Retail designers
A retail designer (also referred to as a visual marketing specialist or merchandising designer) ensures that a store's merchandising plan fits the space available in a profitable way. Retail and visual merchandisers are specialists in determining the needs of the store's clients. They will catch the consumer's eye and create new desires along the way. All of this can be done by someone with a keen eye who does a lot of research.
Visual merchandisers create the lure to get customers into the store. This often starts with the window displays. Mannequins and lighting designs can help to draw in customers. Once inside, customers should see products arranged in a logical fashion so they can easily make their way around the store.
Showcases should be strategically placed to guide customers deeper and deeper into the store. Impulse buy displays should finish out the design. They are generally located in areas where customers will be passing once they've decided to leave the store. Near the register and near the door are good places to make that last ditch effort in selling a few more items.
For small retail spaces, the design team may suggest using the walls to maximise possible display areas. Gridwalls and slatwalls can help to display merchandise in small areas. These displays face the merchandise outward, so it can be more easily seen, even from outside the store.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.
The changed R&D tax landscape for Architects
Specialist gives a recap on tax changes for Research and Development, via the ACA newsletter.
Structured product data as a competitive advantage
NBS explain why accessible product data that works across digital systems is key.
Welsh retrofit workforce assessment
Welsh Government report confirms Wales faces major electrical skills shortage, warns ECA.
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.
A brief run down of changes intentions from April in an onwards.
Reslating an ancient water mill
A rare opportunity to record, study and repair early vernacular roofs.
CIOB Apprentice of the Year 2025/26
Construction apprentice from Lincoln Mia Owen wins this years title.
Insulation solutions with less waste for a circular economy
Rob Firman, Technical and Specification Manager, Polyfoam XPS explains.
Recycled waste plastic in construction
Hierarchy, prevention to disposal, plastic types and approaches.
UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard V1 published
Free-to-access technical standard to enable robust proof of a decarbonising built environment.






















