Retail Lighting Design (SLL Lighting Design Handbook)

Summary

This tutorial on retail lighting design covers the core principles and strategies for creating effective lighting schemes in retail spaces. It highlights four key roles of retail lighting: attracting attention, conveying the store's message, guiding customers, and displaying merchandise. Factors such as shop profile, daylight usage, merchandise type, and obstructions are discussed. The tutorial delves into illuminance levels, lighting uniformity, and the importance of accent and display lighting, offering practical recommendations for various retail environments. It also explores the importance of light source color properties and the role of different lighting techniques for specific merchandise.

Takeaways

• 😀 Retail lighting has four major functions: attracting attention, conveying the nature of the store, guiding shoppers, and displaying merchandise.
• 😀 Retail lighting also plays a role in providing security and facilitating emergency egress, but emergency lighting is not covered in this tutorial.
• 😀 The shop profile is critical in determining the lighting style, with factors like price, usage, product range, and store style influencing the design.
• 😀 Different shop profiles (low-budget, value for money, quality, and exclusive) require different lighting approaches, from high uniform lighting to accent-focused lighting.
• 😀 Daylight can add an attractive dynamic element to stores, but many stores, especially out-of-town shed stores, have limited daylight penetration.
• 😀 The nature of the merchandise should guide lighting choices—warm lighting for cozy items like bedding and cool lighting for items like white goods or fresh produce.
• 😀 The presence of obstructions, like shelves or aisles, must be accounted for in the lighting design to avoid unnecessary lighting interference.
• 😀 Illuminance levels vary based on store profile: low-budget shops may require 500–1000 lux, exclusive stores typically need 100–200 lux for general lighting.
• 😀 Accent lighting is essential to highlight specific items and create variation in brightness and shadow, guiding shoppers' attention to merchandise.
• 😀 Display lighting techniques should enhance product features based on material type (e.g., spotlights for jewelry, up-lighting for textiles), using color and contrast to attract attention.

Q & A

What are the four main functions of retail lighting in a store?

The four main functions of retail lighting are: 1) To attract attention, 2) To convey a message about the nature of the shop, 3) To guide shoppers around the store, and 4) To display merchandise.

How do shop profiles influence retail lighting design?

Shop profiles, which are determined by price, usage, product range, and style, influence lighting design by dictating the type and intensity of lighting used. Low-budget shops typically use uniform general lighting, while exclusive shops require accent and display lighting for a more dynamic atmosphere.

What is the role of daylight in retail lighting, and when is it used?

Daylight is used to enhance the atmosphere in retail shops, particularly in out-of-town stores with roof lights or large windows. It adds a dynamic and attractive element to the store environment. However, many shops, especially in urban areas, rely more on electric lighting due to limited daylight penetration.

How does the nature of the merchandise affect lighting choices?

The type of merchandise influences the lighting design by dictating the light intensity and color. For example, bedding and soft goods require warm, low-level lighting, while electronics and white goods benefit from cool, bright lighting. Fresh food items need lighting that emphasizes their freshness, like redness in meat.

What is the importance of illuminance in retail lighting?

Illuminance, measured in lux, is crucial for balancing general, accent, and display lighting in a store. It varies based on the shop profile: low-budget shops may need 500-1000 lux, while exclusive stores use 100-200 lux for general lighting, relying more on accent lighting to create a dramatic effect.

What does illuminance uniformity refer to, and why is it important in retail lighting?

Illuminance uniformity refers to the even distribution of light across a space. In retail, it ensures that general lighting is consistent and doesn't create shadows or dark areas that could detract from the shopping experience. A uniformity ratio of at least 0.7 is recommended for general lighting.

What are luminance ratios, and how do they affect accent lighting?

Luminance ratios are the comparisons between the brightness of the merchandise and its background. A higher luminance ratio creates stronger accent lighting with noticeable highlights and shadows, helping draw attention to specific products. For dramatic effects, a luminance ratio of 50 or more can be used.

How do light source color properties influence retail lighting design?

The color of the light source impacts the mood and atmosphere of the store. Cool lighting conveys a businesslike, modern feel, while warm lighting creates a homier, inviting atmosphere. The choice of light color is also essential for accurately displaying merchandise, especially in the case of food or clothing.

What are the main types of retail lighting, and what role do they play?

The main types of retail lighting are general lighting, accent lighting, and display lighting. General lighting provides overall illumination, accent lighting highlights specific products or areas, and display lighting emphasizes the features of merchandise to attract customers and enhance its visual appeal.

How should display lighting be tailored for different materials, like glass or jewelry?

Different materials require specific display lighting techniques: for glass or crystal, uplighting or translucent background lighting works best; for jewelry, small spotlights with a black velvet background help create contrast; and for textiles, contour lighting from behind accentuates texture and detail.