Steven Rosen

Steven Rosen has been a trailblazer in the field for over thirty years, utilising theatrical lighting methods in exhibitions covering history, science, and culture. His company, Available Light, is known for combining creativity, accuracy, and sustainable, high-quality solutions.

Rosen’s portfolio features some of the most renowned museum projects today. His lighting designs have enriched displays at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, the Bell Museum in Minnesota, and the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville.

Additionally, he has received acclaim for his work on the Sant Ocean Hall at the National Museum of Natural History, the National Archives Rotunda, The Franklin Institute’s Neural Climber, and the International Spy Museum. In all these projects, Rosen’s work improves clarity, mood, and emotional impact—bringing exhibits to life through the nuanced use of light.

A Fellow of the International Association of Lighting Designers and a member of the IES Museum Lighting Committee, Rosen has written many articles, lectured worldwide, and played a key role in the development of industry standards. He previously served as president of the IALD Education Trust and has taught at FIT’s Graduate Program in Exhibit and Experience Design.

His dedication to education is shown through sponsoring an annual scholarship in architectural lighting design and co-founding The Business of Light to foster professional development within the lighting community.

"Steven is more than a designer—he is a storyteller, mentor, and advocate," says one nominator. "He believes in light as a transformative medium that connects audiences to ideas and objects with subtlety and depth. Through decades of creative leadership, he has elevated lighting design to a central role in the museum experience."