Membership Info

The Retail Design Institute members comprise: architects, industrial designers, interior designers, planners, draftsmen and detailers, visual merchandisers, graphic designers, lighting experts, project and construction managers, CAD & IT specialists, & marketing specialists. Retail Design Institute members are found in retail organizations, clothing, home furnishings and hard lines vendors, in the design departments of fixture and architectural materials suppliers, large and small architecture/design firms, and also as independent consultants.

Membership Benefits

• Enables meeting with peers and exploration of specific issues relating to the profession;
• Access to the Memebrship sections of the website along with free or dicounted postings on the jobsite.
• Promotes and informs about international design competitions which are open to members. Winning entries are published in internationally recognized store design magazines, displayed at trade shows and awarded prizes at our major industry events;
• Promotes standard curriculum for students of store design;
• Promotes recognition of the retail design profession;
• Provides exposure to local, national and international trends in retail design through functions such as presentations and tours by other design professionals and contractors;
• Participates in international trade shows and conferences;
• Through this website: Publishes a regular newsletter to keep members up to date on local, national and international Institute activities and retail design initiatives; -
• Provides directory of International members which is available to all retailers needing help with finding a retail designer, store planner, design firm and other trade members;
• Recognizes and encourages excellence in retail design;
• Opportunity to list your company details in The Retail Design Institute Membership listing;
• Opportunity to promote yourself, your company and its services in through our network of distinguished members;
• Opportunity to supply images and information on the recent projects for use on the Retail Design Institute website and newsletter.

Membership Criteria

• Professional, (RDI) - has met tenure, educational and certification requirements, been subjected to peer review and vetting of professional proficiency, and has been certified by their chapter's Executive Committee.
• Life Member (RDI) - a retired Professional Member still active in the Institute, and approved by the Board of Directors.
• Fellow (FRDI) - a Professional Member who has exhibited the highest level of professional achievement in their career and made a significant contribution to RDI through a sustained period of service. A member must be nominated by other Professional, vetted by committee and then approved by the Board of Directors.
• Associate (Associate RDI) - a person on a career track to becoming a Professional member who is still fulfilling educational, tenure or certification requirements.
• Allied Members (Allied RDI) - essential members of the design team who are specialists in their own right. Visual merchandisers, graphic designers, lighting consultants, IT experts, draftsmen, detailers, marketing professionals supporting retail design and other specialists who are actively involved in the design & creation of retail space.
• Designer Educator - a department head or full time professor or instructor in store design/planning, architecture, or interior design at a college, university or technical school.
• Student Member - enrolled students in architecture, industrial and/or interior design programs who are considering a career in retail store design.
• Media Member - individual editors or writers for publication in the store design/planning field.
• Trade Affiliates - companies and individuals who derive income from the sale of goods or services to the retail design community. These may be architectural materials suppliers, fixture and/or equipment suppliers or service providers who ascribe to the aims & mission of Thre Retail Design Institute.
• Honorary Members - individuals form outside the store design profession, such as retailers or other business executives, not otherwise qualified for membership, who have made a significant contribution to the Store Design profession. These individuals are nominated by membership and approved by the Board of Directors.

Join Now - Apply Online

Download member application:

RetailDesignMembershipApplication.pdf