Key Trends for Retail Design in 2019

As ever more shoppers move online, striking retail design is more important than ever. But as with any industry, trends abound. Here we look at some of the biggest retail design trends for the coming year

Bold Colour Schemes

Colour will form a central part of many interior design schemes in the next year, with bold shades leading the way. Colour blocking is increasingly being used to eye-catching effect, particularly for zoning and to encourage particular customer behaviours. However, it’s not the only colour trend seeing a rise: chromatic colour, where multiple shades of a single hue are used, is also proving popular. While the former is particularly effective in youth-orientated retail experiences, the latter is growing in the luxury space.

45tilt’s design for Taipei-based sports accessory shop Vacanza pairs bright hues of blue and yellow to create a fun, welcoming feel. Image courtesy of Hey!Cheese

Eduard Eremchuk's design for a Russian concept shop sees the pairing of striking yellow walls, floors and surfaces with pink fur. Image courtesy of Eduard Eremchuk

Valerio Olgiati pairs blue and grey marble in luxury fashion brand Céline’s flagship Miami store. Image courtesy of Valerio Olgiati

45tilt’s design for Taipei-based sports accessory shop Vacanza pairs bright hues of blue and yellow to create a fun, welcoming feel. Image courtesy of Hey!Cheese

Roar’s retail concept for Leeds United combines LED signposting and experience-focused spaces to attract fans. Image courtesy of Roar

The Dreamery, a concept store developed by mattress startup Casper in collaboration with Hollwich Kushner, features napping pods for visitors to rent. Image courtesy of Casper

Nike’s Los Angeles concept store features a Sneaker Bar modelled on a café alongside dynamic spaces where visitors can test fitness kit. Image courtesy of Nike

The Dreamery, a concept store developed by mattress startup Casper in collaboration with Hollwich Kushner, features napping pods for visitors to rent. Image courtesy of Casper

Experiential Retail

As the internet continues to lure shoppers away from physical stores and restaurants, retail spaces are looking beyond simply being places to buy things and become entire experiences that extend beyond the core brand. Technology is increasingly being used to aid the retail experience, but spaces within stores that provide unexpected uses are also growing, as are museum-like environments that provide atmosphere and aesthetic rather than just purchasing power.

Wooden Wellness

The wellness trend has been rife in 2018, and it won’t be going anywhere in 2019, seeping into almost all corners of interior architecture. Providing a sense of relaxation and nature – perfect for brands that want to encourage customers to linger – it includes natural materials and planting. Dusky grey and mid-tone woods such as birch are proving popular in this space, finding a use as flooring, cladding, shelving and beyond.

Cada’s design for Ichiba, a Japanese food hall and supermarket in London, features wood fixtures throughout offset by bold lighting. Image courtesy of Cada

AAU Anastas’s design for the gift shop of a Jerusalem monastery pairs local woven stone and wooden fittings. Image courtesy of AAU Anastas

Janson Goldstein’s design for fashion brand ALC pairs lush planting with stones, leathers and marble. Image courtesy of Janson Goldstein

AAU Anastas’s design for the gift shop of a Jerusalem monastery pairs local woven stone and wooden fittings. Image courtesy of AAU Anastas

Dalziel & Pow’s open-plan store concept for UK building society Nationwide features Apple-style open-plan spaces and a homely feel to create a calm and friendly atmosphere. Image courtesy of Dalziel & Pow

Fran Hickman’s design for the first UK popup store for cult wellness brand Goop features cosy, luxurious spaces. Image courtesy of Fran Hickman

Neri&Hu’s design for accessories brand Valextra in Chengdu, China, is based on a traditional library to provide a reflective feel. Image courtesy of Neri&Hu

Home Away from Home

Many retail environments have long sought to be friendly and welcoming, but this is seeping into sectors less associated with strong interior design. High street financial services, for example, are ditching austere traditional appearances in favour of home-like, open-place spaces, while other retail environments increase the provision of areas to relax and people-watch.

Old Meets New

With unique experiences being central to the brand values of a growing number of customers – particularly millennials and generation Zs – the ability to make a retail space feel unique is becoming particularly important. This is a challenge being solved in a myriad of ways, but one example is the refurbishment of old buildings with novel, modern twists to produce environments entirely unique to their settings.

Heatherwick Studio’s design for the soon-to-be opened London retail destination Coal Drops Yard uses modern engineering to transform two 19th century industrial buildings. Image courtesy of Heatherwick Studio

Naoto Fukasawa has transformed a historic Kyoto townhouse into a boutique for iconic fashion designer Issey Miyake. Image courtesy of Naoto Fukasawa

Rémy MARCIANO architecte’s work on this boutique in a vault under Marseille Cathedral sees original features and finishes preserved. Image courtesy of Takuji Shimmura

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05/21/2024 16:20:53

Key Trends for Retail Design in 2019

As ever more shoppers move online, striking retail design is more important than ever. But as with any industry, trends abound. Here we look at some of the biggest retail design trends for the coming year

Bold Colour Schemes

45tilt’s design for Taipei-based sports accessory shop Vacanza pairs bright hues of blue and yellow to create a fun, welcoming feel. Image courtesy of Hey!Cheese

Eduard Eremchuk's design for a Russian concept shop sees the pairing of striking yellow walls, floors and surfaces with pink fur. Image courtesy of Eduard Eremchuk

Valerio Olgiati pairs blue and grey marble in luxury fashion brand Céline’s flagship Miami store. Image courtesy of Valerio Olgiati

45tilt’s design for Taipei-based sports accessory shop Vacanza pairs bright hues of blue and yellow to create a fun, welcoming feel. Image courtesy of Hey!Cheese

Roar’s retail concept for Leeds United combines LED signposting and experience-focused spaces to attract fans. Image courtesy of Roar

The Dreamery, a concept store developed by mattress startup Casper in collaboration with Hollwich Kushner, features napping pods for visitors to rent. Image courtesy of Casper

Nike’s Los Angeles concept store features a Sneaker Bar modelled on a café alongside dynamic spaces where visitors can test fitness kit. Image courtesy of Nike

The Dreamery, a concept store developed by mattress startup Casper in collaboration with Hollwich Kushner, features napping pods for visitors to rent. Image courtesy of Casper

Experiential Retail

Wooden Wellness

Cada’s design for Ichiba, a Japanese food hall and supermarket in London, features wood fixtures throughout offset by bold lighting. Image courtesy of Cada

AAU Anastas’s design for the gift shop of a Jerusalem monastery pairs local woven stone and wooden fittings. Image courtesy of AAU Anastas

Janson Goldstein’s design for fashion brand ALC pairs lush planting with stones, leathers and marble. Image courtesy of Janson Goldstein

AAU Anastas’s design for the gift shop of a Jerusalem monastery pairs local woven stone and wooden fittings. Image courtesy of AAU Anastas

Dalziel & Pow’s open-plan store concept for UK building society Nationwide features Apple-style open-plan spaces and a homely feel to create a calm and friendly atmosphere. Image courtesy of Dalziel & Pow

Fran Hickman’s design for the first UK popup store for cult wellness brand Goop features cosy, luxurious spaces. Image courtesy of Fran Hickman

Neri&Hu’s design for accessories brand Valextra in Chengdu, China, is based on a traditional library to provide a reflective feel. Image courtesy of Neri&Hu

Neri&Hu’s design for accessories brand Valextra in Chengdu, China, is based on a traditional library to provide a reflective feel. Image courtesy of Neri&Hu

Home Away from Home

Old Meets New

Heatherwick Studio’s design for the soon-to-be opened London retail destination Coal Drops Yard uses modern engineering to transform two 19th century industrial buildings. Image courtesy of Heatherwick Studio

Naoto Fukasawa has transformed a historic Kyoto townhouse into a boutique for iconic fashion designer Issey Miyake. Image courtesy of Naoto Fukasawa

Rémy MARCIANO architecte’s work on this boutique in a vault under Marseille Cathedral sees original features and finishes preserved. Image courtesy of Takuji Shimmura

Rémy MARCIANO architecte’s work on this boutique in a vault under Marseille Cathedral sees original features and finishes preserved. Image courtesy of Takuji Shimmura​​​​​​​

Rémy MARCIANO architecte’s work on this boutique in a vault under Marseille Cathedral sees original features and finishes preserved. Image courtesy of Takuji Shimmura