Every designer's vocabulary contains 20+ luminaire archetypes. Knowing what a 'troffer' vs a 'recessed downlight' vs a 'wall-grazer' actually is, and what photometric distribution each delivers, is the difference between briefing a designer and being briefed at. Here's the canonical list.
Four ideas to carry into the next specification conversation you have.
Each has its own family. Downlights and panels for indoor offices. Bollards and floodlights for outdoor. High-bays for industrial.
Where the fixture lives. Recessed in ceiling, surface on ceiling, suspended below, pendant on a stem.
How the light comes out. Direct down, indirect up + bounced, wall-wash on vertical, asymmetric for special aim.
A 'pendant' is decorative. A 'downlight' is functional. Same lumens, totally different visual job.
Canonical types every designer knows and specifies.
| Type | Mount | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Downlight | Recessed | Office ambient |
| Troffer | Recessed grid 600×600 | Office |
| Linear | Recessed/surface | Office, retail |
| Panel | Recessed/surface | Office, school |
| Pendant | Cable/stem | Decorative |
| Chandelier | Pendant decor | Lobby, majlis |
| Spotlight | Track/surface | Accent |
| Wall-wash | Recessed angled | Vertical surface |
| Wall-grazer | Floor / cove | Texture light |
| Cove | Hidden in cornice | Indirect |
| Sconce | Wall mount | Decorative wall |
| Bollard | Ground 0.5-1.2m | Outdoor path |
| Floodlight | Pole/wall | Façade, sports |
| Streetlight | Pole 6-12m | Roadway |
| High-bay | Suspended 6-15m | Warehouse |
| Low-bay | Suspended 3-6m | Factory |
| Linear high-bay | Suspended linear | Aisle |
| Recessed step | Stair riser | Egress |
| Underwater | Pool/fountain | Water feature |
| Track + spot | Surface track | Retail flexible |
Five examples of matching luminaire type to design intent.
Wide distribution, low UGR, low cost per m². Troffer fits 600×600 grid ceiling. Panel similar but free-form layout.
Flexible aim, changeable angle, swappable beam. Why almost every modern retail ceiling uses track.
Visible fixture is part of the brand. Mixed with recessed downlights for actual task lighting.
High mounting demands narrow beam, high lumen, IK rating. Linear high-bay better for aisle uniformity.
Streetlight for roads, bollard for pedestrian paths, wall-mounted for entries. Hierarchy of pole heights.
From troffer to bollard, downlight to track-spot, our catalogue covers every archetype. Mix and match for your project, all from one supplier.
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