Paul Drosihn, General Manager of the DALI Alliance, shared insights on the organization’s current initiatives during an interview with Editor, Randy Reid, as part of the C-Suite series coverage. Drosihn highlighted DALI’s strategic efforts to grow membership, dispel misconceptions, and launch new educational resources.
Growing Membership Through Accessibility
Drosihn highlights the push to expand membership, particularly among luminaire manufacturers already using certified DALI components. These manufacturers can now join DALI free of charge as “community members” and market their products with DALI branding. With over 430 members and growing daily, this initiative reflects the organization’s mission to make DALI more accessible and widespread.
New Educational Resources on the Horizon
The DALI Alliance is also investing heavily in training and educational content designed for lighting designers, specifiers, installers, building owners, and others involved in lighting control. These resources aim to raise awareness, increase comfort levels with the DALI protocol, and demonstrate its practical benefits in real-world applications.
According to Drosihn, some materials will be member-exclusive, but the broader goal is to partner with industry organizations to offer both online and in-person training. While official announcements are still pending, Drosihn teased that major news is on the way regarding these partnerships.
Breaking Misconceptions with Real-World Results
One major barrier DALI faces in the U.S. market is lingering misconceptions—particularly around cost. Drosihn was quick to address this: “One of the most common myths is that DALI is too expensive. But when you look at the total cost of ownership and ease of installation, it’s actually very competitive.”
He referenced U.S. lighting designer Abhay Wadhwa (ARW Lighting), one of DALI’s strongest advocates, who frequently speaks about the protocol’s cost-efficiency and project benefits. “People are often hesitant to change, but once they make the switch to DALI, the feedback is almost always, ‘I wish I’d done this sooner,’” said Drosihn.
Visibility on the Rise
DALI’s increased presence in U.S. projects has not gone unnoticed. At EdisonReport and designing lighting (dl), we’re seeing DALI appear on more job specs, which is a testament to the Alliance’s visibility efforts. Contributors like Carol Jones, who was also present during our conversation, are playing a key role in spreading the message across the industry.
As the DALI Alliance continues its mission to simplify lighting control through open standards, its combination of free membership options, educational outreach, and myth-busting communication appears to be working.
Stay tuned to EdisonReport and designinglighting.com for more updates as DALI’s educational initiatives and partnerships are officially unveiled.