Elly Neai: Reinventing the Beauty Salon Experience
Third-year student Elly Neai drew inspiration from the beauty brand Mecca Cosmetica/Maxima to design an inclusive salon concept for Amazon. Her focus was on creating a safe and empowering space for women from all backgrounds, particularly those facing social and financial challenges. Elly's design promotes inclusivity through thoughtful spatial arrangements, ensuring accessibility for customers with mobility concerns.
Her salon concept aims to foster female empowerment while supporting women-owned businesses, aligning with her mission to create spaces that offer comfort, community, and confidence to all visitors.
Patty Limthongbai: Rethinking Technology Stores for All
Patty Limthongbai, a third-year design student, reimagined the retail experience for Telstra, Australia’s leading telecommunications company. Her concept revolves around interactive, immersive experiences designed to educate and entertain visitors of all ages. The store’s six distinct zones offer engaging activities, product displays, and art installations, transforming the shopping journey into a dynamic experience.
Patty’s design not only highlights Telstra’s products but also integrates the company’s cultural values and brand identity, providing a stimulating environment that invites customers to explore, learn, and engage with the brand in exciting new ways.
Natalia Decca: Reshaping Retail for Google
Natalia Decca designed an innovative Google store that blends physical space with emotional engagement. Her concept focuses on creating interactive zones for product demonstrations, workshops, and technical support, all designed to foster customer interaction and exploration.
By streamlining the customer journey, Natalia’s design minimizes effort while maintaining a familiar, easy-to-navigate experience. This customer-centric approach ensures that visitors can engage with Google’s products and services effortlessly, offering both innovation and convenience in one seamless retail environment.
The Future of Inclusive Retail Design
The collaboration between YourStudio and RMIT University showcases how inclusive design can reshape the retail landscape, making it accessible and engaging for all customers. These student projects exemplify innovative approaches to retail design, catering to diverse audiences with unique needs.
As the partnership continues, both YourStudio and RMIT University look forward to exploring more groundbreaking concepts that will not only influence the future of retail but also set new standards for inclusivity and intersectionality in design.
Research & Insight
Year 2 of Inclusive Spaces Collaboration with RMIT University
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Developing innovative concepts for inclusive and intersectional retail spaces
For the second consecutive year, Inclusive Spaces has partnered with RMIT University in Melbourne to collaborate on a project pushing the boundaries of inclusive and intersectional retail design. This partnership aims to foster creativity and innovation by engaging students in the development of retail spaces that cater to the diverse needs of all consumers, from next-generation shoppers to the neurodivergent community.
Through in-depth research and a human-centered approach, students have crafted designs that enhance the retail experience for a broad audience, ensuring inclusivity remains at the heart of the process. This article highlights key student projects that demonstrate how inclusive design can shape the future of retail.
The Power of Fresh Perspectives in Inclusive Retail Design
YourStudio values its collaboration with RMIT students for the fresh perspectives and innovative ideas they bring. Their unique insights consistently challenge conventional approaches to retail design, offering new ways to address inclusivity and accessibility. These collaborations enrich both the students' educational journeys and YourStudio’s own design practice, allowing the team to stay at the forefront of retail innovation.
This ongoing partnership not only creates opportunities for valuable learning but also positions YourStudio as a leader in inclusive design. The company eagerly anticipates future collaborations and is excited to see next year’s creative outputs.
Fiona Yu: Redesigning Ikea for Asian Australians with Mobility Challenges
Fiona Yu, a second-year RMIT design strategy student, identified a gap in the market for Asian Australians with mobility issues. In response, she developed an innovative retail space for Ikea and Muji that promotes both cultural pride and accessibility. Her design integrates real-life room settings, allowing customers to envision furniture in their homes while reflecting the nuances of Asian-Australian culture.
By incorporating accessible features for those with mobility challenges, Fiona’s design provides an inclusive and engaging experience that demonstrates a deep commitment to cultural and physical accessibility.
Ruby Sculley: Sensory Studio for H&M and Zara
Ruby Sculley, a third-year student, focused her project on redesigning retail spaces for hypersensitive autistic individuals, with H&M and Zara as case studies. After conducting thorough research, Ruby critiqued the existing retail environments and proposed new spatial and brand marketing solutions that cater specifically to the needs of neurodivergent customers.
Her sensory-driven approach uses therapeutic colors and engages all senses—sight, sound, touch, and smell—creating both stimulating and intimate shopping experiences. This concept challenges traditional retail designs and offers a refreshing perspective on sensory inclusivity.
Ruby Sculley
Elly Neai: Reinventing the Beauty Salon Experience
Third-year student Elly Neai drew inspiration from the beauty brand Mecca Cosmetica/Maxima to design an inclusive salon concept for Amazon. Her focus was on creating a safe and empowering space for women from all backgrounds, particularly those facing social and financial challenges. Elly's design promotes inclusivity through thoughtful spatial arrangements, ensuring accessibility for customers with mobility concerns.
Her salon concept aims to foster female empowerment while supporting women-owned businesses, aligning with her mission to create spaces that offer comfort, community, and confidence to all visitors.
Patty Limthongbai: Rethinking Technology Stores for All
Patty Limthongbai, a third-year design student, reimagined the retail experience for Telstra, Australia’s leading telecommunications company. Her concept revolves around interactive, immersive experiences designed to educate and entertain visitors of all ages. The store’s six distinct zones offer engaging activities, product displays, and art installations, transforming the shopping journey into a dynamic experience.
Patty’s design not only highlights Telstra’s products but also integrates the company’s cultural values and brand identity, providing a stimulating environment that invites customers to explore, learn, and engage with the brand in exciting new ways.
Natalia Decca: Reshaping Retail for Google
Natalia Decca designed an innovative Google store that blends physical space with emotional engagement. Her concept focuses on creating interactive zones for product demonstrations, workshops, and technical support, all designed to foster customer interaction and exploration.
By streamlining the customer journey, Natalia’s design minimizes effort while maintaining a familiar, easy-to-navigate experience. This customer-centric approach ensures that visitors can engage with Google’s products and services effortlessly, offering both innovation and convenience in one seamless retail environment.
The Future of Inclusive Retail Design
The collaboration between YourStudio and RMIT University showcases how inclusive design can reshape the retail landscape, making it accessible and engaging for all customers. These student projects exemplify innovative approaches to retail design, catering to diverse audiences with unique needs.
As the partnership continues, both YourStudio and RMIT University look forward to exploring more groundbreaking concepts that will not only influence the future of retail but also set new standards for inclusivity and intersectionality in design.
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