New and familiar voices weigh in on trends in the retail lighting market sector
Roughly six years out from the height of the COVID-19 pandemic that changed the way we work, socialize, learn, dine, and shop, LD+A is checking in again with experts on the state of the retail lighting industry and how it continues to influence branding in brick-and-mortar locations. We are delighted to speak with James Highgate, Amy Laughead-Riese, and Archit Jain from “Retail Reset” (LD+A, April 2022), as well as welcome Alyssa Humphries Stewart and Scarlett Taylor to the conversation. Their responses delve into how retail lighting has changed and remained the same since 2022, whether certain design elements have succeeded in the wake of global shift or fallen by the wayside, and how recent geopolitical developments may be steering the sector in new directions.
How would you describe the current state of the retail lighting design market?
James Highgate: Mostly, the chatter is from tariff -related increases. It should be noted that was implemented to increase the American production of U.S. goods. It is probably painful for importers in the short term.
Archit Jain: Retail has stabilized, and there is less hybrid activity (such as buying online and picking up in-store). From when we last spoke, the focus on creating lighting that is not only functional but also speaks to the overall identity [remains] important, but cost has become the biggest concern for all our clients. For many rollouts (stores designed based on a prototypical design), clients are looking for a way to reduce costs—whether with less expensive luminaires or with a simplified design.
A substantial increase in video screens and digital media has also significantly impacted the overall lighting environment. New stores feature several innovative digital touchpoints. For example, Innvictus includes an in-store innovation center, mobile point-of-sale, and digital customization labs; ABC Mart integrates digital mannequins and fitting rooms with user-controlled lighting and smart mirrors; Home Court off ers interactive experiences like “The Clinic Digital Experience,” a vertical jump challenge to test sneaker performance; and Amazon Fresh Store incorporates fiducial tracking (tracking of products selected via one of hundreds of cameras in store), aisle screens, and a grab-and-go cashier-less checkout system.
Amy Laughead-Riese: There were supply chain issues in 2022. To some degree, this is still a challenge even though the reason behind those delays has evolved post-pandemic. We’ve recently received calls from clients with pre-determined specifications, helping them pivot to alternative products and keep their installations on schedule.
[Additionally,] retail projects constantly face pressure to minimize upfront capital expenditure while maintaining strict brand aesthetic and performance requirements. Even with recent market outcomes of new tariffs, we’re still able to craft affordable lighting solutions thanks to the combined talents of design, industry relationships, and innovative factories. The continued adoption of manufacturers making IES TM-30 data readily available to specifiers has made it easier to find and recommend better products to our clients.
Alyssa Humphries Stewart: There is a heightened interest in merging the physical and digital consumer experiences: “phygital.” Brands want their stores’ design, atmosphere, and vibe to align with their online user experience and viceversa. For lighting design, that means identifying elements of the brand, including their online presence, and translating that to the appropriate lighting color temperatures, textures, and contrast to the physical spaces.
Scarlett Taylor: I would describe [the current state of the lighting sector] as excessive, colder, sometimes flat, and lacking contrast. One of the things that I believe has impacted the retail market, for good and bad, is the variety of products at lower cost as LEDs have evolved. Bad in the way that lighting is being used carelessly—lacking control in the quality of light, glare, optics—and without consistency in color temperature through the retail space.
Last time some of us chatted, the multi-use complex cropped up as a point for growth in the retail lighting sector from multiple panelist responses. Is the market still trending toward mixed-use spaces? If so, why? If not, are there other subsets (big-box, high-end, specialty boutiques, pop-up, etc.) poised for increased growth?
Taylor: I do see that mixed-use spaces are increasing, from big resorts combining residential and “wellness” spaces, to high-end office buildings bringing in hospitality and retail. People increasingly want to have everything in one place—less movement, less time. Retailers want to be where the market is.
Highgate: Big brands are repositioning themselves and targeting niche market sectors.
Laughead-Riese: Developers are increasingly stacking retail with residential and commercial uses—not just due to rising land costs and urbanization but also shifting work patterns. Co-working and flexible office spaces help activate buildings throughout the day, complementing the daily rhythm of retail and residential use. This continues to be trending due to increased needs for housing, and allowing people to live, eat, and play without a significant daily commute.
Big-box retailers continue to re-evaluate square footage; leasing select areas within their footprint for store-in-store partnerships with smaller brands or food and beverage. They also continue to be highly focused on buy online, pick-up in-store systems. Alternatively, luxury and high end brands continue to grow by focusing on curated customer experiences that cannot be felt virtually online.
Jain: We have not seen mixed-use spaces growing. There seems to be less activity in pop-up stores, too. In contrast, we’re seeing growth in specialty stores that reinforce the retailer’s brand identity, as well as essential formats like grocery stores. These functional spaces are increasingly designed to reflect brand values while prioritizing efficient, cost effective lighting solutions.
Making projects “Instagrammable” was gaining importance in 2022 according to panelist responses. How important is lighting design for retail success? How do you translate a brand’s identity into a lighting concept?
Humphries Stewart: The prominence of “Instagrammable” design features seems to be fading, while there has been an increase in high-end boutiques aiming to off er more unique one-on-one customizable retail experiences—for example, [inviting customers] into a store to customize a pair of shoes or piece of jewelry while working directly with a sales associate. These experience-driven environments are often technology focused, and lighting has become a pivotal part of that with architecturally integrated lighting such as backlit features, strategically placed millwork lighting, color-tunable mirrors in dressing rooms, and interactive screens that echo the digital brand presence.
Taylor: Lighting design is a major element for retail success. The brand identity is driven by the diff erent elements in the retail space—using the light is one of the main factors. Illumination can [create] contrast, accent, task light, reveal texture, and bring attention to details, including how the person is feeling in the space. Designers need to think about where they are trying to make the store “Instagrammable” versus spaces where retailers want the products to look great in photos.
Jain: Spaces with user experiences are critical to being camera friendly. These [spaces] can be on any type of social media, including online reviews, so this [element of design] is always important.
Laughead-Riese: Lighting plays a key role in creating and enhancing focal points within a broader design con cept. It can communicate accessibility, inclusiveness, value, and the quality of merchandise. We collaborate closely with retailers to understand the details that matter—such as how to choose the right color temperature in combination with high color-rendering properties. These lighting characteristics significantly shape the perception of finishes, the appearance of merchandise, and even how our skin tones are seen.
How are sustainability goals influencing lighting design in retail? What innovations are helping retailers reduce energy consumption without compromising aesthetics?
Jain: In our experience, retailers want to light the products and the spaces to the light levels needed and then determine the most effi cient way to get there in a budget-friendly way. We evaluate high performing LEDs—especially those with strong CRI and R9 values—as key criteria in delivering quality and cost-eff ective lighting solutions.
Taylor: Sustainability should be an opportunity to be more assertive in lighting design, but I see a lack of understanding of [sustainability], and [the result often] becomes a grid of downlights as the most powerful light source without attention paid to the quality of light, amount of light, glare, etc. On the other hand, there are more products out there that have been focused on delivering good effi cacy.
Highgate: LEDs have contributed to sustainability in retail design. But, they have plateaued with energy savings as a one-to-one replacement. The trend now is functionality and micro-incremental savings. Better optics or more digital controls allow LEDs to be considered “energy saving” in 2026. Also, adding or combining features to fi xtures (temperature, motion, CCT tuning, etc.) may lend products to be considered green.
Laughead-Riese: Many indoor mall retailers, convenience stores, and even a few luxury retail clients of ours come to the table with the request for light levels that are anywhere from 60 footcandles (fc) to 120 fc as a target average illuminance. The higher illuminances are usually inclusive of the accent lighting. With the onset of LED technology, achieving these targets is a breeze, as the LEDs are so efficient. We’re also employing the use of track systems that allow for integration with linear lighting so that the general and accent lighting utilize the same power system.
Humphries Stewart: Each year, lighting designers work toward complying with more-stringent energy codes. Fortunately, brands are seeking ways to become more sustainable by incorporating energy-effi cient lighting to reduce their environmental footprint to demonstrate to consumers their commitment to responsible practices.
How has the role of lighting in retail evolved in the post-COVID world the past few years? Are there any emerging technologies that are reshaping how lighting is used in brick-and-mortar stores?
Humphries Stewart: I wouldn’t say that the lighting in retail spaces has evolved as much as it is being refined. We are getting better at integrating into these curated immersive environments that include lighting, sound, scents, and tactile experiences. Our collaborators are also more open to ways that lighting and controls can support their project goals.
Highgate: We are still feeling the deletion of two years in technology.
Jain: What we have noticed is that there are numerous video screens in many of our projects. The lighting needs to work around them. While I would like to say that tunable-white, color-changing, and enhanced lighting controls are used in all our projects, the reality is that this happens in limited areas within a small number of retail stores.
Laughead-Riese: More retailers are choosing to invest strategically in specific areas of the store where lighting can have the greatest impact—particularly in fitting rooms. These spaces are evolving into larger, more personalized environments, often used in collaboration with private shoppers. Here, lighting is tunable and dimmable, giving both guests and sales associates the ability to adjust color temperature and intensity to create the most flattering and customized experience. Layers of light include a cove light, decorative ceiling light, as well as downlight and integrated lighting within the mirrors.