Retail Design Institute Event

Tickets Going Fast!

We hope to see you in 2 weeks. A link to the self-guided tour locations will be sent out via email 1 week before the event, only those who pre-register below.

Register Here

for the

Retail Tour & Social Mixer

in West Hollywood, August 22

Afternoon Tour (Optional) & Evening Mixer from 6:30pm -9:30pm

Take a self-guided afternoon tour of the latest retail spaces in West Hollywood curated by  Trend Habitat, followed by drinks overlooking the Hollywood Hills from the deck of the Essensuals London Salon - a signature brand of the Toni & Guy portfolio.

The evening promises to be a "highlight" networking event with key insights by owner  Kiera Smith & designer James Schnauer of Glow Studio into the design of a new WeHo salon experience. Meet new members and some of the new faces on our local Chapter board.

Enjoy a well deserved drink on the deck of Essentuals' Salon to network with fellow members and guests of the  Retail Design Institute.

Details of the tour will be provided to those who register. Please RSVP with Eventbrite to help us cater to numbers and use social media to coordinate tours with one another.

Free to all Members & Members Guests

Non-members $10

Numbers are limited.

RSVP on Eventbrite only.

Please click here now to register and receive tour details.

The Southern California Chapter would like to thank our host and sponsors for their generous support of the Institute: Trend Habitat and Essenuals London.

Behind-the-Scenes of Lamb & Flag

Thursday night, members and friends of the Retail Design Institute came together to get a behind-the-scenes tour at the new Lamb & Flag fashion apparel concept from Kellwood brands. Gray Winston, Vice President of Kellwood Brands, spoke of the brand’s inception and how it was translated from a concept into the bricks and mortar environment. The event was attended by key retailers, designers, consultants, and suppliers. Aside from  great entertainment and networking opportunities, the event was a great opportunity to learn more about the brand.

“The most important thing was to create 4 main filters for all design - product, marketings, smell, sound, music through to the store design...everything  you see in very intentional” Gary continued in his presentation to the group.

1. Age - While this proof-of-concept is proving to appeal to a much broader demographic, their core target is age 18-24 college graduates.
2. Style - Referred to as ‘Casual Beauty with an Edge’ demonstrated through a meticulous attention to detail. “We would spend time on 10 tiny things but the customer might only notice 1 of those, so in the store we had to create over 100 to ensure this comes across sufficiently, yet subtly enough for the customer to take away with them”. A tour of the store highlighted this wherever you looked and even areas you couldn’t see. A restroom in the back of house area includes their logo spelt out in the floor where only ‘brand reps’ would see it. On the customer facing side, wood floors are recycled from an old military base - a concrete infill plugging the cracks - delivering a unique experience in the dressing rooms where again the branding is featured on the floor, with multiple lighting effects that can be controlled by the shopper while streaming multi media on the embedded screens. 
3. Aesthetic - This speaks to the store design’s 'Wrecked Elegance’ which could be seen in their use of beautiful wallpaper that's been ripped and torn, or the beautiful chandelier that's slightly aged, through to rough plaster walls that show water stains. It’s something ‘Beautiful with a Twist' referred to as ‘perfect imperfection!’
4. Emotional - The most important differentiator to the store design team. “It’s not as tangible as the others but equally important to the experience. The smell, the way the ‘brand reps’ interact with you, the complimentary bracelet or box of water offered when you're in the dressing room... a lot of our time was spent defining what the emotion filters should be” continued Winston. “The brand menu on the front of store defines 'beautiful' in our eyes, the beauty of not conforming.”

To read more about the event click here.

A Social Event @ Lamb & Flag

Join us for a behind-the-scenes tour of the new Lamb & Flag fashion apparel concept from Kellwood brands. Attendees will gain insights to the retail strategy, design and implementation process that delivered this brand new concept to the market place. Expect an evening of education, entertainment and an opportunity to network. Light refreshments and hors d'oeuvres will be served.

Limited Tickets by RSVP only so book now!

RDI attendees will receive a 10% discount to shop that night and a $50 gift certificate will be given away.

Sponsored by:
Lamb and Flag, Retail Design Institute and Infuse Ideas.

One Launch, Two Nights, Two Cities: First City Recap

Previously posted here, last night was the first night of the launch of the Retail Design Institute's new website. The event was held at Nadel Architects in Los Angeles. The Retail Design Institute's website has been given a make-over. The website is now easier to navigate. The attendees got a first hand experience on how to use the new features on the website.

Please check out the Retail Design Institute's new and improved website!

There is still one more city, we hope to see you there!

Please join us again tonight at Little in Costa Mesa, California. We hope to see you tonight! See the information below for tonight's location:

02/16/12 (Thursday) 

Location: Little Architects Orange County

1901 Newport Blvd, Suite 300, 

Costa Mesa, California 92627

Time: 6pm Light Refreshments; 6.30-8pm Demo & 'Town Hall' Discussion; 8.30pm Finish ; Join us afterwards @ The Yard House, Triangle Square Shopping Center, 1875 Newport Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA www.yardhouse.com for those interested.

Sponsors: Little Diversified Architectural Consulting. 

Fee: Free to Members & Non-Members. Limited to 40 people by RSVP only.

Click here to RSVP via Facebook for the Costa Mesa location 

Parking & Access: Parking to front of building or around to rear in parking structure. Entry through courtyard at front or rear and take elevator to Level 3.

International Store Design Awards Gala

On January 16, 2012 the Retail Design Institute has a grand opportunity for you to be part of the most exciting and significant awards presentation and celebration in retail!

The one night where you can celebrate with the winning teams and key retail design industry players after the most prestigious retail design awards show in the world. For over 50 years, the Institute has set the standard for excellence in store design, and since 1971, in the industry's only peer reviewed competition, we have publicly reorganized those retail projects, which are the best of the year, and the designers and retailers who plan and create them.

The Awards Gala is a one of a kind evening. The event will be held in Manhattan's most exciting venue, the Times Center Stage designed by the world-renowned architect Renzo Piano at 242 West 41st Street at Times Square, NYC.

There will be a chance for networking at the after show reception and buffet with 300+ attendees, award winning architects, designers, retailers and NRF members.

The 2011 Retail Design Institute Member(s) of the year will be recognized. The Award show will also recognize the best stores in the world for the year 2011 in over 18 categories of architecture and design.

This will be a truly remarkable and notable evening! 

Please visit the Retail Design Institute events page to purchase tickets.

Questions regarding this event, please contact Retail Design Institute at LBullis@taminc.com or by phone at 1-914-332-1806 ext. 324

RDI Event at Walker Zanger

There was a lot buzz about Alison Embrey Medina coming to speak at Walker Zanger. The Retail Design Institute event was a success! Alison Embrey Medina, Executive Director at DDI Magazine, spoke about visual trends that are being seen in retail today. There was a great turn out. Student members came to the event. It was a great opportunity for students to network with industry professionals.

Here are some photos from the event

If you are interested in subscribing to DDI Magazine click here.

Alison Embrey Medina Speaks at Walker Zanger

Come join the Retail Design Institute at Walker Zanger to hear Alison Embrey Medina speak.

Alison Embrey Medina is the Executive Editor at DDI Magazine. She comments on store, visual merchandising, architecture, marketing and branding throughout the pages of DDI. Medina has been asked to speak on industry trends at EuroShop, GlobalShop, the Association for Retail Environments Retail Design Collective, the National Retail Federation BIG Show, and other local chapter events.

The event will be held August 18 from 6:30pm - 8:30pm in the Walker Zanger Showroom. 

Walker Zanger Showroom

1702 Edinger Avenue, Tustin, CA 92780

Mark Your Calendars

If Miami isn't too far of a trip the HD Boutique 2011 is coming up. It will be held September 13-14 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. HD Boutique is not like any other tradeshow. It has its own uniqueness and  distinct style. The intimate scale of HD Boutique creates a more personal event. It becomes a place to build strengthen new relationships and discover the newest products.

Get more information here.

If you are not able to make it to Miami come to Las Vegas. The HD Expo 2012 will be held May 15-17 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center. HD Expo has become the center of design and innovation. The expo allows you to examine and learn about the different tools, products and services to remain current in our ever changing economy. HD Expo is a great opportunity to network with influential individuals in the hospitality industry.

Get more information here.


Both expos are presented by Hospitality Design.

Association Fair Recap

The first ever Association Fair held Wednesday at FIDM's Los Angeles Campus was a success. Alongside Retail Design Institute, there were other associations such as the Interior Design Society, International Interior Design Association, and Set Decorators Society of America.  

RDI table the FIDM Los Angeles Campus Association Fair

nextGEN President, Jenny Diaz and Communication Chair, Michelle Curry at the RDI table

Joining an association is beneficial to any student's career because it allows for networking with professionals and helps students learn about the different fields in interior design. Being affiliated with an association looks really good on your resume. 

We met some great interior design students which expressed interest in nextGEN. Hopefully they will join!

nextGEN Communication Chair, Michelle Curry speaking to FIDM student about RDI

Thank you Celeste for having us at the first ever FIDM Association Fair. We enjoyed meeting your students.

Our thank you gift from FIDM Advisor Celeste Day-Drake 

Association Fair at FIDM

nextGEN will be at the FIDM Los Angeles Campus for the first ever Association Fair. Interior design students are invited to come and learn about the different interior design professional associations. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions about the interior design industry and network with professionals. There will be information about various design competitions and internships. Students will learn about the benefits of membership with various design associations.

The Association Fair will be held Wednesday, July 20th, at the FIDM Los Angeles Campus. The event will be from 10am to 12 pm, in the student lounge on the 4th floor. Parking is available in the structure below the building; the parking entrance is on the south side of 9th Street just before Grand Avenue. 

This will be an exciting opportunity to network with industry professionals. Hope to see you there!

FIDM Los Angeles Campus

919 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90015

(on the SW corner of 9th and Grand)