When Commercial Spaces Use Light to Tell a Story

In many cities, commercial interiors are becoming increasingly similar. The same materials, the same layouts, the same lighting solutions repeat from place to place. Against this backdrop, businesses are quietly searching for ways to stand out — not louder, but more meaningfully.

One of the most subtle shifts in recent years has been the evolving role of neon. Once associated primarily with signage, neon is now being used as a spatial and narrative tool — shaping how interiors feel, how they are remembered, and how people move through them.

From Visibility to Meaning

Traditional commercial lighting prioritised function: visibility, brightness, efficiency. Neon, historically, followed the same logic. Its job was to be seen.

Today, that expectation is changing.

In contemporary interiors, neon increasingly works as part of the environment rather than above it. Instead of drawing attention to itself, it supports atmosphere, reinforces identity, and introduces a sense of intention into space. When done well, it doesn’t announce its presence — it feels necessary.

This shift reflects a broader change in how businesses think about physical space: not just as a location, but as an experience.

Light That Responds to Architecture

One of the challenges of using neon inside commercial spaces is that it behaves differently than expected. Materials absorb or reflect light in unpredictable ways. Ceiling height alters perceived intensity. Glass, mirrors, and polished surfaces can dramatically change how neon reads once installed.

Over time, designers working closely with real spaces learn that concepts that look balanced on screen often need adjustment in reality. Successful installations are rarely about adding more light. They are about calibrating proportion, placement, and restraint.

This approach requires treating neon not as decoration, but as a material that must respond to architecture.

A Practice Shaped by Experience

This philosophy is central to the work of Dmytro Andrukhov, a Chicago-based artist and designer whose commercial projects explore the intersection of art, engineering, and interior space.

Through his studio, CityNeon, Andrukhov works with businesses and designers to integrate light into interiors as a long-term spatial decision rather than a visual accent. His background combines hands-on fabrication with artistic composition — a combination that allows neon to function both expressively and reliably in active commercial environments.

Rather than following established lighting templates, the work evolves through direct experimentation with materials, mounting systems, and real-world installation constraints.

Experiential Interiors and Memory

In hospitality venues, studios, and social spaces, light plays a crucial role in shaping memory. Visitors may not consciously analyse a lighting installation, but it influences how they feel and what they remember.

Neon used thoughtfully can anchor moments: a pause near a bar, a gathering point in a lounge, a visual rhythm that subtly guides movement. In spaces designed for interaction and photography, these decisions become even more important, as interiors increasingly exist both physically and digitally.

Here, neon becomes part of storytelling — not through words, but through atmosphere.

Durability Over Novelty

One of the defining differences between commercial and artistic lighting is longevity. Commercial interiors demand solutions that perform consistently over time, not just at launch.

Projects developed through CityNeon rely on low-voltage LED systems and mounting methods designed for durability, serviceability, and long-term visual stability. This technical discipline ensures that installations age gracefully, maintaining their role within the space rather than becoming visual noise.

Light as Identity

As commercial interiors continue to evolve, neon’s role will likely expand further — not as spectacle, but as structure.

When light is treated as part of the architectural language, it contributes to identity rather than decoration. Spaces feel more intentional. Brands feel more coherent. And the experience becomes something people recognise without needing to name.

In this context, neon is no longer about being seen. It is about being remembered.