As part of the preparations for GILE 2025, Carla Wilkins, Global Creative Director at Lichtvision and a leading voice in lighting design, met with the organisers to share her perspectives on the evolving lighting industry. Wilkins, who will lead exclusive guided tours focused on technology and sustainability at the event, brings extensive experience from both Asia and Europe. Her diverse portfolio includes landmark projects such as The Henderson in Hong Kong, Terminal 4 at Singapore Changi Airport, Downtown Doha in Qatar, Beethoven-Haus in Germany, among others. With her deep industry knowledge and global outlook, Wilkins is exceptionally well placed to guide international participants through the latest trends at GILE 2025.
Wilkins highlighted the increasing importance of sustainability and human-centric lighting in the global lighting industry. “Sustainability requires a holistic approach, considering the entire lifecycle of products, not just using recycled materials,” she explains. “In Europe, there’s a growing expectation for reducing carbon footprints and ensure old lighting fixtures can be upcycled, upgraded, or reused.” She stressed the importance of designing fixtures to be dismantled and recycled, advocating for a shift in mindset as resources become more limited. “Even materials like steel and plastic can be sustainable if they’re reused or recycled over time. We should also encourage repair and reuse, giving lighting fixtures a second or third life,” Wilkins adds.
Wilkins also notes the growing role of natural daylight and advanced controls in sustainable lighting. “The best energy is sunlight, it’s free and benefits well-being. Automatic, daylight-responsive systems can save energy and maintain lighting quality, while smart sensors can support both efficiency and user comfort.”
This approach aligns with the direction encouraged by the European Green Deal, which emphasises sustainable product design to reduce waste and resource use. The EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan notes that up to 80% of a product’s environmental impact is determined at the design phase, making it critical to create products that are easier to repair, reuse, and recycle for a more sustainable lifecycle.
Human-centric lighting, she says, is increasingly requested by clients everywhere as part of wider well-being strategies. “It’s not just about what we see, it’s also about the physiological and psychological effects of light. We need to strike the right balance between sustainability and well-being, with lighting that supports human health as well as the environment.”
Wilkins observed a significant mindset shift within the global and European lighting industries, driven by clients recognising their responsibility and younger employees prioritising sustainability, well-being, and work-life balance. “The younger generation is more selective about where they work. Employers now need to offer more than just financial incentives, they have to create environments that promote well-being and demonstrate responsibility,” she explains. She highlights how companies in Europe are adapting by creating workplaces that focus on safety, comfort, and efficiency. “If an employer can show that they’re responsible for their employees’ well-being, it creates a positive impact. A good environment not only makes people feel safe and comfortable but also motivates them to perform at a higher level.”
Reflecting on her experiences in China, Wilkins notes that these international trends are increasingly being adopted and advanced by Chinese lighting companies and designers.
She observes that sustainability is gaining traction in China, with practices such as strategic fixture placement to improve maintenance, minimising light pollution, and the growing adoption of smart lighting controls to reduce energy consumption becoming more common. China’s interest in human-centric lighting is also strengthening, as businesses explore how lighting can enhance comfort, productivity, and well-being. While the concept has roots in European design, Wilkins says: “It’s now evolving into a global standard, and Chinese projects are increasingly adopting these ideas and adapting them for local needs. It’s no longer just about adjusting light colours, such as warm or cool tones, but about using the full spectrum of light to support well-being and adapting to diverse needs.”
From vision to reality: China’s distinctive lighting industry
China’s lighting industry is notable for its scale, speed, and bold approach to design. Wilkins describes China’s lighting projects as expressive and ambitious, often reflecting rapid urban growth and large-scale commercial demands. “Lighting design here tends to be highly visual and impactful, serving as a symbolic statement for cities and helping to elevate urban identity,” she explains.
Innovation and technology remain at the core, with advancements in smart controls, compact fixtures, and energy-efficient LEDs providing designers with the flexibility to push creative boundaries while meeting practical demands. Wilkins notes: “Light engines, efficient LEDs, wireless controls, and intelligent digital lighting controls are some of the key innovations shaping modern lighting design in China.”
“The products and services China provides are at least as good as anywhere else in the world, with quality that rivals or surpasses western standards,” Wilkins remarks. She also highlights their adaptability and drive: “Chinese manufacturers are eager to adopt what the market needs, showing remarkable ambition, flexibility, and commitment to delivering results.”
Wilkins has adapted to China’s fast-paced design environment by embracing early-stage precision and robust concept development. She finds the country’s proactive, solution-oriented mindset especially rewarding: “In Europe, there’s often hesitation; in China, the attitude is, ‘Yes, we can do it,’ and they deliver.” This proactive approach aligns with the current dynamics of the EU-China trade relationship in the lighting and broader industrial sectors. China remains a key trading partner for the EU, with bilateral trade reaching USD 780 billion as of 2025. Both regions are working to balance competition with collaboration. For example, discussions between EU and Chinese leaders emphasise supply chain resilience and fair market practices, which are critical in industries like lighting, where precision and innovation are highly valued.
GILE 2025 will provide a stage for over 3,000 exhibitors across 250,000 square metres, highlighting the latest in lighting technology, sustainability, and human-centric solutions. Held alongside Guangzhou Electrical Building Technology (GEBT), the event aims to foster collaboration between global stakeholders and demonstrate how China is contributing to the future of lighting.
Wilkins’ presence at GILE is significant for international visitors. Her cross-continental experience and thought leadership bridge European and Asian design philosophies. Her guided tours will offer insights into how sustainability and innovation are being implemented in real-world projects, underscoring the event’s high standard and global relevance. For more information about the exclusive guided tours at GILE 2025, please visit https://qr.messefrankfurt.com/Q1a8b.
Reflecting on the significance of such events, Wilkins remarked: “The APAC market plays a major role in the global lighting industry. GILE provides a unique opportunity to develop state-of-the-art local solutions while addressing global challenges such as sustainability and circular economy practices.”
The Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition and Guangzhou Electrical Building Technology will be held concurrently. Both shows are part of Messe Frankfurt’s Light + Building Technology fairs headed by the biennial “Light + Building” event. The next edition will be held from 8 – 13 March 2026 in Frankfurt, Germany.
Messe Frankfurt organises several trade fairs for the light and building technology sectors in Asia, including Shanghai Intelligent Building Technology, Shanghai Smart Home Technology and Parking China. The company’s lighting and building technology trade fairs also cover the markets in Argentina, India, Türkiye, the UAE and the US.
For more information on Light + Building shows worldwide, please visit www.light-building.com/brand.
For more information regarding the lighting shows in China, please visit www.light.cn.messefrankfurt.com or email light@china.messefrankfurt.com.
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Background information on Messe Frankfurt
The Messe Frankfurt Group is the world’s largest trade fair, congress and event organiser with its own exhibition grounds. With a workforce of some 2,500* people at its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main and in 28 subsidiaries, it organises events around the world. Group sales in financial year 2024 were around € 780* million. We serve our customers’ business interests efficiently within the framework of our Fairs & Events, Locations and Services business fields. One of Messe Frankfurt’s key strengths is its powerful and closely knit global sales network, which covers around 180 countries in all regions of the world. Our comprehensive range of services – both onsite and online – ensures that customers worldwide enjoy consistently high quality and flexibility when planning, organising and running their events. We are using our digital expertise to develop new business models. The wide range of services includes renting exhibition grounds, trade fair construction and marketing, personnel and food services. Sustainability is a central pillar of our corporate strategy. Here, we strike a healthy balance between ecological and economic interests, social responsibility and diversity. For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com/sustainability With its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, the company is owned by the City of Frankfurt (60 percent) and the State of Hesse (40 percent). For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com
*Preliminary figures 2024
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