Dear Nikhila,

in my opinion, there are a new trend  that showed a change of approach in retail design. It is the adaptation of several brand images and principles to the place in design shops, and this process bring to a new kind of retail environment, where global imaginaries dialog with local traditions and specific features. The result is a sort of hibrid spaces, and it is very important not only the design of the shop, but also the insertion in a specific context and, sometime, the re-use of important spaces (as industrial-productive warehouses, etc.). At the same time there is other examples that mix innovative forms of retail and traditional ones (public markets, etc.). In my opinion an interesting case studies of this trend are the Eataly stores in Italy (Milan, Turin, Rome) and all around of world.

Hi Nikhila,

This is a very interesting topic.  It seems to me that you are proposing to undertake some form of typological assessment that considers the morphology, or phenotype, of retail platforms like physical shops, for instance.

I think you need to differentiate shops according to whether they are:

• in high streets or enclosed shopping malls;
• selling variety or specific products, (e.g. supermarket vs. carpet showroom), as this determines physical configuration;
• chain or franchise operations, where they conform to a standard design template;
• hybrid forms which offer an online presence but in a physical space;
• online only, and by this I mean a showcase/window containing product which can be accessed by a mobile device using near field communication, for instance.

These are just a few off the cuff thoughts.  You may want to have a look at the following texts for some other ideas.

Kärrholm, M. (2012). Retailising Space : Architecture, Retail and the Territorialisation of Public Space. Burlington: Ashgate Publishing Ltd.

Vernet, D., & de Wit, L. (Eds.). (2007). Boutiques and Other Retail Spaces: The Architecture of Seduction. Abingdon: Routledge.

Regards

Paul

Dear Nikhila,

the book "Why we buy", by Paco Underhill, is a classic on this topic, and is full of extremely useful and evidence-based principles in store design.

http://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Buy-Shopping-Updated-Internet/dp/1416595244/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1YHP57J0Z2RYK6459V8K&dpID=51ceeGRKH8L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR105%2C160_

Hi Nikhila,

A very interesting topic - I have explored how retail spaces evolved in the U.S. In my book "America at the Mall: the cultural role of a retail utopia" which may be of use to you.

Cheers,

Lisa 

http://www.amazon.com/America-Mall-Cultural-Retail-Utopia/dp/0786462728

 Hi Everyone

Thank you all for your response and i would need your suggestions.

My design is all about a retail store within a shopping mall accessible to everyone. My project aims to design a space that "fits everyone" rather a particular group of people.

Now a days there is a provision of fitting rooms for disabled in few stores, but I think it is just one of the requirements. In a store say from the design of a hanger to retail fixture or right from the entrance to billing counter every element is to be designed in a way that serves everyone.

MY AIM IS TO POTRAY THE NEED OF SUCH SPACES AND FURTHER IT

This topic is interesting because it raisis numerous questions.

Perhabps, universal design for stores is appropriate for brands with strong equity, and when such brands answer to a universal need or target transnational consumers.

If you consider Apple Stores or Starbucks Coffee Shops, they present (almost) the same design all around the world, but the brands behind these stores have strong brand equity and are designed for specific, but transnational targets. They don’t need cultural adaptations.

As counter-example, MacDonald’s adapts the design of restaurants according to  countries and places in a given country; perhaps because “where we eat” and architecture are highly culturally or geographically  dependant.

Is there any risk of “lowest common denominator” in designing standardized stores? I mean that, finally, the design of such standardized stores may displease nobody, but may delight nobody.