Greetings from the International President
- Retail Design Institute
- Sep 25
- 4 min read
Fall 2025 Newsletter
Dear Members,
As we move into a busy and exciting fall season, I am delighted to share some important updates from the Retail Design Institute International Office. This is a time of celebration, professional growth, and community connection, and I hope you will join us in the many opportunities ahead.
Retail Design Institute International Design Awards – October 9
The countdown is on for the Retail Design Institute's International Design Awards — the longest-running program honoring excellence in retail design. This year’s celebration takes place on October 9 in New York, and it promises to be an unforgettable evening spotlighting the best our industry has to offer. We have moved the awards into an elevated and bigger space at the FIT- Katie Murphy Amphitheater.
Tickets and sponsorship packages are now available, and we invite you to be part of this historic event. For those unable to travel, we’re pleased to offer a free virtual experience for members, ensuring everyone can share in the excitement.
Latam Retail Show in Brazil!
It was an honor to be a keynote speaker at the LATAM Retail Show and have the opportunity to share ideas with such a dynamic audience—and even more rewarding to meet so many passionate, thoughtful people who are shaping the future of retail across Latin America. A special thank you to the RDI Brasil Chapter for their generosity and hospitality. Especially grateful to Brazil Chapter President, Renato Fregnani, Murillo Magaroti D Oliveira, Isabela Junqueira Fregnani, Alexandre Valdivia, Paula Doto, and so many others. From the thoughtful gifts purchased from Brazilian retailers to the tours of São Paulo’s stunning retail scene and city highlights, you made my time there unforgettable. I’m leaving with not only inspiration and insight, but also with many new friendships and connections that I look forward to continuing. Até logo, Brazil—until next time!
Member Spotlight – Jesse Moyer
In each newsletter, we highlight members whose work and dedication exemplify the spirit of our Institute. This month, we are proud to recognize Jesse Moyer, RDI, whose creativity and leadership continue to inspire our community. Jesse is the President of the Northern California Chapter and has managed to turn around the Chapter, grown not only the board, but memberships as well, and has the passion and attitude needed to make the Chapter one of our most successful this year. Thank you, Jesse, for all of your hard work and dedication to retail and our Institute!
Retail Innovation Workshop – Recap
Our recent Retail Innovation Workshop brought together retailers from all over the US for a dynamic exchange of ideas. From emerging technologies to design strategies that anticipate future consumer needs, the discussions reaffirmed our collective commitment to innovation in retail environments. Thank you to all who contributed to this successful event.
Upcoming Industry Events
Looking ahead, there are several important gatherings on the horizon:
Virtual CEU: Design that Fools the Senses with B+N Industries – October 3rd
54th International Design Awards – October 9 – Hybrid Event
Shop! Ideation – October 20-21 – Members can save with the discount code RDISAVE100.
IRDC – October 22-23 – Members can save with the discount code RDISAVE100.
Virtual CEU with 3M – November 7 – Details to be announced soon.
Continuing Education (Virtual CEUs)
Supporting professional development is central to our mission. We continue to expand CEU opportunities for members, helping you maintain credentials while staying current with the latest in retail design. Our last three were well attended and hosted by ProCoat, MatWorks, and Schnackel Engineers. Stay tuned for new sessions coming soon. If you or your company have an accredited CEU course you’d like to offer to our community, please reach out to Steven McMahon at smcmahon@dollartree.com and cc nikki@retaildesigninstitute.org.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
We are deeply grateful for the support of our sponsors, whose partnership makes our awards program possible. We would like to thank TRG, RetailOne, Planit Construction as well as our industry partners, RCA, VMSD, & Shop! Association. If you are interested in sponsorship, please contact Nikki at nikki@retaildesigninstitute.org.
2025 Election Reminder
Leadership elections are now underway for multiple Chapters. Ballots have been distributed via email to Professional, Fellow, and Life Members in the following chapters: Canada, The Carolinas, Heartland, India, New England, Texas, and Twin Cities. Your voice is vital — please take a moment to vote and help shape the Institute’s future.
The fall season is always a busy one for our industry, and I am inspired by the energy, innovation, and dedication of our members worldwide. Thank you for being an essential part of the Retail Design Institute. I look forward to celebrating with many of you at the Design Awards on October 9 and continuing to advance the impact of retail design together.
Cynthia Ortiz, RDI
International President
Retail Design Institute
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It’s great to see the Retail Design Institute fostering both global collaboration and local chapter growth. The upcoming International Design Awards sound especially exciting, looking forward to seeing the incredible work celebrated this year. Slope 2