Do you see a difference in the way retail clients are approaching their store lighting today? 

Overall most retailers are very aware about the importance of lighting today. This awareness however can work both ways. For example, some retailers believe in adding more & more lights without having technical knowledge on the right kind of lighting to be used. They may not have an architect/designer either to advise them on this. The result can be an eyesore - very bright flat lights, with wastage of resources and terrible aesthetics. On the other hand there are some retailers who are well travelled and have experienced the difference that lighting can make in footfalls. They are keen to bring those trends here and they go about it in a systematic manner - participating in the selection process, while also taking the help of a good retail architect/designer or lighting designer. They help him choose the right kind of products, while maintaining good design and aesthetics, and taking into account quality, maintenance etc. 

Do you also notice some common misconceptions among retailers when it comes to lighting?

One of the major misconceptions prevailing among retailers is 'the more, the better'. One factor that drives this is that LEDs today consume less electricity and generate lesser heat. Also, there is ample variety of lighting products in market. This actually has a snowball effect - when your neighbouring shop installs more & more lights and looks much brighter; you are forced to do the same in order to stand out. The result is the presence of many gaudily lit stores - be it in malls or on high streets. Only a few years ago, fashion retailers used to have 950-1000 lux in the store, but today it has reached 3000 lux and above. This defeats the purpose of environment-friendly lighting.

As architects what challenges do you face when it comes to finding the right lighting solutions for a retail project?

As retail architects & designers we do face some challenges in this context. On the client side, either they do not realize the importance of lighting or they are extremely cost conscious and do not think long term. On the other side, finding the right kind of suppliers is equally challenging. Sometimes a really good supplier is unable to provide the same kind of services to smaller retailers - the kind that they would offer to a larger chain of stores due to the economics involved. It’s all about getting the right match for a project. 

What do you look for when you choose a lighting supplier? What would be your checklist for evaluation?  

Apart from actual product range & technical specification we are quite particular about their track record, their clients / portfolio and their support system.

Do you think there is a need for lighting consultants/designers in retail?   

Yes, I’d say 100%. And the need is for highly knowledgeable designers as it’s an extremely specialized domain that needs specialised expertise. 

Can you talk about any of your recent retail projects where lighting made a big difference? 

I can share two examples; one is a jewellery store & the other a fine dine restaurant & bar. Peora brand is a well-known silver jewellery brand. While designing the store for this brand, we used pure white lighting to bring out thesilver colour of products in a much more sparkling manner.  Indiana Waters, an immensely popular restaurant & bar at Navi Mumbai, is a large space with very high ceilings. The space has various zones for different uses like reception, buffet counters, family section, raised special seating sections, DJ area, a bar, etc. So we have accordingly used the lighting to suit these different areas. Each area is lit in a unique manner to bring out the best aesthetic & appropriate mood. It is also a good example to show that just one kind of a product will not be a right fit;lighting needs to be designed carefully considering the usage, space proportion, infrastructure and style.