LEDucation Launches New Awards Program

Recognizing lighting innovation and connecting designers with application-driven solutions.

The LEDucation Trade Show and Conference, presented by the Designers Lighting Forum of New York (DLFNY), is launching LEDawards—a new product recognition program designed to highlight lighting innovations and help attendees of North America’s largest lighting trade show easily discover standout solutions across the show floor.

Inspired by LEDucation’s core mission of accessibility and community education, LEDawards creates an inclusive platform by offering one complimentary product submission per table to every exhibiting manufacturer.

“Traditional industry awards play an important role, but their submission fees have historically kept many exceptional products out of the spotlight,” said Kenny Schutz LEDawards Co-Chair and Principal, Focus Lighting. “Removing those financial barriers, LEDawards allows every LEDucation exhibitor the opportunity to bring their best work to the table.”

Built Around How Designers Work

LEDawards is a lighting product recognition program organized entirely by project application—matching how lighting designers and specifiers research products in the real world.

LEDucation exhibitors can enter one product per table across one targeted application category: Commercial, Education, Entertainment & Architainment, Healthcare, Hospitality, Institutional, Landscape, Lighting Controls, Luminaire Components, Offices, Residential, Retail, and Site Lighting.

“Designers come to LEDucation energized to find real solutions for their project challenges,” said Shaun Fillion, LEDawards Co-Chair and Director of Lighting Design, RAB | NYSID. “With 450+ exhibitors to view in just three days, LEDawards acts as a curated roadmap, organized by application category, making it easier for designers to find products relevant to their projects.”

Evaluation & Show Floor Recognition

A volunteer jury of lighting designers and educators will review submissions, looking for originality of form and function, technical performance breakthroughs, tailored application solutions, and sustainability benchmarking.

Shortlist Announcement: Approximately 60 leading products will be shortlisted and announced in February 2027, giving manufacturers early news to share across their pre-show outreach and social channels.

Best-in Category Winners will be announced and celebrated in person on April 13 during Designer Day at LEDucation, with additional recognition on the show floor and featured coverage across LEDucation’s marketing platforms.

Key Dates

• Submissions Open: November 10, 2026
• Submissions Close: December 31, 2026
• Judging Period: Mid-February 2027
• Shortlist Announced: February 2027
• Best-in Category Winners Revealed: April 13, 2027 (Designer Day at LEDucation 2027)

More information about LEDawards is available here.

David Shiller

David Shiller is the Publisher of LightNOW, and Senior Business Development Consultant at Capacity Consulting, a North American consulting firm providing business development services to advanced lighting manufacturers. The ALA awarded David the Pillar of the Industry Award. David has been co-chair of the ALA’s Engineering Committee since 2010. David established MaxLite’s OEM component sales into a multi-million dollar division. He invented GU24 lamps while leading ENERGY STAR lighting programs for the US EPA. David has been published in leading lighting publications, including LD+A, enLIGHTenment Magazine, LEDs Magazine, and more.

See Full Bio