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

Hosted by the Retail Design Institute – New York Chapter & Retail Design Institute International

January 13th, 20256

We were proud to host a milestone moment at the Bernhardt Design Showroom—our first international, in-person, members-only gathering in collaboration with RDI Brasil and the Retail Design Institute NY Chapter.

A special thank you to InvestSP – Invest São Paulo, who sponsored the event and helped bring a delegation of Brazilian designers and industry leaders to New York. Their support created a truly global evening, allowing visiting professionals from Brazil to connect with international RDI members and New York Chapter members during NRF week.

To encourage meaningful interaction beyond traditional networking, attendees were assigned to color-based groups upon arrival. Throughout the evening, each group was prompted to meet and engage with members from other color groups, intentionally guiding conversations and ensuring everyone had the opportunity to make new, cross-disciplinary connections. This structure helped break the ice, spark organic dialogue, and foster genuine relationship-building across cultures and backgrounds.

With translators on site to bridge language barriers, the focus remained on connection, collaboration, and shared curiosity. The evening was a powerful reminder that while we may come from different places, design truly speaks a universal language.

Thank you to the organizers, collaborators, and international sponsors who brought this together on short notice and continue to support global collaboration across The Institute.

We’re already planning for next year—and look forward to expanding this international exchange even further.

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

Platinum: AGI, Studio 43D,  TJ Hale

Event Sponsors: Bernhardt Design | FM Valenti, Inc. | InvestSP

Gold Sponsors: Schimenti Construction, Axis Global Logistics, Planit Construction, Mobik Retail, Omnify – Home of LumiSheet™, Pacific Northern, Ensemble, 5 POINTS CONSTRUCTION, Bank of America