The winners of the Retail Design Student Awards, sponsored by ITAB UK, have been announced at Retail Design Expo 2016 in London. The specialist retail event brings together the finest exponents of retail design, visual merchandising, branding and in-store experience before an international audience.

Students from six colleges tackled live briefs set by Arcadia Group – to design a Los Angeles branch of Topshop – and Pentland Brands – to design a Rio-themed pop up for swimwear brand Speedo.

 

Entrants were mentored by designers including Fitch CEO Tim Greenhalgh and Dalziel & Pow creative director David Dalziel, both of whom applauded the standard of the shortlisted entries.

“It is a much more challenging environment to start a design career than it was when we entered the industry,” said Arcadia Group design director Guy Smith. “These graduates will start contributing creatively to projects from their first days at work.”

The contest to design a Speedo pop-up was won by second year student Sammie Shaw of the University of Huddersfield, for her fun and completely on-brief Water Carnival design. Judges were unanimous in their choice of winner.

Coming up for Air by Emily Waterston of Kingston University and Mind, Body and Soul by Jake Deith of Nottingham Trent University were both commended.

“Supporting the Retail Design World Student Awards lets companies play a part in safeguarding the future creativity of the industry – an industry that has always encouraged and nurtured new talent’, said FITCH chief creative officer Tim Greenhalgh, referring to the first Retail Design Student Awards in 2015. “It seemed to be a very logical thing to do. Surely we should be celebrating, encouraging and promoting what students are doing.”

Prizes will consist of placements with FITCH, Checkland Kindleysides and Pentland.

About Retail Design Expo

Retail Design Expo is the specialist retail event from the Legend Exhibitions stable. Bringing together the very finest exponents of retail design, visual merchandising, branding and in-store experience, it is a clear reflection of how the retail sector is responding to the increasingly discerning consumer.

Showcasing solutions from designers, architects, shopfitters and specialist contractors it focuses very clearly on innovation and inspiration in retail design, visual merchandising and branding. Retail Design Expo encompasses additional features such as student awards, roundtables, workshops, masterclasses as well as a full programme of conferences and seminars.