A New Collaboration to Bridge Design and Controls

The DALI Alliance and the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) have forged a collaboration aimed at deepening ties between lighting designers and the world of digital addressable lighting interface (DALI) controls. It will focus on education, outreach and the adoption of open standards. The goal is to ensure that designers remain part of the conversation as controls evolve.

Educational Initiatives and Outreach

According to the release, the two organizations plan to create educational resources that demystify DALI‑based controls for the design community. They want to emphasize how open, interoperable standards can support creativity, flexibility and sustainability in architectural lighting. The agreement also paves the way for joint events and webinars. These sessions will give designers a chance to engage directly with DALI experts and share their experiences.

Voices from the Industry

Paul Drosihn, general manager of the DALI Alliance, said the partnership builds on a year of outreach. “Lighting designers play a critical role in shaping the built environment. Partnering with the IALD allows us to build a direct bridge to the design community, ensuring that DALI‑based technologies continue to support creativity, flexibility and performance where it matters most,” he said. Paul  previewed this focus on outreach during our C‑Suite Series interview in March, where he talked about bringing designers and controls manufacturers closer together. You can revisit that conversation here.

For the IALD, the collaboration reflects a desire to make sure specifiers have access to the knowledge and tools they need. CEO Christopher Knowlton said the agreement will help designers navigate the fast-changing controls landscape. It will guide them in making informed, sustainable, and human-centric lighting decisions.

Building on Earlier Partnerships

This is the second major partnership the DALI Alliance has announced this year. In May, the alliance and the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) unveiled a strategic collaboration to advance standardization and education across the lighting industry. That agreement underscored the need for open protocols and cross‑organizational cooperation as digital controls become ubiquitous. You can read our coverage of that announcement here.

Looking Ahead

With its new IALD partnership, the DALI Alliance reinforces the link between design and technology. The two are inseparable. By working directly with designers, the alliance hopes to ensure that the next generation of controls doesn’t just meet technical specifications. It wants these systems to enhance visual comfort, support occupant well‑being and enable beautiful, efficient spaces.

Go Deeper:  IALD EA25: DALI Alliance Delivers an Engaging Controls Session

DALI Alliance Expands Board of Directors to Support Global Growth and Innovation