As the line between indoor and outdoor living continues to blur, integrators are rethinking how exterior environments fit into the broader smart home experience. Liaison Technology Group is leaning into that shift with the formal launch of Liaison Outdoor Lighting, a dedicated division aimed at bringing a more design-driven approach to exterior illumination.
Based in Decatur, the firm has long included outdoor lighting as part of its project scope. But this latest move signals a more intentional evolution—one that positions lighting not as a finishing touch, but as a foundational design element considered early in the process.
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Central to that strategy is the addition of veteran lighting designer Craig Rudasics, who joins the company to lead the division. With more than two decades of experience, Rudasics brings a perspective that blends technical precision with a nuanced understanding of how light shapes the emotional experience of a space.
“Outdoor lighting has often been treated as an afterthought,” Rudasics said in a statement shared with Connected Design. “But when it’s approached with intention, it can completely transform how a property is experienced after dark.”
That philosophy is rooted in both science and design. Rudasics’ early interest in the psychological and physiological effects of light—including research into Seasonal Affective Disorder—helped shape his approach to creating environments that feel balanced and natural. His work today often aims to replicate a “golden hour” aesthetic, using layered lighting techniques to highlight architecture and landscape without overwhelming the setting.
He further refined that approach under the mentorship of Jan Moyer, whose portfolio of winery and estate projects helped define a more subtle, composition-driven style of landscape lighting. The influence is evident in Rudasics’ own body of work, which spans high-end residential properties across Florida, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan.
For Liaison, bringing that level of expertise in-house is as much about process as it is about design. By integrating outdoor lighting into the earliest phases of project planning, the company is able to create a more cohesive experience where interior and exterior spaces are treated as a single, unified environment.
That integration extends beyond aesthetics. As with the firm’s broader portfolio, outdoor lighting systems are designed to tie directly into whole-home control platforms, supporting automated scenes, security functions, and overall property management.
“Outdoor lighting is a natural extension of the environments we’re already creating,” CEO Steve Weber said in the statement. “When it’s part of the conversation from the beginning, the result is more seamless—and ultimately more impactful for the client.”
The move reflects a broader trend across the custom integration channel, where lighting is increasingly viewed as both a design discipline and a core component of the smart home ecosystem. For integrators, it represents an opportunity to deepen client engagement while expanding the scope of services in a meaningful way.
With Liaison Outdoor Lighting, the company is betting that a more intentional, design-led approach will resonate—not just with homeowners, but with architects, builders, and designers looking for a more collaborative path to creating fully realized living environments.
