Do you also have negative associations with this word? My first reaction when contemplating the notion is indeed negative, but is this attitude misplaced? Each of us, whether in our private or business lives, faces restrictions that form the framework for our actions. Przemo Łukasik, co-founder of the Medusa Group architectural studio, cites as an example the budget and technical constraints we encounter whenever we decide to renovate our bathrooms. Who among us has not gone through the kind of traumatic experience of more than once having to compromise on our beautiful lavatorial vision. In the interview in this issue (‘From Bytom to NY’), the architect also points out that things are similar when it comes to designing a large building. In such cases we also sometimes, quite often literally, end up trying to optimise the process. But we shouldn’t be afraid or resentful towards optimisation; we simply need to adjust to it. The retail sector is also having to adapt to