Light Talks in Tallinn: Illuminating with Purpose

We warmly welcome you to join the third annual "Light Talks in Tallinn" seminar, taking place on 08.05.2026 at the historical venue of Estonian Writer's Union in the heart of Tallinn Old Town!

This year's seminar will be examining the nuances of architectural lighting design with a focus on the buildings indoor and exterior lighting.

The aim of this years seminar is to find the lighting design "ikigai". The seminar sets focus on a building as a whole, offering insight to holistic lighting design practices. In order to create a versatile discussion, we have invited three of the leading professionals in Europe to spark curiosity and inspire the audience on their own lighting design journey. The day will conclude with a panel discussion, bringing all the voices together.

Our keynote speakers are:

• Paul Traynor (EN) – Principal Designer of Light Bureau, Past president of PLDA (Professional Lighting Designers’ Association)

• Colin Ball (EN) – Lighting Director at BDP (Building Design Partnership Ltd)

• Carla Wilkins (DE) – Senior Partner & Global Creative Director at Lichtvision Design and President of IALD (International Association of Lighting Designers)

Stay tuned! As the dates get closer, we will be looking deeper into the professional careers and presentations of these three lighting designers individually.

We will also have many surprises in store before, during and after the event!

Timeline:
12:00 Doors are open
12:45-13:00 Welcoming words
13:00-14:00 “Designed moments“ Carla Wilkins
14:00-14:10 “The process of lighting Tallinn Town Hall facade” Joan-Tähven Vene
14:10-14:30 Pause with snacks and chats
14:30-15:30 “topic to be announced” Paul Traynor
15:30-15:40 “Lighting design of Estonian embassy in Singapore” Mariliis Kundla ja Marko Kuusik
15:40-16:30 Pause with snacks and chats
16:30-17:30 “The Full Cycle of Lighting Design” Colin Ball
17:30-17:40 “Lighting design of Golden Gate” Liina Einla
17:40-18:00 Pause with snacks and chats
18:00-18:45 Panel discussion on days topics
18:45-20:00 Afterhours with chats, wine and snacks.

A big thank you to Eesti Kultuurkapital for providing us with your support for making this event possible!