NIGHTSTAR – Design Innovation Story

Cities across Australia and New Zealand face increasing pressure to deliver safe, energy-efficient and environmentally responsible public lighting while preparing infrastructure for smart city integration. Traditional luminaires often compromise between performance, sustainability, aesthetics and future connectivity.The challenge was to design a luminaire that balances high optical performance, circular economy principles, smart-city readiness and architectural integration, while remaining simple to install and maintain.Additionally, the product needed to respond to growing concerns around light pollution, biodiversity protection and adaptive urban lighting, ensuring cities can illuminate public spaces responsibly while reducing environmental impact and operational costs.

NIGHTSTAR was developed through a collaborative design process involving Australian lighting professionals and urban stakeholders. Insights gathered during Schréder Signature workshops informed a luminaire designed specifically for local infrastructure needs.The solution integrates advanced LensoFlex®4 photometric technology, adaptive FlexiWhite colour temperature control, and open smart-lighting architecture using Zhaga-D4i and NEMA standards.A compact, minimalist form supports diverse urban applications while improving installation efficiency through tool-less maintenance and universal mounting.This integrated approach ensures the luminaire delivers optimal light distribution, adaptive functionality and long-term serviceability, creating a future-ready lighting platform for smart cities.

NIGHTSTAR delivers measurable environmental and operational benefits for municipalities and infrastructure operators. High-efficiency optics exceeding 150 lm/W significantly reduce energy consumption while maintaining high visual comfort and safety.The luminaire’s adaptive lighting capabilities enable dynamic dimming and sensor-based lighting scenarios, reducing unnecessary energy use while maintaining appropriate illumination levels.Designed for circular economy principles, NIGHTSTAR uses recyclable materials and modular components to extend product lifespan and simplify maintenance.Beyond technical performance, the design contributes to improved public spaces by minimising glare and light pollution while supporting biodiversity-friendly lighting environments.

Energy SavingsNIGHTSTAR integrates the latest efficient LED technology and controls, cutting electricity consumption by up to 50% or more compared to older, conventional systems and substantially lowering CO2 emissions associated with energy production. Advanced optical performanceThe luminaire incorporates Schréder’s LensoFlex®4 optical system, which pairs individual LEDs with dedicated lenses to deliver precise light distribution tailored to each application. This approach ensures optimal visual comfort while minimising light spill and glare.Adaptive lighting with FlexiWhite technologyFlexiWhite enables dynamic adjustment of colour temperature, allowing lighting schemes to shift between warmer and cooler tones depending on time of day or activity levels. This supports improved urban ambience, biodiversity protection and circadian-friendly environments.Smart-city readinessNIGHTSTAR supports open connectivity through Zhaga-D4i and NEMA sockets, enabling integration with sensors, control nodes and smart city platforms without proprietary lock-in.Circular economy designThe luminaire has achieved the highest rating under the Schréder Circle Light Label assessment, recognising its recyclability, repairability and modular construction. The ability to repair or upgrade modules instead of replacing the entire light reduces long-term costs.Ease of installation and maintenanceTool-free access and universal mounting options simplify installation and servicing, reducing lifecycle costs for municipalities and contractors.