Stellar // Marfa 2026

Building a community of practice around darkness and light

Together with Light Collective, WE-EF Lighting was proud to host Stellar // Marfa 2026, a dark sky summit in Marfa, Texas, bringing together lighting designers, landscape architects, and lighting industry practitioners for an immersive exploration of responsible lighting under one of the darkest skies in the world. According to World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness, published in 2016, more than 80 percent of the world’s population lives under light polluted skies, and across America and Europe, almost 99 percent of the population can’t experience natural night. As a premium outdoor lighting manufacturer, WE-EF plays an integral role in producing quality luminaires that protect the natural night environment. We currently have 14 DarkSky approved luminaires in our product portfolio that meet the rigorous DarkSky International standards.

“At the center of WE-EF’s design philosophy, is a commitment to creating sustainable lighting that allows present and future generations to enjoy the beauty of all that surrounds them,” said Thiemo Cordes, CEO of WE-EF Lighting. “Stellar // Marfa presented us with the unique opportunity to directly engage industry stakeholders that have the power to affect real change and design solutions that limit light pollution.” Set against Marfa’s extraordinary nightscape, the event offered a rare opportunity to step away from theory and engage directly with the principles that define dark-sky friendly design. Through guided night walks, expert talks, hands-on WE-EF product demonstrations, and a collaborative design sprint, we explored how lighting can enhance environments while preserving the integrity of the night sky. We were also deeply inspired by the local art scene, with guided studio tours and a visit to the Chinati Foundation, an arts foundation established by Donald Judd for the installation of large-scale works of art.

The five principles for responsible outdoor lighting were a core focus of the event: useful, targeted, low-level, controlled, warm-colored. These principles shaped every session—from technical and measurement exercises to real-world case studies and design challenges. Stellar // Marfa also emphasized the broader importance of dark-sky preservation through presentations from Stephen Hummel, Senior Outreach Coordinator at McDonald Observatory, and Amber Harrison, Dark Sky Places Program Manager at DarkSky International. Three design practitioners presented case studies that focused on responsible lighting and the human and ecological impact of their designs—Nancy Clanton, founder of Clanton and Associates; Charles Stone, co-founder of Fisher Marantz Stone Partners; and Stephen Rabourn of REMOTE architecture. Their work showed that through research, innovation, and collective effort, it’s possible to create lighting solutions that protect the people and planet.

The event wrapped up with a star party in the middle of the Marfa desert. Surrounded by the vast nighttime landscape, we concluded the event being collectively inspired to deliver sustainable, precise, and responsible lighting. At WE-EF, this mission is embedded in our designs, and we remain committed to minimizing light pollution and protecting our night skies.

Photos by Nemi on Film