Sydney, Australia – Royal Philips Electronics (AEX: PHI, NYSE: PHG) this week highlighted how lighting design is an important element of urban brand identity as cities and the private sector use innovative solutions such as LED lighting to enhance the visual appeal and comfort of urban spaces.

As a thought leader and innovator in the health and well-being domain, Philips Lighting believes that LED lighting solutions play a role in creating iconic spaces and buildings that not only become areas of interaction and attraction for the community, but also enhance a city’s tourism and business potential.

As a keynote speaker at SPARC, Australia’s first major lighting seminar for the industry in conjunction with the Festival of Light “Vivid Sydney”, Rogier van der Heide, chief design officer of Philips Lighting said, “The right outdoor lighting can have a tremendous impact on a city’s brand and identity, be it one of innovation or sustainability. Energy-efficient LED lighting, offers many new opportunities for designers to create the future of light in public spaces and architecture. All these play a role in creating a city where different communities come together to work, play and learn.”

As cities across Asia Pacific grow at an unprecedented pace, there is a need to factor in the design of inviting, attractive and exciting public spaces. Lighting has the potential to reinvigorate urban life and promote a thriving community. Cities can use light and its visual splendor to create true architectural icons. Philips is committed to working together with municipalities and making our cities safer, more comfortable, more beautiful and more lively, with the least possible impact to our environment.

Philips’ participation in SPARC Sydney reiterates its commitment to the creative lighting community and is in line with its vision to showcase lighting solutions that transform urban spaces, and create new experiences for local communities. At SPARC, Philips hosted an expert panel discussion to inspire a dialgogue between creative leaders and thinkers of the lighting community. The insightful discussion explored the impact of changing trends and the latest LED innovations, trends and applications.

A key highlight at Vivid is a breathtaking display of light art installations using Philips LED lighting solutions. Philips is proud to collaborate with these artists, turning their ideas into stunning light art installations and displays. The key light art installations powered by Philips are C/C, Positive Attracts, Light Wave Action, Skyscraper Illuminati, aLf: artificial light form, Social Firefly, Web of Light, Composition for Enharmonic Moon and Ember.

SPARC chairman and General Manager of Philips Lighting Australia and New Zealand, Michael Downie said, “Philips continues to broaden its offering of lighting solutions for professional applications, maximising the potential of light to help cities ensure their roads are better lit and safer, helping building owners create inspiring office and residential environments and helping retailers use lighting to enhance the shopping experience. Through our association with Vivid Sydney and SPARC, we are demonstrating our commitment to provide innovative, sustainable and visionary lighting solutions to suit the needs of our diverse customer base.”

Philips has transformed iconic landmarks in cities such as, London (London Eye and Buckingham Palace), Philadelphia (Avenue of the Arts), Egypt (Cairo Tower), Hangzhou in China (the Grand Canal), Hong Kong (Stonecutters Bridge), Philippines (People Power Monument) and the Singapore Flyer with brilliant displays of lighting design and technology.