Smarter Outdoor Lighting Design with FX Luminaire’s MyDesign Tool
By: Gerad VandenBussche, VP of Vanden Bussche Irrigation
Planning an outdoor lighting project can feel like a guessing game. You have to balance brightness, coverage, aesthetics, and budget, all while trying to picture how your lighting will atually look once it’s installed. At Vanden Bussche Irrigation, we know how important it is to give your clients clear, professional landscape lighting plans that save you time and help you deliver the results they expect.
That’s why we recommend FX Luminaire’s MyDesign landscape lighting design software. This free, easy-to-use tool helps you plan and visualize your lighting layouts on-site or from your truck, so you can confidently move forward with each project.
The Challenges of Traditional Lighting Layout Planning
If you’ve ever planned an outdoor lighting job the old-fashioned way, you know it can get complicated. You may sketch rough layouts on paper or rely on your headlamp and intuition to guess where each fixture should go. Sometimes you measure distances and angles, only to realize later that the light spread isn’t quite right or that a path light is hidden by a shrub you didn’t notice.
These challenges slow you down, lead to extra site visits, and can leave your customers second-guessing the plan. Without a clear visual, it’s hard for homeowners or property managers to understand how the finished project will look. This can delay approvals or change orders during installation, eating up your time and budget.
Introducing MyDesign: What It Is and Who It’s For
FX Luminaire’s MyDesign landscape lighting design software helps contractors, designers, and installers quickly plan and visualize lighting layouts with professional clarity. It’s a web-based tool that works from your laptop or tablet, letting you upload a property photo, drop in fixtures, and adjust placement, angles, and brightness in real time.
If you’re a landscape contractor working on residential yards, golf courses, or commercial properties, MyDesign can help you put together a polished lighting plan that’s easy to share with clients. It’s ideal for teams who want to offer smart lighting solutions while speeding up the planning phase.
You can try MyDesign for free right here: FX Luminaire MyDesign Tool
Key Features and Benefits: Speed, Visualization, On-Site Flexibility
Speed: MyDesign reduces the time it takes to sketch and measure your lighting layouts. You can build a full plan in a single visit to the site.
Visualization: Your clients can see how their space will look with specific fixtures, beam angles, and lighting effects. This makes approvals faster and helps avoid second-guessing.
On-Site Flexibility: Bring your tablet to the site, walk the property, and place fixtures on your plan in real time. You can adjust your design as you gather feedback, creating a collaborative experience with your client.
How It Helps Contractors Save Time and Improve Accuracy
Time is one of your most valuable resources, and MyDesign helps you make the most of it. Instead of spending hours on hand-drawn layouts and multiple client meetings, you can generate a clear, professional design in one visit.
The software’s built-in fixture library allows you to select real products, like the FX Luminaire MU uplight or the WAC Wall Wash Light, so you know exactly what you need for each project. This reduces material waste and helps ensure your design translates accurately to the field.
By planning with MyDesign, you can also create accurate parts lists for your orders, reducing overages and shortages on your job site.
Example Scenarios Where MyDesign Makes a Difference
Residential Backyards: A homeowner wants a lighting upgrade for their patio and garden. Using MyDesign, you can quickly drop in the FX Luminaire PL Pathlight along walkways and highlight trees with FX Luminaire MU uplights, showing the customer exactly what their evening space will look like.
Commercial Entrances: A business owner wants a more welcoming entrance but isn’t sure what fixtures will work best. MyDesign helps you demonstrate lighting zones and show how path lighting and wall washing will enhance safety and curb appeal.
Golf Course Pathways: You’re asked to light a path between greens. MyDesign helps you map out fixture placement while considering elevation, bends, and coverage, making it easy to adjust the plan on-site with the superintendent.
In all of these cases, MyDesign lets you present a clear vision and execute your plan efficiently.
Connecting Product Planning to VBI’s Smart Lighting Inventory
Once you’ve finalized your design in MyDesign, you’ll need to order your lighting fixtures. That’s where VBI comes in. We stock a full range of FX Luminaire, WAC Lighting, and other trusted lighting brands, helping you match your design plan with available inventory.
When you work with us, you get:
- Access to reliable products like the FX Luminaire MU uplight, WAC Wall Wash Light, and WAC Balance Pathlight
- Expert guidance on matching your design with appropriate transformers, wiring, and controllers
- Smart irrigation and lighting planning support under one roof, streamlining your projects
How to Get Started with MyDesign Through VBI
Ready to try FX Luminaire’s MyDesign landscape lighting design software? It’s simple:
Visit MyDesign: Go to FX Luminaire’s MyDesign Tool.
Create a Free Account: Set up your profile to save and organize projects.
Upload Your Photo: Take a photo of your client’s property and upload it into the tool.
Start Designing: Drop in fixtures, adjust angles, and map out your zones.
Save and Share: Export your plan to share with your client, or use it as a materials list when placing your order with VBI.
If you need help connecting your MyDesign plans with our available inventory or want advice on fixture choices, our team at VBI is ready to help.
Plan Better, Faster, and Smarter
FX Luminaire’s MyDesign software takes the guesswork out of smart lighting design. It helps you deliver accurate, professional plans while making your process faster and more collaborative. Whether you’re lighting a small backyard or a large commercial space, you’ll find that MyDesign gives you the confidence to plan, present, and install smarter.
Plan better, faster, and smarter. Access FX Luminaire’s MyDesign tool through VBI and take the guesswork out of your next lighting layout.
FAQ
Q: What is FX Luminaire’s MyDesign Tool?
A: FX Luminaire’s MyDesign Tool is a free, web-based landscape lighting design software that helps contractors and designers plan outdoor lighting layouts with precision. It allows you to upload a property photo, place fixtures, and adjust angles and brightness in real time. This helps you present clear plans to clients and speeds up project approvals.
Q: How does MyDesign help with outdoor lighting projects?
A: MyDesign helps you plan lighting layouts accurately while on-site, reducing the guesswork in fixture placement and coverage. It lets clients visualize how their space will look, making it easier for them to approve plans quickly. This tool saves time, reduces unnecessary site visits, and helps align designs with your clients’ expectations.
Q: Can I use MyDesign for residential and commercial projects?
A:Yes,MyDesign is ideal for residential backyards, commercial properties, and even larger spaces like golf courses. It allows you to design customized lighting plans for different zones, ensuring coverage and aesthetic goals are met. Whether you are lighting a patio, walkway, or a large entrance, MyDesign offers flexibility for various project sizes.
Q: What types of lighting fixtures can I plan with MyDesign?
A: You Can professionally plan your outdoor lighting using any FX Luminaire fixture and the software: MyDesign. The tool’s library includes real products so your design reflects accurate fixture specifications. This helps you create material lists for orders while ensuring what you design is what you install.
Q: How do I get started with MyDesign for my lighting projects?
A: To get started, visit FX Luminaire’s MyDesign Tool and create a free account to save and manage your projects. Upload a property photo, add fixtures, adjust their placement, and export your design to share with clients or to use as your order guide with VBI. If you need help matching your design with inventory, VBI’s team can support your project planning.