Course Descriptions & Scheduling
We are able to present these courses, typically an hour in length, either at our office or your facility. Often our partners elect to do this over lunch (we are happy to provide food and drinks), but we can just as easily schedule this earlier in the morning, later in the day, or whenever convenient to you and your teams.
CEDIA CEU Courses
Through the Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association (CEDIA), Mills Technologies is accredited to present courses that count toward learning credit hours:
Integrating Technology and Design isn’t just about combining the two; it’s about creating solutions that are not only functional but also intuitive, aesthetically pleasing, and tailored to meet the needs of users – so what are people putting in their homes? It’s inevitable that your client will add some sort of technology in after you have finished the project. Bring us on earlier and we can incorporate it, thoughtfully and discreetly. By fostering a collaborative environment, we unite the vision of designers, technologists, and experts across disciplines. This synergy breeds innovation. It sparks ideas that challenge the status quo, resulting in products and services that are not just iterations but true revolutions in their respective fields.
AIA 1.0 LU; IDCEC 0.1 CEU
Hidden Technology in the Home: Home electronics should integrate seamlessly into a home’s design and décor. This course reviews the three-pronged approach to hiding technology—advance planning, design philosophy, and product selection—which are available for minimizing the visual impact of electronics without compromising performance. Specific challenges and recommendations related to hiding video displays, projectors, speakers, controls, cameras, and equipment racks—among others—will be addressed. This course speaks to innovative and creative ways to lessen the visual impact of electronics by making them low-profile, hidden or camouflaged, or even invisible!
AIA 1.0 LU/HSW; AIBD 1.0 CEU; IDCEC 0.1 CEU; NARI 1.0 CEU
Outdoor Spaces; Extending the Living Space: Today’s homes have technology everywhere – inside and out! This market has grown beyond simple audio and video options. This course will provide design and build partners with a familiarity with outdoor technology options and how the environment (both weather, location, and terrain) influences outdoor technology choices. Additionally, participants will discuss the infrastructure, and equipment needs and options to ensure a successful project! Real-world examples will be provided throughout the course to ensure attendees understand how these principles are relevant to any project that includes an outdoor component.
AIA 1.0 LU/HSW; AIBD 1.0 CEU; IDCEC 0.1 CEU; NARI 1.0 CEU
Introduction to Integrated Lighting Design: Lighting plays a key role in any room design, whether you’re considering how to showcase a piece of art or how to set a scene for an intimate dinner party - the ways in which lighting can affect the feel of the room are undoubtable. What many may not realize is how technology can enhance and even simplify a home’s lighting plan. Attendees will walk away from this course with an understanding of the variety of lighting design techniques that can be streamlined with the use of technology. Additionally, attendees will gain insight on how light quality is determined and how it plays into overall lighting design plans.
AIA 1.0 LU; AIBD 1.0 CEU; IDCEC 0.1 CEU; NARI 1.0 CEU
Available Soon!
The following courses are currently under review and will be available starting in October 2024.
Proper Planning for Residential Electronic Systems: As with other rough-in trades (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing), electronic systems should be planned for well in advance of construction and documented at the construction drawing phase of design. This course describes the processes used by professionals in the project planning, design, and installation phases of electronic systems. Participants will be able to identify different types of residential systems and the unique impact of each on specific design considerations, such as space, framing, electrical, and ventilation requirements. This course will also help attendees identify and analyze the benefits of working with trained electronic systems professionals.
AIA 1.0 LU/HSW; AIBD 1.0 CEU; IDCEC 0.1 CEU; NARI 1.0 CEU
Shade and Window Treatments Overview – Motorize, Integrate and Automate: There are many different types of window treatments that can be installed in residential and commercial projects – including those used outside a structure. This course provides an introduction to these various types of products, the considerations (and client benefits) when automating shade and window treatments, and how to build your team of professionals when implementing this type of technology into your project.
AIA 1.0 LU/HSW; AIBD 1.0 CEU; IDCEC 0.1 CEU; NARI 1.0 CEU
Designing Home Theaters and Media Rooms: Digital entertainment plays a huge part in the modern lifestyle and is something that can be truly astounding when experienced in the correct environment. Dedicated and convertible entertainment spaces need careful thought and professional design to perform well, and ultimately wow the homeowner. In this course you will learn the principles that go into designing and implementing these entertainment spaces.
AIA 1.0 LU/HSW; AIBD 1.0 CEU; IDCEC 0.1 CEU; NARI 1.0 CEU
Dedicated Theater Design: What is a home theater? This may sound like a simple question, but is it? Participants in this course will come away with a very distinct definition of what a home theater is—and what it isn’t! Discussions will also include basic acoustical physics, common mistakes in designing theaters, as well as specific design considerations related to video, lighting, electrical, and safety, and comfort. This course will provide guidance related to what goes into the room—from equipment to wall treatments, to seating—and provide practical solutions to problems associated with home theater design and construction. Additionally, attendees will discuss the importance of engaging a trained, qualified professional early in the design and build process.
AIA 1.0 LU/HSW; AIBD 1.0 CEU; IDCEC 0.1 CEU; NARI 1.0 CEU
Manufacturer CEU Courses
In addition to the CEDIA accredited courses, Mills also has new manufacturer-partnered courses. Topics include, but are not limited to:
Designed to Disappear: Designed to Disappear is a presentation about making technology blend seamlessly into any design. It could be called erasing technology or applying photoshop in the real world. At it’s core, illustrating ways to elevate the level of elegance to any project. Outstanding imagery combined with design tips and ways to reduce the “wall acne” associated traditional technologies like light switches, electrical outlets, HVAC ducts, touch panels and illustrates how speaker sound coverage imitates lighting design. Great sound provides coverage, clarity and is comfortable to listen to indoors and in our outdoor living spaces.
AIA 1.0 LU/HSW; IDCEC 0.1 CEU
Human-Centric Lighting for Today’s Luxury Home: Define human-centric lighting and examine its three elements: quality light, natural light, and personalized control; understand design considerations and smart technologies that enable human-centric lighting. Implement design best practices for human-centric lighting and determine ways to communicate the value to clients.
AIA 1.0 LU; IDCEC 0.1 CEU
Living in a Material World, Specifying Shade Fabrics to Meet Occupant Needs: Identify key shade characteristics, understand fabric performance metrics such as weave, heat rating, and fabric size abilities. Explain specific info on heat, UV, and humidity enduring fabrics, and how they can be utilized to create the desired space. Describe the importance of automated shading in a space.
AIA 1.0 LU/HSW; IDCEC 0.1 CEU
LED Fixtures — How Good is Good Enough? Explain the metrics used to describe the quality of light including color temperature and color rendering index. Identify important LED quality metrics on fixture specification sheets. Recommend the appropriate LED light source for specific applications in both residential and commercial environments.
AIA 1.0 LU/HSW/SD; IDCEC 0.1 CEU
Today’s Smart Home: Identify opportunities for various smart home products throughout a property, communicate the life-improving benefits of smart home products, ensure that various products will integrate with each other successfully. Create intuitive and beneficial voice commands
AIA 1.0 LU/HSW/SD; IDCEC 0.1 CEU
