Barbara Horton given IALD Lifetime Achievement Award
(USA) – Barbara Horton, Senior Principal Emeritus at HLB Lighting Design, has been recognised by the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) with its Lifetime Achievement Award.
This award is given to individuals who are classed as pioneers in the industry, and have “gone above and beyond to give back to the lighting design community throughout their careers”.
Horton is among a select group of professionals to have received this distinction, being just the eighth lighting design professional to receive the award in IALD history – among previous winners are founding HLB Principals Stephen Lees (honoured in 2019) and Jules Horton (honoured in 2000).
The recognition follows two further Lifetime Achievement Awards for Horton earlier in the year from Women in Lighting and the Edison Report.
For the past 40 years, Horton has served as a leader and mentor to HLB staff and the greater lighting industry. During her tenure, HLB grew to 15 Princpals/Owners, with more than 90 team members located in seven offices across North America, serving clients worldwide. She has guided the firm through a successful ownership transition, its first acquisition, and created a culture of design excellence with a focus on the business of design.
For the past year and a half, she has been working side-by-side with firm leadership and new CEO Carrie Hawley in preparation for her retirement and the continued legacy of HLB.
In honour of both Horton and Lees, and their contribution to the industry, a business excellence leadership fund in their name is currently being developed to promote the continued success of the profession. Lighting design leaders are preparing for a formal announcement and launch of the fund in early 2022 – its mission is to empower individuals with business education to grow and sustain successful lighting design practices globally.
Following the award, Horton said: “Volunteering with the IALD gave me fundamental leadership skills and a community to share global perspectives and make an impact on the lighting design profession.”
