The 54th International Design Awards: Celebrating Global Excellence in Retail Design
- Retail Design Institute
- Oct 14
- 4 min read
On Thursday, October 9, 2025, the Retail Design Institute hosted its 54th Annual International Design Awards at the Fashion Institute of Technology’s Katie Murphy Amphitheater in New York City, with global watch parties and a live stream connecting members, sponsors, and design professionals worldwide.
The evening was co-hosted by Cynthia Ortiz, RDI, International President of the Retail Design Institute, and Ray Ehscheid, FRDI, International Chairperson, who guided attendees through a dynamic celebration of design excellence, professional achievement, and global collaboration.
The event brought together leading designers, retailers, educators, students, and industry partners to honor the most innovative retail environments completed in 2024. It was an evening of recognition, inspiration, and community, underscoring the Retail Design Institute’s mission to advance the practice of creating selling environments through education, collaboration, and design excellence.
A Record-Breaking Year for Design Excellence
This year’s competition saw a record number of submissions representing eight countries and twenty-five U.S. states, reflecting the truly global reach of the Retail Design Institute. The Class of 2024 featured 21 projects deemed the year’s best in retail design—each selected for exceptional creativity, storytelling, and brand experience.
New for 2025, the Retail Design Institute introduced the Outstanding Merit Awards, enabling the judging panel to recognize specific projects that demonstrate extraordinary innovation and craftsmanship. The program also renamed its top honor from Store of the Year to Retail Experience of the Year, better representing the evolution of retail environments that extend beyond traditional store formats.
Recognizing the Class of 2024
The Class of 2024 spanned diverse categories, including Commercial Development, Food & Beverage, Hospitality and Entertainment, Large Format Stores, Hardlines, and Softlines, representing a comprehensive look at how design continues to drive retail transformation worldwide.
Each project embodied the Retail Design Institute’s ongoing commitment to advancing the discipline through thoughtful storytelling, sustainability, and material innovation. From adaptive reuse and immersive brand activations to luxury hospitality hybrids, this year’s honorees redefined how design connects people, places, and products.
Swipe right to see all Class of 2024 winners and Outstanding Merit Awards.
Honoring the Members of the Year
Presented by Dina Meindl, Allied RDI, International Treasurer, the 2025 Members of the Year represent exceptional service, creativity, and leadership within their chapters and the broader Institute community.
Professional Member of the Year: Lucy Baraquio, Arcadis, Pacific Northwest Chapter
Associate Member of the Year: Eliza Steele, Bergmeyer, New England Chapter
Allied Member of the Year: Marissa Loftin, Kingsmen Projects, Texas Chapter
Trade Member of the Year: Kelly Ramsey, Silvestri, Southwest & Pacific Chapter
Educator of the Year: Professor Glenn Sokoli, Fashion Institute of Technology / Bernstein Display, New York Chapter
Media Member of the Year: Murray Kasmenn, VMSD / Shop! Association / SmartWork Media, Atlanta | Southeast Chapter
These honorees exemplify the collaborative spirit of the Retail Design Institute and the passion that continues to drive the advancement of the retail design industry.
Swipe right to see the 2025 Member Recognition Honorees.
Fellows of the Retail Design Institute
Presented by Kathryn Patton-Miller, Vice President of International, three professionals were inducted as Fellows of the Retail Design Institute for their exceptional contributions to the field and their ongoing commitment to mentorship and design excellence:
Eric Kuhn, FRDI, Bergmeyer, New England Chapter
Diana Revkin, FRDI, Artisan Stoneworks, New England Chapter
Daniel Montaño, FRDI, Little Diversified Architectural Consulting, Carolinas Chapter
Swipe right to see the 2025 Fellows.
Retail Design Legion of Honor Inductees
Presented by International President Cynthia Ortiz, RDI, and Joe Nevin, FRDI, Legion of Honor Chairperson, five industry leaders were recognized for their lifetime achievements and influence on the advancement of retail design:
Wendy Johnson, Chute Gerdeman
Cindi Kato, RDI, Arcadis, Pacific Northwest Chapter
Surender Gnanaolivu, RDI, 4 Dimensions Retail Design, India Chapter
MJ Munsell, MG2
Diane Rambo, JLL/Design Solutions
Swipe right to see the 2025 Legion of Honor Inductees.
Retail Experience of the Year: PUMA 48 Club
The evening’s highest honor, Retail Experience of the Year, was awarded to PUMA 48 Club, an innovative, speakeasy-style activation that fused storytelling, technology, and design to create a one-of-a-kind immersive brand experience.
Judges praised the project for its bold fusion of art, sport, and fashion, calling it “an unforgettable sense of discovery and exclusivity.”
Thank You to Our Sponsors and Partners
The 54th International Design Awards would not have been possible without the generous support of our Event Sponsors and International Partners, who continue to champion the Retail Design Institute’s mission of advancing retail design around the world.
Event Sponsors:
International Partners:
A very special thank you to the students of FIT's Spatial Experience Design Program, led by Professor Glenn Sokoli, for designing and producing the evening's stunning decor.
Looking Ahead
The 54th International Design Awards celebrated not only design excellence but also the strength of the global community that powers the Retail Design Institute. From inspiring new talent to honoring lifelong achievement, the evening embodied the collaboration and creativity that define retail design today.
In the weeks ahead, the Retail Design Institute will take a deeper dive into each of this year’s award winners through exclusive features across our website, email newsletters, and social media (LinkedIn | Instagram).
To learn more about the Retail Design Institute, upcoming events, and membership opportunities, visit retaildesigninstitute.org.
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