Pictures and content are subjected to copyright protection

Mark Carlson

Work Experience

Landscape Lighting Design & Contracting Business:

  • Avalon Lighting Design—Owner/ Designer-Contractor (1999 – present)

Education & Training Businesses:

  • Experiential Landscape Lighting Initiative (ELLI) —Founder/ Educator (2019 – present)

    Technical Writer (2014 – present) for the following:

    • Standard Practices for Landscape Lighting Designer
    • Standard Practices for Landscape Lighting Installer
    • Guide to Materials & Products
    • Low Voltage Landscape Lighting Trade Specifications
    • Bid Package Specifications for Landscape Lighting
    • Guide to Landscape Lighting Design Critique

    Program Developer/ Educator:

    • Affective Lighting Design program—(2025 – present)
  • Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals (AOLP)—Educator/Program Developer

    • Certified Outdoor Lighting Designer program (COLD))—(2009 – 2012)
    • Standards for Installation Practices—Technical Writer (2012 revision)

Landscape Architectural: (1986-1989 and 1998-1999)

  • Ken Bernhardt—Landscape Architecture, Roseville, CA
  • Thomas Coughlin—Landscape Architecture, Santa Ana/Yorba Linda, CA
  • Philip Sniderman—Landscape Architecture, Santa Ana, CA
  • Glen Schmidt Design—Landscape Architecture, San Diego, CA
#

Education

  • B.S. Degree: Botany (1987), California State University, Long Beach

Certifications/ Accolades

  • Licensed Landscape Contractor, C-27 (1992) #648814
  • NILLA Certified Landscape Lighting Installer (NILLA)—(1999)
  • AOLP Certified Low Voltage Lighting Technician (CLVLT)–(2006) #0631
  • AOLP Certified Outdoor Lighting Designer (COLD)–(2011) #1101
  • IESNA Visionary Challenge 2020—Awarded Publication of White Paper (only 20 chosen of 500+ entries)
  • Book Author: Lighting Design Awareness-Composition (2022) The Original Garden Lighting Book (2013)
  • Featured Writer—various trade magazines—Professional Lighting Design, Sunset, Pro Landscaper, Landscape Contractor, and Home Improvements & Remodeling
  • Multiple Awards—from IESNA, AOLP, and various manufacturer’s programs

Installation Works

  • National work: Primarily Sacramento region of N. CA/ Some works in S. CA, OR, AZ, and NV
  • International work: Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica/ Edmonton, Alberta, Canada/ Cabo San Lucas, Mexico