GARRETT NEAL
Principal at RNLD Lighting
Garrett Neal
FAME: When was your company founded and what does it specialize in?
GN: My father Ron, founded RNLD back in 2001 after working as an interior designer and estimator for my grandfather’s electrical contracting company Neal Electric. My dad was a one man shop until I began working with him while I was finishing college in 2012. It’s been very rewarding to have had the opportunity to grow a business with my family.
Over the years RNLD has worked on many different project types but right now our focus is on residential and hospitality lighting design. We are passionate about the hospitality and residential markets and ultimately we bring the most value to those types of projects.
FAME: What does a Lighting Designer do?
GN: At RNLD, our objective is to design beautiful spaces and enrich people's lives with light! Our main focus is to help architects, interior designers and developers achieve their lighting goals, while allowing them to get their time back and focus on what they do best.
“Our objective is to enrich people’s lives with light”
FAME: What are some common misconceptions clients have about lighting design?
GN: If we are hired then the client most likely already has an appreciation for good lighting. However, I often hear from our architects that many of their clients may not realize how crucial lighting is to the ambiance and functionality of a space.
They might treat lighting as an afterthought rather than an integral part of the architectural and interior design process. The clients also don’t realize that someone will be charging to do the lighting either way. Although, in some cases, certain lighting companies will give away free “design” for selling the products. In which case the client usually ends up with a ceiling that looks like swiss cheese.
Good lighting design doesn’t have to break the bank! A lighting designer is able to ensure the lighting is properly budgeted and installed correctly, saving time, money, and headaches.
“Clients may not realize how crucial lighting is to the ambiance and functionality of a space”
FAME: What are three things clients should know about lighting design?
GN:
1. Lighting can make or break a project.
2. Good lighting increases the property value.
3. Lighting design is about getting the client to their goals and increasing their overall well being.
FAME: Do clients need to buy expensive lamps and fixtures to have good lighting?
GN: The high ticket and well known lighting brands can be great but they’re not always the best. A good lighting designer has high, medium and low cost tiers for every product. From luxury to affordable – designers know where to splurge and where to save. Good lighting can be had on almost any budget as long as you have someone who knows what they’re doing.
“Good lighting can be had on almost any budget as long as you have someone who knows what they’re doing.”
“I also love our “final focus”meetings where we are onsite adjusting the lighting. ”
FAME: What is the most challenging part of your job? What is the most fun part?
GN: Projects can take a long time from design to completion! As architects you certainly understand this. It can be challenging to have projects go on hold or go quiet for a while then hurry to get caught up. Patience is a virtue in this industry!
I love presenting the lighting concepts in SD! Presentations are a great way to connect with the team and to get everyone excited about the lighting. I also love our “final focus”meetings where we are onsite adjusting the lighting. The dimming levels get adjusted and fixtures get aimed. This is when the clients and design team members get to see the vision become a reality!
“Sometimes design has to be done on site!”
FAME: What is an example of an interesting project.
GN: Sometimes design has to be done on site! We had a residential project with a large stairwell with a curved wall. The radius of this stair proved to be a challenge when coming up with a final lighting layout on the elevation.
So we ended up cutting different length pieces of masonite and tacking them on the walls prior to the stone being put up. Each line is a custom lightbox with no lens to create more integrated look.
This became the homeowner’s favorite interior feature on the project which was very rewarding. Those are the moments that I strive for and ultimately what push me to do my best on every project.
FAME: Give us a fun fact about yourself!
GN: I’m a purple belt in Jiu Jitsu and compete in tournaments regularly!