![](https://www.dmflighting.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/PIA_top.jpg)
Category: News
![](https://www.dmflighting.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/DesignAward_top.gif)
A celebration of beautiful lighting projects, the very first DMF Design Awards featured dozens of entries showcasing some of the best DMF Lighting applications from across the country.
Projects competed in five different categories, with one Grand Prize Winner selected from the Category Winners. Our esteemed judges reviewed the entries based on four criteria (Lighting Application, Lighting Creativity, Photography and Project Summary) and their composite score was used to determine the winner.
The winners of the 2021 DMF Design Awards:
GRAND PRIZE WINNER
Best Commercial Lighting Application
Submission: Rachel Levy Designs
Project: Politan Row
Location: Atlanta, GA
Product(s): DCD3 Higher-Lumen Fixed Downlight, DRD2 Fixed Downlight with Warm Dim, OneFrame
Congratulations Rachel Levy designs!
The 2021 DMF Design Award Grand Prize goes to the Levy design team for their work on Politan Row, a chef-driven food hall built specifically for Midtown Atlanta. The project features a variety of open air spaces and is energized from day to night, providing unique lighting challenges. Judges were impressed with the creative use of layered lighting and Warm Dim to address these needs.
“DMF’s Warm Dim is wonderful for an environment that needs to be bright and slightly cooler during the daytime, yet, needs to easily transform into a warmer, romantic space space in evenings. Additionally, I love their clean lines, even fields, ease in which to install, and competitive price point!”
– Rachel Levy
Lighting Designer
CATEGORY WINNERS
Best Residential Lighting Application
Submission: Illuminated Design
Project: Pelican Bay Residence
Location: Naples, FL
Product(s): DRD2 Fixed Downlight, OneFrame Concrete
Best Accent and/or Task Lighting Application
Submission: Colina West
Project:Â Simi Estiatorio
Location: Austin, TX
Product(s): DRD2 Fixed Downlight, DRD4 Adjustable Downlight, DCCX Cylinder
Best DCC Cylinder Application
Submission: Service Tech
Project: Britt Design Group
Location: Austin, TX
Product(s): DCC2 Cylinder, DCC4 Adjustable Cylinder
Best Multiple DMF Products Application
Submission: Premium Digital Control & Automation
Project: Ritz-Carlton Residences
Location: Sunny Isles Beach, FL
Product(s): DRD4 Adjustable Downlight with Warm Dim, DCC4 Adjustable Cylinder, DRD5S Surface Mount
CONGRATULATIONS
to all the winners!
Thank you to all those who participated. Stay tuned as we’ll be sharing more from these incredible projects very soon.
â â â â â â â â
Stay up to date with everything thatâs happening at DMF: LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter
![](https://www.dmflighting.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ProSource_LightingTech_top_v5.jpg)
We are proud to partner with ProSource to be featured at the brand-new, state-of-the-art Lighting Technology and Learning Center. Located in the Dallas Market Center, the space provides an opportunity for retail and design-build customers to learn about lighting applications and advancements in an immersive setting.
DMF’s latest innovations, including the award-winning DID Series lighting modules, OneFrame and SquareFrame recessed lighting systems, the DCC LED Cylinder, and DRD5 LED downlights, are the perfect pairing for the new Learning Center.
“DMF Lighting impressed us right out of the gate with their unique OneFrame system, and we are thrilled that they are a part of the LTLC Experience Center,” said David Warfel, Chief Evangelist, Light Can Help You.
“We love the modularity and clean engineering of their products and chose their trimless fixtures because of their easy installation. We have been huge fans of the DRD4 adjustable LED module in our design practice and are even more excited about the integrator-only upgrade, the DID4.”
The Learning Center was inaugurated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 23, 2021, at the start of the popular Lightovation trade show. Dave Workman, president and CEO of ProSource, presided at the opening festivities.
Eventually, the Learning Center will be available for hands-on, live Level 2 curriculum of the ProSource Lighting Technology Certification program, which was launched earlier this year through ProSource University.
DID Series
The all-new, award-winning DID Series improves on every major metric by which quality lighting is judged and delivers unmatched performance and adaptability. The DID Series was designed specifically to enhance the appearance and installation of home integration projects and is exclusively available through custom integration dealers.Â
DCC Cylinder
By combining a suite of customizable features with our highest performing LED modules yet, the DCC provides brilliant illumination and beautiful design versatile enough for whatever your project needs. The DCC centers around a modular LED lighting system, so itâs easy to specify, install and maintain.
DRD5S
The DRD5S redefines whatâs possible for a surface mount downlight. Packed with technical breakthroughs, the ultra-thin DRD5S matches the elegance of a high-end recessed downlight. In addition, itâs more versatile because it can fit more applications, even those with limited plenum space.Â
About ProSource
ProSource is a cooperative, member-governed, not-for-profit buying group representing more than 550 specialty retailers and custom integrators. With annual sales of more than $6 billion, ProSource is the largest specialty and consumer-electronics merchandising group in the United States, which allows it to negotiate stronger programs with manufacturers, help independent dealers stay relevant to consumers, and keep the specialty A/V channel competitive. Learn more about ProSource.
â â â â â â â â
Connect on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter to stay up to date with everything thatâs happening at DMF Lighting.
![](https://www.dmflighting.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/HistoricalMag_top.jpg)
designing lighting is focused on the Business of Lighting Design™ and provides business information to the lighting design community. In addition to the website, designing lighting publishes bi-monthly online magazines featuring original content, interviews within the community and highlights successful and award-winning lighting designs.
In the April 2021 issue, Benya’s Art & Science section featured a fascinating article on the history of the downlight, covering everything from their origin to their latest features.
The Incredible Evolving Downlight
By Jim Benya
The downlight as we know it was invented in 1939 by Rambusch Lighting. Famous for ecclesiastical lighting of churches and cathedrals, Rambusch knew that illumination of hymnals and prayer books was typically poor because chandeliers were hanging far overhead of the congregation. A recessed luminaire with a narrow beam effectively lighted the âtasksâ an invention that changed church lighting forever. But modernism and its demand for un-ornamental design gave us the âcan lightâ (aka the âpot lightâ in Canada) that probably lights more interior space than any other lighting fixture type to date.
Residential downlights played a huge role in the acceptance and growth of the industry. Offering different apertures of varying diameter and shape, as well as interchangeable trims ranging from open baffles to shower lenses and wall washers, allowed for the customization of lighting for each room and function. As the market grew there were dozens of companies and an increasing number of options, including low voltage and compact fluorescent light sources.
Unfortunately, fires resulting from overheated downlights became a problem, and the National Electrical Code responded with a series of strict UL listing requirements. Thermal protection, insulation detectors and insulation contact (IC) housings became standard. As downlights became popular for hotels and apartment buildings, the need for fire-rated downlights entered the codes and marketplace. Selecting a residential downlight housing quickly became complex and further complicated by compact fluorescent lamps and the huge variety of variations. Once popular because of low cost, residential downlights were rapidly becoming expensive.
Well, everything changed when a 7.5-watt LED luminaire could generate as much light as a 60-watt incandescent luminaire. Manufacturers and lighting designers began to question everything about downlights to regain their popularity and cost effectiveness. Thanks to LEDs, downlights have become affordable, and the new section in the 2020 National Electrical Code resolved the complications that accumulated over 50 years of legacy light bulbs. Four of the more noteworthy innovations and adaptations include:
Low wattage downlights that clip into the ceiling â With common cans, the electrician nails the can lightâs hanger bars in place, wires the 120-volt branch circuit to the junction box, and returns after the drywall work to find the can and cut out the hole before installing the guts and trim. Moving a downlight means a lot of drywall work as well as electrical work. With clip-in fixtures, the wiring is put in before the drywall, then the electrician cuts a hole, grabs the wire, connects it to the luminaire, and pushes the luminaire into the hole. Spring loaded âmousetrapâ clips hold the luminaire in place. Moving a luminaire is easy and involves a minimum of drywall and electrical work. Significant labor cost savings are the key.
Low voltage downlights â LEDs are inherently low voltage light sources. Encouraged by UL 2018 and Articles 411 and 725 of the National Electrical Code, a new generation of downlights allows for a Class 2 driver connection to 120-volt power on a flexible whip, that in turn can power up to 60 watts of downlights using plug-in class 2 flexible wiring. This could include dedicated above ceiling drivers or PoE-wired applications. These take advantage of clip in downlights to make the labor savings even more impressive.
Fire-rated downlights â Especially in multi-family structures where ceilings are required to be fire rated, contractors were required to either build a sealed drywall box around a recessed downlight or to cover it with a UL listed fire protection blanket until recently. The added costs for either can be as much as $150 per downlight in labor and material. More than half of these costs are saved by new generation of downlights, including compact LED sources that fit into fire-rated junction boxes and fire-rated versions of conventional can lights. With up to 10 downlights in a mid-market 2-bedroom apartment, these savings become important and preserve the appeal of downlighting in these project types. These lights can be used in hotel guest rooms for that same reason.
More than half of these costs are saved by a new generation of downlights, including compact LED sources that fit into fire-rated junction boxes
Multiples are better than ever â The smaller size of LED options have resulted in a completely new generation of luminaires that feature multiple sources connected to one power source. These include conventional âmultiplesâ with several individually aimable heads and new types of wall washers and small linear downlights on a residential scale. Like the other innovations, these often use mousetrap clips for simple cut-in installation and low voltage class 2 wiring, making these appealing for a wide range of projects and budgets.
Perhaps most intriguing of these innovations is their small size. For instance, a 2-3/8â x 1-5/8â square downlight with two micro downlights can produce up to 400 lumens using 5 watts, and with several of them connected to a single class 2 driver, can be installed for the labor cost of a single conventional 6â can. Not only more sophisticated in appearance and performance, but it is also a whole new design look that is affordable in a larger percentage of projects.
Iâm still learning how to use these innovations, and every day I receive an email announcement of a new product of this type from companies all over the world. In downlighting, this is our future because it is a better tool for smaller environments, energy efficient, resource efficient, and a dramatic improvement in the downlight on which so much lighting design depends.
View the entire article at designing lighting.
————————–
Connect on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter to stay up to date with everything thatâs happening at DMF Lighting.
![](https://www.dmflighting.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/BrillianceAwards_top.jpg)
Each year, DMF honors a special selection from our network of representatives for all the great work they do. The Brilliance Awards celebrate not just great performance, but a partnerâs outstanding dedication to reflecting all that DMF stands for, from knowledge and partnership to loyalty and professionalism.
Here are this year’s winners.
W. Rodgers Hill, Founder and Principal of Hill Residential Systems, accepts their DMF Brilliance Award trophy from DMF’s Andy Wakefield, Senior Vice President
Diamond Award
The Diamond Award celebrates representatives without equal. Diamond Award winners excel at communicating with the whole DMF organization and are constantly learning more about our products and policies. Their excellence reflects amazing sales performances, especially across different business segments. Their passion and dedication makes them more than just partners, it makes them key members of the DMF Family.
Winner: Hill Residential Systems
Prism Award
The Prism Award goes to the Representative that achieved great success in their first year with DMF. These remarkable reps go beyond the day to day to successfully integrate themselves into the DMF ecosystem, quickly and effectively building relationships and knowledge. Prism Award winners demonstrate their hard work and potential for growth. They have a bright future together with DMF.
Winner: Pacific Lighting Systems
Crystal Award
The Crystal Award recognizes Representatives, who achieve their agreed sales quota goals. Such commitment and achievement are essential to our DMF business success. Crystal Award winners help us invest consistently in our business, growing our products, people, and impact to the market. Their partnership excellence is recognized and greatly appreciated.
Congratulations to the recipients
Our manufacturerâs representatives are the cornerstone of our business and we are proud to bestow the very best of them these Brilliance Awards. Congratulations to the winners and thank you everyone for your effort and dedication.
â â â â â â â â
Connect on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter to stay up to date with everything thatâs happening at DMF Lighting.
![](https://www.dmflighting.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/LFI_2020_top_3.jpg)
2020 PIA Award Winner
The DCD Series follows up its 2020 LFI Innovation Award with another prestigious accolade, a 2020 Product Innovation Award.
Now in their tenth year, the PIA celebrates the latest advancements and achievements in lighting. Presented by Architectural SSL, the judging panel recognized the DCD Series in the Downlight category, praising how it simplifies the installation process with its breadth of modular features.
JUDGES’ COMMENT:
“Finally! A downlight for all applications. A designer’s dream come true. Love the ‘one-stop shopping’ mentality for creating this design sensitive fixture. I really appreciate the flexibility, (spot lights, wide angles, etc.) within the same housing. From the design aesthetics point of view, it allows for consistent and uniform grid of downlights while they can have different functions. And options for changing the type of heads without removing the entire fixture is definitely an added bonus and adds flexibility if the space changes.”
Modular Downlight
The DCD Series downlighting system is flexible enough to illuminate your whole project with a broad range of light and aesthetics options, all with just one housing. Select from either a General or Adjustable module, and pair it with a beautifully finished trim to create exactly the results youâre looking for. The DCD Series makes it all simple with precision-crafted, inter-operable components.
The DCD Series is literally whatever you want it to be, as its flexibility radically simplifies configuration in the field. With just one housing type, it allows for adjustment of beam angles; increased light output; driver serviceâall without tools.
Learn more about the award winning DCD Series Higher Lumen Downlight.
Architectural SSL Magazine, November – December 2020
â â â â â â â â
Connect on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter to stay up to date with everything thatâs happening at DMF Lighting.
![](https://www.dmflighting.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/DRD2_Patent_top.jpg)
PRESS RELEASE:
Carson, California – November 23, 2020
DMF Lighting, the leader in modular downlighting innovation, announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Officeâs Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB or Patent Office) entered judgment in favor of DMF in an inter partes proceeding trial instituted at the request of AMP Plus Inc., d/b/a ELCO Lighting (ELCO) to challenge the validity of DMFâs U.S. Patent No. 9,964,266 (âthe â266 Patentâ).⯠This continues a string of victories by DMF in its litigation against ELCO in the Patent Office and district court that started from ELCOâs improper copying of DMFâs patented DRD2 products.âŻÂ Â
In August 2018, DMF filed a patent infringement suit against ELCO in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in Los Angeles based on ELCO ELL LED products that ELCO copied from DMFâs award-winning DRD2 LED products.âŻâŻ In March 2019, the District Court granted DMFâs request for a preliminary injunction against ELCO and all those acting in concert with ELCO that were selling the accused infringing ELCO ELL products.âŻÂ On March 19, 2020, the District Court also granted summary judgment in DMFâs favor finding that ELCO infringed â266 Patent claims, dismissing ELCOâs unenforceability defenses and dismissing most of ELCOâs validity challenges.⯠A trial will be held to determine if ELCO also infringes other additional patent claims and to consider ELCOâs remaining validity challenges that are based on two primary pieces of prior art.⯠That trial has not been scheduled yet due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Â
In parallel to the District Court case, ELCO also has tried to invalidate the â266 Patent claims in the Patent Office based on the same two pieces of prior art at issue in the District Court.âŻÂ On March 17, 2020, the Patent Office ruled in DMFâs favor that ELCOâs validity challenge, based on one piece of prior art, did ânot demonstrate a reasonable likelihood that [ELCO] will prevailâ as to any patent claims. The Patent Office did grant a trial on the other piece of prior art. On November 19, 2020 the Patent Office issued a judgment in DMFâs favor, ruling that ELCO failed to invalidate any of the 22 challenged patent claims except for one claim.
 âWe are pleased with the Patent Office decision today, which recognizes the innovative technology of the DRD2. DMF invests heavily in research and development to create innovative solutions in lighting.â
Michael Danesh, DMF COO.
About DMF LightingÂ
DMF brings a creative approach to lighting and offers industry-leading technology that sets the bar for performance, quality, and flexibility. At our in-house Research and Development lab, our engineers and designers are constantly pushing boundaries and refining product to ensure that our products consistently exceed expectations. Every DMF product delivers outstanding performance, reliability and aesthetics. DMF LED lights produce accurate color rendering, smooth dimming, and have low power consumption.Â
At DMF, we understand that light is more than illumination; light is what makes a space beautiful, useful, and ultimately, enjoyable.Â
![](https://www.dmflighting.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/CEDIA_Winner_top_v1.gif)
Honoring technical excellence and product innovation, the CEDIA Awards encompass nearly every aspect of the home technology industry, including hardware, software and projects. The DID was awarded Best New Hardware Product for its flexibility during and after installation. Its modular design allows it to adapt to changing homeowner preferences, future room designs, and even retrofits.
Winners were announced last week at the 2020 Americas CEDIA Awards Virtual Ceremony. Watch a brief clip of the DID being named the Best New Hardware Product.
About CEDIA Awards
The CEDIA Awards projects represent the finest in the design and installation of residential technology. From whole home audio to lighting systems, from dedicated home cinemas and media rooms to networking and automation solutions, youâre sure to find inspiration and ideas when it comes to custom electronics for the home.
These residential technology integrations are all built to ensure that the tech youâll find here are aesthetically beautiful â if not invisible or hidden â and incredibly easy to use.Â
Simply put, this is what CEDIA members do best: Designing custom technology solutions to create for you a âLife Lived Best at Home.â
Learn more about the DID Series.
Contact us for more details, including preliminary specs and availability.
â â â â â â â â
Connect on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter to stay up to date with everything thatâs happening at DMF Lighting.
![](https://www.dmflighting.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/LivingBuilding_top_V2.jpg)
The Living Building Challenge is an international sustainable building certification program. Earlier this year, our recessed LED downlight system achieved Living Building Challenge compliancy. Now, we’re proud to announce we’ve expanded our compliant product offering to include the DCC Cylinders as well. With its aluminum-alloy unibody design and RoHS approved electrical components, our surface mounts are up to 90% recyclable and free of non-sustainable, harmful toxins.
Living Building Challenge
Similar to LEED, Green Globes, and other standards recognized by local, state, and international governments, the Living Building Challenge is the worldâs most rigorous proven performance standard for buildings. People from around the world use its regenerative design framework to create spaces that give more than they take.
Living Buildings are:
- Regenerative buildings that connect occupants to light, air, food, nature, and community.
- Self-sufficient and remain within the resource limits of their site.
- Create a positive impact on the human and natural systems that interact with them.
DMFâs continued commitment to better living
Efficiency and sustainability are at the core of DMF, pushing us to design ever-more energy efficient lights and informing the materials we use to build our products. Projects using DMFâs downlight system or surface mount pendants are on the pathway to reaching the top classification of Living Certified.
For more information on DMF’s sustainable products, including associated building credits, read our post on Living Building Challenge compliancy.
â â â â â â â â
Connect on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter to stay up to date with everything thatâs happening at DMF Lighting.
![](https://www.dmflighting.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LFI_2020_top_2.jpg)
2020 Innovation Award Winner
Recognized for its robust lighting capabilities within a modular system, the DCD Series was named the 2020 Category Winner: Recessed Downlights, Wall Washers and Multiples. Judges praised the DCD for the versatility it brings as an interoperable downlighting solution, radically simplifying specification and field maintenance.
DCD Series
The DCD Series is a higher-lumen, interoperable downlighting solution that radically simplifies configuration in the field. With just one housing type, you can change beam angles, increase light output, service the driver, and even switch to an adjustable. All without tools.
Learn more about the DCD Series.
Highlight the Industryâs Most Innovative Products
Now in its 31st year, the LightFair Innovation Awards celebrate the ingenuity, creativity and resourcefulness of our industryâs manufacturers and their researchers, developers, scientists, and industrial designers.
Traditionally held in conjunction with the LFI trade show, the prestigious LightFair Innovation Awards highlight the industryâs most innovative products and designs. An independent panel of judges from IES (Illuminating Engineering Society) and IALD (International Association of Lighting Designers) select the winners through a meticulous two-day judging process. Criteria includes the productâs clarity of purpose, versatility, adaptability, sustainability, ease of use, design efficiency and aspects that enhanced human wellbeing.
Learn more about the LightFair Innovation Awards.
â â â â â â â â
Connect on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter to stay up to date with everything thatâs happening at DMF Lighting.