Branding through light is a challenge no matter what the style, but middle market, referenced to a specific style can become that much harder – how to be glamorous but accessible, space efficient but elegant, and to whisper the name New York in everything we do whilst sticking to lighting appropriate throughout the United States represents a huge challenge.  Further, launching a client on a new learning curve with new technologies whilst remaining conservative and emphasizing a precise reliability is challenging.  In collaboration with Eight Inc, Lux Populi delivered a scheme which appears achieves all these goals and many more.

The scheme utilizes perimeter fluorescent lighting to illuminate the merchandize whilst cueing the visitor to the market segment and price point.  In the general store, a simple paired grid of fixed downlights and wallwashers is spaced precisely to avoid the flattening effects of lighting grids whilst retaining their simplicity.  The density achieves correct vertical and horizontal light levels but great revelation of form – the challenge was to space them apart as much as possible, but not too much, creating dark zones.   The central catwalk zone creates more than a moment of glamor and sparkle, the lighting integrating with materials to recreate a New York hotel canopy, a red carpet to explore.  Not a single adjustable luminaire was used, making the design repeatable and maintainable, whilst cost effective.