# Episode 15:  Lighting Emotional Currency

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/lighting-matters-6960087/episode-15-lighting-emotional-currency
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/lighting-matters-6960087/episode-15-lighting-emotional-currency.md
Podcast: [Lighting Matters](https://stenobird.com/podcast/lighting-matters-6960087)
Published: 2025-04-02T04:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://lightingmatterspodcast.com/episodes/episode-15-lighting-emotional-currency
Audio file: https://episodes.castos.com/66889601ede0f5-02583431/1999957/c1e-8n2w1io7dq0f0mwmo-6z15r4p4s713-dsvehs.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/lighting-matters-6960087/episodes/episode-15-lighting-emotional-currency
Duration seconds: 3626

## Resource

What makes lighting designers "psychotically passionate" about their work when they're constantly battling value engineering? In this episode, Avi Mor and Lisa Reed speak with Katherine Stekr, CLD, IALD, MIES, EDAC, LEED AP BD+C, Founder + Principal, STEK Design. Their conversation explores the unique position of lighting designers as visual professionals alongside architects, interior designers, and landscape architects. Katherine shares her journey from architectural engineering student to establishing her own firm, emphasizing how lighting's psychological impact requires designers to expertly translate abstract concepts into tangible experiences for clients. The discussion delves into industry challenges including procurement complexities, value engineering struggles, and the critical need for stronger professional advocacy. All three lighting professionals debate practical strategies for maintaining design integrity through budget constraints and substitution attempts. The episode culminates with powerful reflections on lighting's profound ability to transform spaces and influence human wellbeing, reinforcing why lighting designers must stand united as essential contributors to the built environment. In This Episode: (00:00) Katherine Stekr's journey - from University of Colorado to starting her own design firm after 16+ years in the industry (08:52) Lighting designers as visual professionals - examining our unique role alongside architects, interior designers, and landscape architects (12:23) The psychological impact of lighting - discussing how lighting affects human behavior beyond mere aesthetics (21:20) The procurement challenges - navigating the complex path from specification to installation and advocating for quality, professional advocacy - exploring how I…

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## Transcript

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