secure job with a substantial salary to start his own venture. His narrative also painted a picture of the industry’s bygone era, reflecting on the simplicity of specifying incandescent and fluorescent lighting, and the personal touch of corresponding with his wife through handwritten letters and postcards during his extensive travels.
For those eager to discover the budding talents and innovators in lighting design, the winners of the 2024 Silhouette Awards program can be found here.