Publications

Residential Lighting Best Practices Guide – 2024

I strongly believe that the “Modern Design Team” must consist of the following professionals, who are also known as the Owner Collaborative.

I have been artistically and technically applying my craft for the Adaptive Design Group’s exclusive clientele nationally and internationally for more than 38 years. It has been a most exhilarating career to be added to exemplary design and build teams and affect our clients’ living environment by adding our trademarked layering process of light with thoughtful dimming controls. The only way to success in the luxury home market is with an engaged, educated client who understands the need for a complete design team, demands professional documentation and specifications, and creates an appropriate budget with the design and build team – all before breaking ground. What a novel idea in the approach to any home!

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Adaptive Design group Publication feature: OneKindesign December 2022

An amazing mountain modern house overlooks the snowy Uinta Mountains

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Stone and cedar siding complement the standing seam metal roof of this ski-in/ski-out vacation residence. The swooping roof forms allow for extensive glazing, framing breathtaking views of the Uinta Mountains and the valley below. Adaptive Design Group worked with the project team to provide their Artistic Lighting Design and Controls in this spectacular home.

OneKindesign December 2022

An Amazing Mountain Modern House Overlooks the Snowy Uinta Mountains

A striking mountain-modern residence set high above the snowy Uinta Mountains was recently featured by OneKindesign, highlighting both its architectural presence and the refined lighting experience that brings the home to life. Wrapped in a palette of natural stone and cedar siding, the exterior is crowned by a dramatic standing seam metal roof. Its sweeping rooflines were designed to allow expansive glazing, framing uninterrupted views of the valley below and delivering a continuous connection between interior living spaces and the surrounding alpine landscape.

Adaptive Design Group collaborated closely with the project team to deliver Artistic Lighting Design and fully integrated Controls for this extraordinary ski-in/ski-out residence. The intent was never to overpower the architecture, but to reveal it — allowing the structure, materials, and views to speak while lighting quietly shaped the experience of each space.

At the core of this project is the philosophy behind ADAPTIVE’s trademarked 8 Layers of Lighting Design, developed by noted lighting designer Glenn Merlin Johnson. His methodology is centered around the thoughtful application of light as an artistic and architectural tool, combined with intelligent dimming and control technology that enhances both function and atmosphere. Rather than treating lighting as an afterthought, the ADAPTIVE Method® positions it as a foundational design element that guides how a home is seen, felt, and lived in.

As architectural lighting has become increasingly valuable in luxury residential projects, the ability to provide true design expertise in this discipline has become a major differentiator. Glenn’s work focuses exclusively on high-end custom residential design nationwide, remaining purposefully independent from product supply or distribution. This allows Adaptive Design Group to remain completely focused on performance, artistry, and technical excellence without compromise.

Johnson, whose book The Art of Illumination is used in more than 25 colleges and universities, has spent nearly four decades refining the craft of residential lighting. His belief is simple: when lighting is done correctly, the homeowner shouldn’t notice the fixtures — only the feeling of the space. Poor lighting can overwhelm even the most beautiful architecture, while refined lighting quietly elevates every surface, texture, and view.

This project stands as a clear example of what happens when architects, interior designers, and a dedicated technical lighting team work as a unified force. The result is a home that feels natural, intentional, and visually effortless — despite the complexity behind its execution.

If you’re envisioning a home where architecture and light work in perfect harmony, connect with us to explore how a layered lighting approach can transform your space into something truly timeless.

Building a Collaborative ‘Tech Team’

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Integrators and lighting design/engineers are both part of the puzzle necessary to create solid biddable and buildable designs.

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The Magic of ADAPTIVE’s 8 Layers of Lighting Design

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CEDIA Webcast on Spotify: Cedia Adds GuardDog to Propel Program

In this cast I talk with Peter Bookman, Founder & CEO of GuardDog, Glenn Merlin Johnson, CEO of Adaptive Design Group and Ian Bryant, Sr. Director of Strategic Partnerships at CEDIA about GuardDog, a new Cyber Security tool, being the newest member of the CEDIA Propel Program

Click above image or link to hear CEDIA Webcast on Spotify

CEDIA Webcast on Spotify

Innovation in the luxury home industry is no longer confined to architecture, lighting, or interiors — it now extends deeply into cybersecurity, data protection, and digital trust. In this CEDIA webcast, Glenn Merlin Johnson, CEO of Adaptive Design Group, joined an expert panel conversation alongside Peter Bookman, Founder & CEO of GuardDog, and Ian Bryant, Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships at CEDIA to discuss the launch of GuardDog as a member of the CEDIA Propel Program.

The discussion explored how cybersecurity has become a foundational element of the modern luxury residence. As homes grow increasingly connected — with integrated lighting, automation, climate control, audio/video systems, and smart infrastructure — the need for secure, reliable digital frameworks has never been more critical. This conversation focused on how innovative tools like GuardDog are helping integrators and homeowners proactively protect these complex systems.

Glenn Merlin Johnson brought a lighting designer’s perspective to the discussion, emphasizing how early collaboration between technical partners strengthens every layer of a smart home. Lighting design, electrical planning, control systems, and cybersecurity are no longer separate conversations. They are part of a unified technical ecosystem that must be coordinated from the very beginning of a project. When these elements align, the homeowner experiences not just beauty and comfort, but confidence in the integrity of their home.

The GuardDog integration into the CEDIA Propel Program represents a shift in how the industry approaches risk, responsibility, and long-term system health. It isn’t about fear or complexity — it’s about empowerment. When homeowners understand that their systems are protected by thoughtful design and forward-thinking technology, the home becomes a sanctuary in every sense of the word.

Adaptive Design Group continues to be part of these conversations because lighting does not exist in isolation. It lives within a broader framework of design, engineering, and technology. By remaining engaged with leaders across disciplines, we help shape environments that are not only visually extraordinary, but technologically resilient.

If you’re planning a luxury residence or are evolving your technical strategy, we invite you to connect with us and explore how collaborative design thinking can elevate the safety, performance, and beauty of your home.

Cybersecurity at the Edge

Residential Systems Fall 2021 – Inside the CEDIA Launchpad with guardDog Solutions

At the CEDIA Expo Launchpad, where innovation meets integration, Glenn Merlin Johnson joined forces with guardDog Solutions to represent one of the most urgent and overlooked categories in residential technology: home cybersecurity.

With decades of experience in systems design and business development, Glenn assisted guardDog.si in introducing Fido—a plug-and-play device that protects networks at the edge without requiring an IT specialist. In a post-pandemic world where CEOs, professionals, and creatives alike now work from home, the need for network security has skyrocketed. Traditional alarms may protect your physical space, but guardDog protects everything digital.

As Johnson explains: “We’re like a cyber alarm company, sitting at the virtual front door—stopping identity theft, personal data breaches, and keeping enterprise-level security intact even from a home office.”

Developed by CEO Peter Bookman—who’s been building toward this for 25 years—Fido is ready for real-world deployment. The device connects through a simple router setup and immediately begins monitoring for threats, leveraging AI to stay one step ahead. And when one device detects a black hat attacker, every guardDog learns about it—network-wide protection in real time.

This Launchpad appearance also marks a step forward in developing a dealer program built for custom integrators, with an eye toward recurring revenue streams in a category that’s only growing.

Read the full article on Residential Systems and learn more about how Adaptive Design is helping smart home integrators expand their toolkit.

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