For anyone that has ever stepped foot inside an Apple store, you’ll know that it isn’t necessarily just about the products on show, but rather the overall experience of the space. Sometimes this gets to the point that it’s rare to see anyone actually purchasing anything as they instead prefer to play on display phones and tablets, but this is surely a testament to the inviting environment fostered within each store.

With this in mind, it was an easy decision for us, as part of this issue’s Retail Lighting project focus, to step inside one of the latest, most impressive Apple stores to date – Apple Marina Bay Sands.

A continuation of the long-standing relationship between the tech giants and Foster + Partners, Apple Marina Bay Sands exemplifies the dizzying heights that can be achieved in retail design, standing proudly on the Singapore marina as a remarkable piece of architecture, and a remarkable work of art. The project was the natural choice to grace the cover of this issue, and you can find out more about the design of this beautiful store on page 70.

I’m also thrilled to say that we’ve got not one, but two fascinating “Talking With…” interviews lined up in this edition. Firstly, it was my pleasure to speak to Prof. Dr. Thomas Römhild on the eve of his retirement. The founder of the Architectural Lighting Design Master’s course at Hochschule Wismar, it’s not a stretch to say that he is directly responsible for training and educating a huge proportion of the lighting designers working today. We at [d]arc media wish him all the very best in his retirement, and congratulate him on a stellar career!

Elsewhere, as we continue the discussion on diversity and inclusion, I sat down with Sanjit Bahra, Founder of DesignPlusLight, to talk about his experiences as a gay man of colour, and the need for greater representation throughout the industry.

Finally, as I’m sure you’ll have noticed, real life, in-person events are beginning to open up around the world, which is obviously amazing to see. In recent weeks, we held the second edition of [d]arc sessions in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE; Milan was alive with activity for the returning Milan Design Week; and I even ventured over to Austria for a special event at Zumtobel’s Dornbirn headquarters. Read about all of these events later in the magazine.

Enjoy the issue!

Matt Waring
Editor
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