Acoustic Lighting for “Quiet Luxury”: How Design Choices Shape the Guest Experience with Jason Bird
Industrial designer and Luxxbox founder Jason Bird joins I Hear Design to unpack the design side of acoustic lighting—how soft materials, fixture geometry, surface area, and above-table placement can absorb chatter, clarify zones, and elevate “quiet luxury” in lobbies, lounges, F&B and guest rooms. He stresses designers as the true gatekeepers of the soundscape, and how acoustic lighting is a uniquely cost-effective tool because you need lighting where people are.
We cover retrofit realities (low ceilings, messy plenums), day-to-night ambience via dim-to-warm and scene setting, and simple ways to measure success so teams can budget and specify with confidence. Finally, be sure to check out Luxxbox’s Acoustic Analyzer, a user-friendly tool to help you quickly and easily generate a customized acoustic report for your next project.
Meet Our Guest
Jason Bird, Founder & Creative/Managing Director, Luxxbox
Jason Bird founded Luxxbox in 2006, designing and manufacturing furniture, lighting and objects for both commercial and domestic use. With a love for art and a fascination for engineering, he studied industrial design at Queensland University of Technology and designed lighting products for much of his career, blending art and function in a way that continues to defi ne his work. With a long and varied career, accolades and exhibitions in Los Angeles, London, New York, Tokyo and Australia, Jason’s skills are channeled into Luxxbox's unique aesthetic version of urban design.
His career launched in architectural lighting in Australia before relocating to the US, where he designed for several major US manufacturers, gathering invaluable experience in scale, specifi cation, and production. Returning home to his own practice he focused on designs embodying a visual display of strength which explore negative space. Using unconventional materials, industrial fi nishes, colors and production techniques, Jason’s designs push boundaries to make a unique style statement. Passionate about circular design, Jason designs with sustainability top of mind, making all of their fi xtures fully recyclable at the end of life and ensuring design responsibility. Jason's intimate knowledge of lighting design and manufacture have earned international awards for his large-scale public and custom lighting installations. With a wide range of acoustic solutions, Luxxbox began developing acoustic lighting at the request of interior designers who wanted the material incorporated into the company’s lighting range.
Made in America at the brand's California-based facility and distributed globally, Luxxbox is committed to developing authentic, original designs and is a proud member of Be Original Americas. Today, the company has become a major manufacturer exporting his designs throughout Asia, Europe and North America.
Key Moments in This Episode
00:00:05 — Welcome & introduction
Framing the central challenge in hospitality: make spaces look beautiful, feel calm, and actually sound good; Jason Bird and Luxxbox intro.
00:02:21 — Origin story: why acoustic lighting
Jason traces the insight that traditional hard-surface luminaires add to reverberation—and how softer materials in fixtures can change the experience.
00:05:07 — What “acoustic lighting” really means
A design-side explanation of fixtures made with sound-absorptive materials that reduce the sound load rather than contribute to it.
00:06:01 — When is it the right tool?
Designers assess layout, surfaces, and desired mood; lighting belongs where people are—which is also where absorption is most effective.
00:08:27 — Who owns the soundscape?
In most hospitality projects, interior designers are the “gatekeepers” of acoustic outcomes; acousticians join only on specialized programs.
00:10:10 — Materiality that matters
Thickness, density, and surface texture count—but so does surface area; aim for balance, not dead silence.
00:12:04 — Integration, not afterthought
Tactics to embed absorption aesthetically—combining soft finishes, printed/textured options, and lighting to create area without heavy treatments.
00:13:40 — Zoning & thresholds
Using acoustic luminaires and curtains to set the tone at entries and manage spill between bar, lounge, and circulation.
00:15:07 — Typologies: lobby, guest rooms, F&B
Matching the sound profile to intent—from buzzy theatrical zones to quiet, comfort-first environments.
00:16:44 — Day–night choreography with controls
Dim-to-warm and scene setting as a design move; partner with reps/controls teams to keep it simple for staff.
00:18:30 — “Quiet luxury” in practice
Why materials like wool read as premium while absorbing sound; palette and form create a “quiet cocoon” without shouting “treated.”
00:19:55 — Place it over people
Absorb chatter at the source—pendants and planes above communal tables and banquettes beat far-away wall treatments.
00:22:00 — Retrofit realities
Favor horizontal/suspended elements and partial planes that work around exposed MEP—two-sided surface area boosts effectiveness.
00:23:35 — Budget logic: value and tradeoffs
Acoustic lighting can be a cost-effective line item: you need lighting anyway, so let it carry part of the acoustic budget—especially when wall area is scarce.
00:25:50 — Measuring success
Reverberation-time targets and a practical analyzer provide starting numbers; success also shows up in guest/staff experience.
00:28:25 — Getting started
First, do the lighting calcs; then use the analyzer for surface-area/Sabins guidance to right-size quantities—call an acoustician if the program is complex.
00:30:20 — Impact in the real world
Under-fixture zones feel noticeably calmer; benefits extend to staff comfort and productivity, not just guests.
00:31:48 — Resources & CEUs
Luxxbox site, acoustic analyzer updates, white papers, and AIA courses for CE credit.
About the Author
Robert Nieminen
Chief Content Director
Chief Content Director, Architectural Products, BUILDINGS, and interiors+sources
Robert Nieminen is the Chief Content Director of three leading B2B publications serving the commercial architecture and design industries: Architectural Products, BUILDINGS, and interiors+sources. With a career rooted in editorial excellence and a passion for storytelling, Robert oversees a diverse content portfolio that spans award-winning feature articles, strategic podcast programming, and digital media initiatives aimed at empowering design professionals, facility managers, and commercial building stakeholders.
He is the host of the I Hear Design podcast and curates the Smart Buildings Technology Report, bringing thought leadership to the forefront of innovation in built environments. Robert leads editorial and creative direction for multiple industry award programs—including the Elev8 Design Awards and Product Innovation Awards—and is a recognized voice in sustainability, smart technology integration, and forward-thinking design.
Known for his sharp editorial vision and data-informed strategies, Robert focuses on audience growth, engagement, and content monetization, leveraging AI tools and SEO-driven insights to future-proof B2B publishing.