Competitions

International Student Design Competition -
Every year the Institute puts together a competition for design students that simulates the real world conceptual development of a retail store. The goal of the quarter/semester long curriculum is to give educators a tool that helps students develop a process around how they solve design problems and it also is a way to encourage and recognize the emerging design talent. The Institute hopes that the competition is an effective way to interest students in the dynamic, consumer focused, and strategic career of retail design.
We are dedicated to always improving the format and tools, so please contribute ideas and feedback to the student education chair. Look for the upcoming years ‘RFP’ to be released by October each year with the final program and criteria release on January 2nd.


Retail Design Institute International Store Design Awards - The original store design competition, now in its 38th year, this event attracts the best of the best in Store Design worldwide. The industry's only totally peer reviewed competition, managed by each chapter in turn. An average of over 200 international entrants vie for top awards.

Current Competitions

2010 International Student Store Design Competition	2010
International Student Store Design Competition - On behalf of the Student Design Competition Committee, and the hosting Minneapolis/St. Paul Chapter, the Retail Design Institute is pleased to announce the 2010 International Student Store Design Competition. Once again, this year's format reflects the real-world RFP (Request for Proposal) format that is generally used by retai...
International Store Design Award winners	2009

Past Competitions

2009 STUDENT DESIGN COMPETITION	2009
On behalf of the Student Design Competition Committee, we are pleased to announce the 2009 Student Retail Design Competition and for the first time, based on feedback for last year, we are asking for all submissions to be submitted in an electronic format only. We have also created the opportunity for groups to participate, however only individual student entrees will be awarded. The winning indiv...
2009 International Store Design Competition	2009
The Retail Design Institute's 39th International Store Design Awards Gala took place the evening of Monday January 11th at the Times Center Stage in New York City. Two hundred of the retail design industry's top design talent, retailers, editors and vendors joined the Retail Design Institute as they recognized the top store designs from 2009. Emceed by Andrew McQuilkin, FRDI the In...
2008 Student Design Competition	2008
High-End Jeweler Inc.
2008 International Store Design Competition	2008
The Retail Design Institute's 38th International Store Design Awards Gala took place the evening of Monday January 12th at the Times Center Stage in New York City. Two hundred of the retail design industry's top design talent, retailers, editors and vendors joined the Retail Design Institute as they recognized the top store designs from 2008. Emceed by Andrew McQuilkin, the Institu...
ISP/VMSD International Store Design Awards	2007
36th Annual Retail Design Institute / VM & SD International Store Design Awards Held JANUARY 15, 2007 IN New York City.