My Dream Career

My two favorite things... shopping and interior design!  So, combining those creates my dream career of Retail Design!  I fell in love after completing a project for my lighting studio Junior year at Auburn University.  We were asked to choose a high end brand that we researched and then designed for.  I chose Henri Bendel that is known for their outgoing yet classic style stores and product.  You may recognize the brand from being in the show "Sex and the City" and in the movie "Confessions of a Shoppaholic".

 Cashier View

Facing Storefront

Using a given floor plan and their existing signature brown and white stripes I created what I thought would be a great retail space for their brand.  I used a limited edition logo as inspiration to give the space a pop of magenta/purple throughout the store for added interest.  I really enjoyed this project and have been interested in becoming a retail designer ever since.  My love for shopping, fashion and interiors would make this the perfect career for me and allow me to enjoy going to work.  You know what they say, "it won't feel like work if its something you love!".  That's the goal :)

Here are some retail spaces that inspire me!

 Diesel- Milan


 MaxMara- Milan


 Replay- Florence (loving the living walls!)


 Replay- Florence


 Wine Display in Germany Airport


 Wonka in Times Square (how fun would that be to design! )

My Bank Design Project!

I thought I would showcase a little bit of my work that basically took over my life last semester!  Countless hours of branding research, space planning, panel system specifications and finishes coming out of my ears!  All in all, I was pretty proud of my conceptual design in the end.

I chose the location of South of Market District, San Francisco, CA due to my love for the SF Giants (this is where the stadium is located), my interest in the district after some research, and just the overall connection to my home while being all the way over here in Auburn, AL.  

Based on research (NEVER DESIGN WITHOUT RESEARCHING THE PROJECT/CLIENT ETC), I created a logo...

Using a muted version of Giants colors and the existing culture, style and characteristics in the SoMa District served as inspiration for this logo and the rest of the project.  

Here are some greyscale renderings I did for my portfolio :)

 Entry

 Lounge

Sandwich Bar

Now you may be thinking, a sandwich bar and lounge in a bank?  The reality is, businesses that have a lot of contact with their customers, like a bank, are offering luxuries like these to give a more community feel. Giving the customer a reason to spend more time in their building makes them more likely to spend their time and money there and having these features can also attract new customers.  Corporate businesses, hospitality spaces and more are creating these auxiliary spaces such as gyms, cafes, bakeries, gelato bars and customer lounges.  I chose to incorporate a lounge as well as a sandwich bar since San Francisco is very well known for their amazing sourdough bread. 

Yay for businesses being fun and thinking about what their customers want while still creating profit for their company in new and innovative ways!  Hope you enjoyed my renderings and lastly here are pictures of my final presentation boards :)