Leni Schwendinger is a recognized authority on the many issues and applications of city lighting with more than 20 years of experience creating illuminated environments for public spaces all over the world. Her innovative interdisciplinary practice, nighttime design urbanism, focuses city districts’ darkened hours and includes fresh community involvement methodologies. This work is shared through Leni’s public speaking engagements, including the worldwide “NightSeeing™, Navigate Your Luminous City” program, most recently in Prague, Czech Republic, Sydney Australia, Seattle Washington (USA) and Bogota, Colombia. Recent and ongoing projects include the Enhanced Design Initiative for the New York City subway, several bridges in Canada, and art projects for the Cleveland Rapid Transit District, among others.
Professional awards include such recognition as multiple Lumens from the Illuminating Engineering Society, SEGD and the NEA Japan Residency Fellowship. Her work received extensive coverage in design press and media, including videos produced by Monocle, Architectural Lighting, Architectural Digest and Dwell magazines. She is currently a Visiting Research Fellow at the London School of Economics, and served as Distinguished Visiting Professor in residence at the Portland State University (USA) Department of Architecture. Most importantly, she is founder of International Nighttime Design Initiative, to establish a new field of research and pilots focused on after-dark placemaking for cities. More information here and here.