Thumb 1
Thumb 2 Thumb 3 Thumb 4
Thumb 5 Thumb 6
Thumb 7
Thumb 8

Overview:

Avalon Lighting Design is an internationally recognized, multi-award-winning Landscape Lighting Design company. It was established in January 1999, making it the oldest company providing solely, landscape lighting as a trade practice in the Sacramento, CA region. It has operated as sole proprietorship to a corporation and back; it is currently a sole proprietorship.

Avalon Lighting Design has the competitive advantage in “Design.” Others say a lot about design, but don’t provide many of the detailed offerings found in architectural firms. The truth is that most in this profession place a high priority on sales, business, and technologies, and a low priority on design. At the end of the day, it all comes down to performance; will they be effective in solving problems, proactively thinking and planning so that the project runs smoothly? My experience speaks for itself.

Avalon Lighting Design provides Landscape Lighting Design services, as a standard offering. But I also provide a specialty service in ‘Affective Lighting Design.’ This is a new practice and consideration for the landscape lighting profession; I developed it. In short, it has to do with the “experience” of each space by emotionally stimulating people to have positive effects from the lighting design. This is not taught, nor has anyone outside of myself studied it. These experiences equate to Well-Being and Human Health.

Avalon Lighting Design will approach Design in two primary ways, by its “Intent” and “Purpose”. The Intent is structured around a Human-Centric focus that is based on the Owners’ needs. The Purpose is related to each space (each ‘Use-Area’) and asks, “What is the space to be used for?” It also asks, “Who is using it?” These simple questions are the first step to understanding these Use-Areas. Until this is known, you cannot properly illuminate a space to be effective, as a lighting design solution.

As I serve my clients, I am building a platform for the future generations in landscape lighting design. I intend to pass along my experience in the form of a complete training program that will allow dedicated practitioners to study Design as a discipline, so that they can advance this art form. You can see this effort on my educational website, ELLI: https://www.landscapelightinginitiative.org/

View All Projects

Testimonials

Mark Carlson is the owner-operator of Avalon Lighting Design—the oldest, standalone, Landscape Lighting business in the Sacramento, CA region. Mark is considered an industry leader, expert, and innovator in Design for this specialty discipline. His innovation comes from the development and practice of ‘Affective Lighting Design.’ He is a lighting designer, author, educator, contractor, and visionary. Mark has been the only proactive educator to advance Landscape Lighting Design, including the practices associated with it beyond what Janet L. Moyer has done for this profession.

Frank B. Nightingale (1885-1965) is recognized as the “father of garden lighting.”  He created and established this discipline and art form, as we know it today—Landscape Lighting.  His passion and key, foundational principles have set a high-bar standard for those practicing this discipline.  There is so much to gain from his vast experience and efforts, and this is why I have developed a website to preserve his history.  This effort was done with my collaborator and fellow historian, Mike Gambino of Gambino Landscape Lighting.  Together, we continue to preserve Nightingale’s history.  Please visit:  https://frankbnightingale.com