Prize(s) Winners in Fashion Design Lighting
Lighting Design/Product Company ambience
Lead Designers David Justice, Studio McQualter
Interior Design Company Studio McQualter
Client Scanlan Theodore
Photo Credits Traianos Pakioufakis
Completion Date July 2024
Project Location Melbourne, Australia.
Entry DescriptionA warm and intimate environment where the use of gentle layers of light has created a sanctuary of sophistication. It’s a cavalier breakaway from the everyday when it comes to illumination for retail and fashion design.
The lighting design champions clothing in its natural habitat. Taking cues from showcasing fashion on the runway, where garments best do their thing. It was critical to best represent the materials in the garments, after all they are the stars of the show. We called on luminaires in ultra-small and ultra-warm and took the unusual step in a retail setting of using a high CRI HD projector (customised with photographic lenses). This offered precise framing, vividness and a dramatic touch of theatre. We complemented this with a showstopping selection of decorative luminaires.
When strategizing, we treated each area as its own project in isolation, with different ideas, however, they had to also feel harmonious, complementary and work together. The details didn’t just end at the illumination output. In the visual merchandising displays mounting details were concealed and discreet, a highly nuanced process but one that was possible by working hand-in-hand with contractors.
The lighting design was a lesson in harnessing the mood-altering glow of warm illumination to enhance the luxurious and climatic feel of a space, and the product on display.
Sustainability ApproachFirstly, the space has lighting control to only use the energy that is crucial. Integration of Casambi dimming creates less waste (wireless) and energy use through extending the lifetime of the luminaires. Used throughout the space are architectural luminaires that enjoy a mix of the following characteristics: Government accreditation for being locally made, recycling lighting waste as part of the luminaire production process (helps in 95% energy saving- consumes 5% of original power/electricity that would be used if using prime aluminium), packaging is fully recycled and recyclable, there are no plastic inserts. And lastly, being designed to be re-purposed at the end of their lifecycle and not go to landfill.
