Rose Bruford College has proudly hosted architectural lighting competition Ready, Steady, Light for more than 20 years, bringing together leading lighting professionals for an evening of creativity, collaboration and experimentation.
One of the UK’s longest-running events of its kind, Ready, Steady, Light brings more than 100 industry practitioners to our campus each year. Against the unique backdrop of Grade II listed Lamorbey House and its surrounding grounds, teams have just 180 minutes to transform the landscape using a limited selection of lighting equipment.
The event is organised and delivered by undergraduate students studying Design for Performance and Stage Management, working alongside members of the Society of Light and Lighting (SLL) and the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD). For our students, this provides a rare opportunity to work directly with experienced professionals, developing their technical, organisational and collaborative skills in a live industry environment.
The challenge
Each year, the SLL invites teams of lighting professionals to compete against one another in a fast-paced creative challenge celebrating both the art and science of light.
Working with limited equipment and a strict time limit, each team must create an exterior lighting installation within 180 minutes. Every team must be led by at least one SLL member, with the finished installations revealed during an evening showcase across Lamorbey House and its grounds.
The result is an evening of inventive temporary installations, as professionals push the possibilities of light while responding to the architecture, landscape and character of the site.
For Rose Bruford College students, the event offers a unique insight into professional practice, while for the participating lighting designers it is an opportunity to experiment, collaborate and create something extraordinary in an historic setting.
Ready, Steady, Light 2026
The 2026 edition of Ready, Steady, Light takes place on Thursday 15 October 2026, from 3.00pm to 10.00pm, at Rose Bruford College.
The event is open to industry practitioners participating in the competition only.
Ready to take on the challenge?
Image credit: Graham Baker