About
Deborah Witte, IALD, ASID, CID, IES
President
Deborah has 20 years of diverse lighting design experience and brings extensive technical and practical expertise to her client’s lighting solutions. Deborah’s multi-faceted professional background includes work in the disciplines of interior design, hospitality design, demand side energy management and lighting manufacturing. Deborah has a demonstrated proficiency in creating successful designs that are sensitive to their load on the environment.
In 1994 Deborah established her first lighting design practice in California. Having built two award-winning lighting design firms in San Francisco, she founded Witte Associates inc. in 2001 with an Aspen Colorado design studio.
Deborah’s projects include private residences, destination hotels and resorts, historic properties, corporate campuses, mixed-use developments, private and public art galleries. Witte Associate inc.’s success is due to Deborah’s well known attention to detail and commitment to her clients. Her innovative designs emphasize lighting’s impact on the human experience while maintaining a careful presence in the architecture.
In 2008 Deborah added Tim Ayotte to her lighting team at Witte Associates inc to expand the reach of her work and passion for light. Under the name Witte|Ayotte light the company is pursuing new opportunities and venues for defining quality lighting.
Deborah holds interior design certificates with CCIDC and the NCIDQ. She has a Certificate of Technical Knowledge (TKE) from the Illuminating Engineering Society. She is a professional member of the International Association of Lighting Designers IALD and has served on the energy and sustainability subcommittee and is currently serving on the LightFair planning committee. She is a member of and past Director of Marketing for the California North Chapter of ASID as well as the Illuminating Engineering Society. She has represented the ASID on the Board of the NCQLP (National Council for Qualifications of Lighting Professionals).
Teaching and speaking engagements have included: The Department of Commerce Tourism Infrastructure Delegation to Turkey, Greece and Italy. “The Future of Technology in Design” at the International Society of Hospitality Consultants Conference, San Francisco; Panelist for the International Hotel Investment Conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil; a speaker at the Hospitality Industry Association in San Francisco; an Adjunct Professor in lighting design at Canada College, Menlo Park, CA and Academy of Art College, San Francisco.
Deborah received a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design, Cum laude from the University of Arizona `87. She also studied at Parsons School of Design, NYC. Elected to Aglaia, Golden Key and Omicron Nu Honor Societies. She was honored at the University of Arizona by winning the 2002 Young Achiever Award from the College of Agriculture.