Retail Design Institute Announces 54th International Design Competition

Global competition celebrates outstanding and innovative retail spaces with expanded eligibility and new submission categories

The Retail Design Institute proudly announces its 54th Annual International Design Competition, continuing its more than 50-year tradition of recognizing excellence in retail design. The competition celebrates retail environments that push boundaries with innovative planning, design, graphics, lighting, and visual merchandising techniques.

The Institute is now accepting submissions for retail projects completed between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024. The competition deadline is Friday, July 11, 2025. Winners will be honored at the International Design Awards Celebration in New York City on Thursday, October 9, 2025, where the prestigious Store of the Year will be revealed.

"For over five decades, the Institute’s International Design Competition has showcased the most innovative and inspiring retail environments from around the world," said Cynthia Ortiz, RDI, International President of the Retail Design Institute. "This year, we're excited to introduce significant enhancements to make the competition more inclusive and streamlined while continuing to celebrate the exceptional work that shapes the future of retail design. The retail landscape continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, and our expanded competition structure reflects these changes, allowing us to recognize excellence across a broader spectrum of retail environments and design disciplines."

This year's competition introduces several significant changes:

• Expanded Eligibility: For the first time, general contractors, allied trades, fixture manufacturers, and material suppliers may enter the competition with consent from the designer or design firm responsible for the overall design of the project.

• Enhanced Submission Platform: A new submission portal offers improved functionality, allowing entrants to save progress, receive better communications and updates, and navigate a more intuitive submission process.

• Refined Categories: The competition features newly clarified submission categories that better reflect today's diverse retail landscape, including Activations, Softline Stores, Hardline Stores, Large Format Stores, Service Retail, Grocery & Supermarket, Food & Beverage, Restaurant, Med-tail, Beauty & Fitness, Hospitality & Entertainment, and Commercial Development.

• Outstanding Merit Awards: Previously known as Innovation Awards, the revamped Outstanding Merit Awards recognize excellence in specific design elements including Architectural Elements, Community Activation & Engagement, Sensory Engagement, Signature Moment, Store Planning & Circulation, Storytelling & Brand Communication, Strategy & Ideation, Sustainability & Wellness, Technology, and Visual Merchandising & Display.

The competition welcomes entries from contract design firms, in-house retailer design teams, and now allied trades and suppliers from around the globe. Projects of all formats are eligible, from traditional department stores to specialty apparel shops, restaurants, kiosks, and pop-up experiences.

Entry fees are $250 USD for Institute members and $375 USD for non-members, with an optional $50 USD add-on fee for Outstanding Merit Award consideration. Finalists will be notified in late Summer/early Fall 2025.

For complete competition details and to submit entries, visit the Retail Design Institute's website at www.retaildesigninstitute.org/design-competition.

---

About the Retail Design Institute, www.retaildesigninstitute.org

Founded in 1961, the Retail Design Institute is the leading international professional organization dedicated to the advancement and collaborative practice of creating selling environments. The Institute serves the retail industry through education, recognition, and networking for its members, the retail community, and students.