Institute News

The Retail Design Institute is now accepting submissions for the 55th International Retail Design Competition. Projects completed in 2025 across all retail formats are eligible, with winners to be honored in New York City this October.

Happy New Year! It's been a couple of months since our last newsletter, we've missed you! A few weeks ago we rang in the new year at miniature golf club, Holey Moley , in Santa Monica and it was an absolute blast. For those of you who didn't make it you should go to this place with a group, it's a great experience. Meaningful conversations, laughter on the putt-putt course, and delicious bites made this event one to remember. Venues like Holey Moley aren’t just fun, they’re

Greetings to the Northern California Chapter of the Retail Design Institute! Spring is in the air. A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege of flying to Düsseldorf, Germany, to attend Euroshop through the Euro a Go Go group. Being immersed in what’s happening across global retail (and chatting with so many folks plugged into the industry) was energizing and inspiring. Nineteen buildings across the Messe Düsseldorf filled with innovation, materials, technology, and spec

Event Recap: Design Without Borders: A Global RDI Members Evening at Bernhardt

In October, we visited Track15 in Providence to see Marsella Development’s transformation of historic Union Station into a vibrant culinary and community hub.

Our New England Chapter explored Boston’s Seaport with a design-forward cocktail crawl.

We explored the new New Balance flagship at Boston Landing, getting an inside look at how innovation, craft, and culture shaped this next-generation retail space.

We had the chance to experience the brand new CanalSide Food + Drink at CambridgeSide Galleria Mall.

What a Saturday grocery run taught me about one of the most consequential design problems in America This past Saturday I went grocery shopping. That's not a very dramatic opening sentence, I know… but stay with me. I live on Kansas City's East Side, in a neighborhood I have genuinely grown to love, but also a part of the city that qualifies as a food desert. Our closest grocery store (that isn't a Family Dollar or a gas station ) is a Whole Foods about a mile and a half away

Last January, we kicked off the New Year in style at F1 Arcade Boston, where creative minds gathered for high-energy racing, easy conversation, and a healthy dose of friendly competition.