Shedding light

A Victoria University of Wellington graduate has established an India-based firm that provides research and design consultancy in architectural lighting.

A profile image of Dr Amardeep Dugar.

Dr Amardeep Dugar graduated from Victoria with a PhD in Architecture in 2010. He also has a Bachelor of Architecture from India’s Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University and a Master of Arts, majoring in Architectural Lighting, from Germany’s University of Wismar.

Tell us about your career since graduation?

Since graduating from Victoria, I have been working on design projects that demonstrate the holistic applications of light for meeting architectural and human needs; education projects that develop pedagogic models for the effective use of light; and research projects that formulate comprehensive strategies for collecting, documenting and evaluating data on lighting.

Describe your student experience at Victoria.

Although my PhD was from the School of Architecture, the critical feedback, help and support received from across the University—including computer science, design, engineering, humanities and statistics—played a vital role in my success at Victoria.

Where did you typically hang out both on and off campus?

As a group exercises-addict, my favourite place on campus was the Recreation Centre. Off campus, I spent a lot of time exploring Wellington’s many walks as well as swimming and sunbathing on Oriental Bay.

Living in an apartment on campus meant I had one of the best views of Wellington city.

What do you consider the highlight/s of your career to date?

I have many highlights—in particular winning international awards for lighting design and research projects, presenting lectures at major lighting conferences around the world, and publishing papers in peer-reviewed lighting journals.

Last year, I became the regional coordinator for the International Association of Lighting Designers (India) and have been hosting hands on lighting workshops for students at six architecture schools across India.