Aurora Design: Creating a Traditional and Tranquil Retail Design

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a traditional and tranquil retail design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Aurora Design.

By using bamboo as the main theme, Jin Tea creates a modern retail environment for tea. The projection of bamboo leaves sets a serene atmosphere, while varying heights of bamboo leaves and slabs and bamboo shadow glass walls, adding texture and an oriental charm. Transitioning through the bamboo shadow creates a deep landscape, with the design integrating modern and traditional elements, hidden functionalities, and an enhanced sense of dimension. Jin Tea embodies the dynamic vitality and charm of traditional culture.

What was the client's brief? 

The client wants to create a wonderfully blended tea retail space infused with Eastern culture, offering a harmonious integration of tradition and modernity, and providing visitors with a tranquil and emotionally resonant experiential environment.

What inspired the design of the project?

Eastern Elegance and Balance:
We emphasize the infusion of Eastern elegance into the design, utilising elements like bamboo shadows and green lighting to create a sense of beauty rooted in Eastern culture. Simultaneously, the article underscores the significance of balance by integrating ancient civilisations with modern aesthetics, thereby crafting a romantic and joyful space that offers urban dwellers a relaxing environment.

Feminine Perspective and Emotional Expression:
We have honed an ethereal beauty from a feminine perspective, projecting emotional perception. The design strives for simplicity and understated elegance, conveying a sense of inner calm and contentment while resonating with the modern urban dweller's yearning for nature and tranquility.

Modern Interpretation of Tea Culture:
We endeavor to draw inspiration from Yunnan's rich tea culture, intertwining traditional tea heritage with contemporary space to present fresh design concepts. By eschewing conventional embellishments in the tea space, we create a pleasant and tranquil ambiance, allowing individuals to experience serenity and relaxation amidst the bustling cityscape.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

The design challenge lies in seamlessly integrating traditional tea culture with modern aesthetics while catering to diverse market demands. Among these, the material aspect challenge involves identifying materials that can effectively depict bamboo leaf shadows and bamboo silhouettes, as well as combining the bar counter's slate and the green bamboo shadow glass wall, ensuring texture and a natural effect. On the other hand, understanding market demands requires us to fully consider consumers' experiential and emotional triggers in the tea space, while providing personalised shopping experiences. Timing and communication are also challenges, seizing the right timing in design execution and thorough communication with clients to ensure alignment between design direction and expected goals. In facing these challenges, creativity and innovation will be key factors for success.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The innovation of this project lies in its ingenious fusion of traditional tea culture and modern design. Through the projection and interplay of bamboo leaf shadows, an ethereal and tranquil atmosphere is crafted, imparting consumers with the serene and distant tranquility of nature. Moreover, the bar counter combines rock slabs and green bamboo shadow glass walls, infusing an Oriental charm that enriches the space with tactile richness and natural variation. Expansive installations of bamboo-mimicking hard materials envelop the surroundings, creating a deep and immersive scenic arrangement that imparts a sense of dimensionality and dynamic "illusions." Utilising a minimalist approach with concise leaf-like contours and gradient green lighting, an aesthetic of understated simplicity is established between reality and illusion. This distinctive design combines tea culture and modern aesthetics, yielding fresh outcomes in the market and captivating consumers seeking unconventional experiences.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

SBID International Design Award is a highly regarded international design awards, participation allows our work to gain broader international recognition and exposure. It enables our design creations to undergo professional evaluation, offering feedback from experts and peers. This helps us understand the strengths of our design and areas for improvement, fostering personal growth and enhancement. SBID International Design Award's ceremony, exhibitions, and events also provide designers with a platform to engage with peers, industry professionals, and potential clients. This can lead to the emergence of new business opportunities and collaborative partnerships.

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

The shortlisted entries are showcased globally, offering an opportunity to capture the attention of industry professionals, media, and potential clients. Winning this award can serve as a source of pride for the team, boosting confidence and bestowing us with honor. By shortlisted in high-level design competitions like SBID International Design Awards, we can set an example for the entire design industry, propelling its advancement and elevating design standards.

Questions answered by Yang Xuewan, Chief Designer and Founder of Aurora Design.

London’s Carnaby Street is famous worldwide as home to Britain’s most iconic names in fashion and popular culture, so when progressive fashion brand RIXO paired up with Karndean Designflooring to design its latest store the result was always going to be effortlessly stylish and elegant.

One of the coolest destinations associated with 1960s London, Carnaby was, and still remains, the epicentre of culture and lifestyle, from ground-breaking fashion brands such as Mary Quant, Vivienne Westwood and Cranks vegetarian restaurant to underground music bars which hosted future stars including The Who and The Rolling Stones.

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In this week's interview with 2022 SBID Awards winners of the Retail Design category, L'Atelier Five, Jasmine Bagaria talks about portraying the brand's heritage in a modern way, using technology to aid storytelling, and the challenges of working in a pop-up space.

The team elevated the brand's assets through digital and luxury art installations in an immersive digital tunnel, which portrayed the rich heritage and storytelling of the Panthère. 

Firstly, tell us a bit about the design of your project. What were the key ideas, concepts and processes behind it?

The brief was to create an interactive and luxury experience in the Harrods Exhibition windows. Celebrating the story and heritage of Panthère de Cartier through a series of experiential rooms and playful takeaways. We used the internal Cartier guidelines to start the initial storytelling and then elevated the experience in true LA5 style. Pushing the boundaries and showing the client how we can create an impactful and modern pop-up.

What was your biggest takeaway or highlight from completing this project?

The most challenging part of this project was having to design during a lockdown. Most of the design was done over zoom meetings and phone calls whilst we were all under government orders to stay at home. This was the first project where we had to consider social distancing, covid screens and general covid safety into the design. It was a completely new scope to introduce and of course we wanted to ensure the features moulded well with the concept and didn’t seem an afterthought.

Another challenge was to develop the strong heritage of the Panthere de Cartier and showcase the assets in a modern and immersive way. We had a lot of assets to work with and we wanted to create an area for engaging with them, that allowed the story to shine but in a contemporary way. We came up with the infinity tunnel and turned the assets into an impactful digital timeline that took over the space. Using a series of digital tiles and mirror, we managed to create the first ever digital room in the Harrods exhibition windows. As it was the first, there were also some challenges in terms of production. However we worked closely with all parties involved to ensure perfect execution.

What has winning an SBID Award meant for you and your business?

We are honoured to have won the award as it shows our hard work, dedication and passion for what we do. As a business it has inspired us to continue to go further and push to create unique experiences.

The design of the space uses a lot of digital elements and installations. How do you think technology can help tell the brand’s story and connect with the customers?

The use of digital allows you to showcase content in new and exciting ways. Compiling all the assets in a dynamic, moving visual, that pulls people in to explore. You only have a few moments to catch someone’s attention and playing with these elements creates more intrigue than plain text.

What are some considerations of working on a pop-up space design? What are the biggest challenges and how do you overcome them?

We always want to provide a 360 experience, so the visitor can take home a piece of the pop up with a memorable takeaway. Whether through branded giveaways or bespoke photo moments.

It can be challenging at times to translate the Brand guidelines into a space that has their own guidelines. We love to push the boundaries and ensure the pop-up is unique and stands out as a brand activation. Hence why we work closely with all parties to create the ultimate experience.

How do you hope Panthère de Cartier design will impact the customer? What impression are you hoping to leave?

With all our projects, we hope to leave a memorable impression on all visitors. We love creating modern and impactful experiences that engage the visitors and ensure commercial success and brand awareness.

Questions answered by Jasmine Bagaria, Lead Designer, L’Atelier Five.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a confectionery tools store design by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, KAMITOPEN.

What was the client's brief? 

Founded in 1951, the company Majimaya has been selling confectionery tools in Kappabashi for over 70 years. There were 3000 different types of molds that I needed to showcase with the design.

What inspired the design of the project?

The design is rooted in the client's enthusiasm to continue selling confectionery tools in the same place for the next 100 years.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

The main problem I had to solve was the limited space. I suggested setting up the evacuation stairs and protective fences in a way for them to display 3000 molds, right in the center of the building. In addition, I also arranged 3000 tin boxes there. By linking the display with the number printed on the box, it was made easy for the customers to choose one themselves and take out the required number from the stock.

During the planning of the building, all floors were connected by split-level floors, and while choosing molds, customers were guided to move up and down subconsciously. This solved the unique problem of arcade area, which is a stress-free place for customers to move up and down inside the building.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

3,000 confectionery tools molds in the middle that were installed together with the client.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

I thought it could be an inspiration for arcade shopping buildings all over the world.

Questions answered by Masahiro Yoshida, Representative, KAMITOPEN.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a bright and colourful retail design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Seen Displays.

What was the client's brief? 

Following the launch of the Bally Haus Concept Store in Milan, we were briefed to create a space for Bally in New York’s Meatpacking District that transcended the traditional purposes of retail, acting as a creative grounding force for the area. It was important to us and Bally that their traditional design pillars of art, architecture and craftsmanship were included in the design, celebrating their Swiss roots and forward-thinking practice.

What inspired the design of the project?

Our creative narrative was inspired by the angular lines of Manhattan’s grid, which uniquely pivots in the Meatpacking district, causing Gansevoort Street to be bathed in a warm hard light during the spring and autumn equinox. Bally’s values of combining nature with the contemporary ensured that our approach to materialism was innovative, circular, and quintessentially Bally, using materials from Tessa Silva and Paper-Factor.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

Designing and supporting the delivery of the project in a very short time frame, whilst collaborating remotely during covid lockdowns, certainly came with its challenges but the team weren’t deterred from achieving our vision for innovative materiality and experience from the very start. Our ongoing support of circular artists and relationships with bio materialist, Tessa Silva and PaperFactor, enabled us to achieve unique finishes and qualities rarely seen in retail design.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The realisation of our design detailing demonstrated how a luxury environment can remain both finely finished and offer an adaptable brand environment. Details included accurately placed curtain seams and material clad wall plugs, meaning our fixture system was seamlessly disguised, offering a premium finish overall whilst giving the brand flexibility to adapt the environment from a store to a community-based event space. Delivering this level of detail from start to finish with the challenge of using exciting and innovative materials in such a short time frame was probably one of our biggest highlights.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

One of the most prestigious, international design awards in the calendar, we entered as we appreciate the importance SBID places in celebrating unique design solutions across various disciplines. Thank you for having us!

Questions answered by Andrew Quinn, Lead Designer, Seen Displays.

This week’s instalment of Project of the Week series features a retail space design by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, Makhno Studio.

What was the client's brief? 

The customer wanted to create a showroom in a Ukrainian contemporary style.

What inspired the design of the project?

Natural materials and ancient Ukrainian traditions.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

Despite the small area, the creation and realisation of the project had some real challenges. We had two weeks and only two online meetings to discuss and approve the visualisations. We also had limited time for the project realisation — 30 days sharp. Moreover, it was only possible to carry out the construction work at night time. The architects lost their sleep for a month, but for the sake of the result, we happily made this sacrifice.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

We understood that there was no room for error, so the night before the store opened we controlled the final construction until five in the morning.

The interior is wrapped in materials typical of Ukrainian culture — ceramics and wood. In the centre of the composition, there is a table with a cracked ceramic base made in our workshop. A vase from Serhii Makhno complements the colour scheme of the table. All the walls are decorated with clay plaster — it is a modern version of the technology used in the days of our great-grandparents. The main wall is decorated with Tetrapod 3D tiles, which won the international Red Dot Design Award in 2017. Soft accents are added by the snow-white Khmara lamps made in our ceramic workshop.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

This is one of the most prestigious international design awards. The jury of the competition are professionals in their field, trendsetters and very interesting personalities. It is an honour to present our work to them and receive recognition. We also respect SBID Awards for the organizational aspects that make submissions a real pleasure.

Questions answered by Serhii Makhno, Founder, Makhno Studio.

With a commitment to recognising excellence and championing the creative industries, the SBID International Design Awards presented its annual Fellow of the Year award to TV Dragon and retail entrepreneur, Theo Paphitis for his outstanding professional achievements. With a business empire that now spans retail, property, finance and consumer goods, he began his career from a low-income background with no formal qualifications due to his dyslexia.

Dr Vanessa Brady OBE, Founder & CEO of the Society of British and International Interior Design (SBID) explains: “The SBID Fellow of the Year is awarded to a successful public figure who has broken through personal and professional challenges, and in some cases prejudices, then progressed to become a household name in a specific field of business or the creative industries. Theo exemplifies the journey and struggles that many young designers and creatives are faced with. His personal and professional success is recognised in this award and acts as inspiration to the next generation of emerging talent to persevere through life’s challenges.”

At the age of 16 Theo started working as a filing clerk in a Lloyds of London brokerage before discovering his passion for retail at Watches of Switzerland. He later went on to carve his reputation in business and retail when he revived the fortunes of notable high street names such as Ryman, Partners the Stationers, Stationery Box, La Senza, Contessa Lingerie and more recently, Robert Dyas. Theo also bought Red Letter Days out of administration in 2005 with fellow TV Dragon, Peter Jones, and in the Spring of 2011, launched what has now become the multi-award winning, global lingerie brand, Boux Avenue.

In 2015 he launched Theo Paphitis Retail Group which encompasses Ryman Stationery, Robert Dyas, Boux Avenue and London Graphic Centre. The combined group comprises over 300 stores and 4,000 employees, serving millions of customers a year!

Theo Paphitis said: "Winning any award is wonderful, but to be recognised for the SBID Fellow of the Year award, amongst so many well-known design individuals, was beyond that. Retail is such a visual medium, whether it is the product, the brand or the store windows and inspiration can come in so many forms. My award is for all of those design specialists who have inspired me and so many of my retail colleagues over the years, helping us to put design front and centre in our businesses."

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When the owners of Thimbleby Shooting Ground turned to Rachel McLane Ltd for the interior of their new clubhouse they were looking for a longlasting and empathic design that reflected the Thimbleby Estate's rural traditions in a homely, memorable and practical fashion.

"The clubhouse is the heart and soul of any sporting club and Thimbleby Shooting Ground is no exception," said Rachel McLane, whose team have turned Thimbleby's new architect-designed timber frame shell from one big open space into a multi-purpose facility where unique spaces are clearly defined by function.

Thimbleby is one of the country’s premier shooting grounds, open six days a week and with a committed and passionate customer base who use the clubhouse as a place to relax, eat, drink and socialise after a round of shooting.

Layers of cladding, panels, timber, tiles, polished plaster and paint added new texture and colours to break up the uniformity of single-space walls, and removable bespoke banquet seating allows Thimbleby's clubhouse to be used by members as a function suite. A cafe-style display cabinet and proper serving counter took the place of a single food servery hatch which was removed.

"There were a few quite big changes to accommodate from the original specification," added Rachel, "including the reception, retail area, WCs and gun room which all sat rather uncomfortably together in the entrance."

This layout obstacle was solved by installing a new internal wall in the reception area separating it from the WC doorways while also clearly delineating the new retail space and enabling better display of goods and where people can walk. It was also agreed to bring inside the new building an originally proposed external terrace to create an indoor snug area with a new fireplace.

"Although a combination of the pandemic and Brexit made sourcing some of the building materials tricky we have been able to keep the project pretty much on time with the only delays from the design changes necessary to suit the building," said Rachel.

"With a job like this, one of the most pleasing aspects is being able to work with an original building vision by a great architect, expert craftsmen, construction professionals and owners to come up with a design vision that can be successfully realised together."

Thimbleby's director Andrew Shelley says that right from the first project discussions Rachel and her team clearly understood their vision for the clubhouse. "Now the building is complete and being used on a daily basis, not only are we delighted with the finished result, but more importantly, our customers are enjoying the space," said Mr Shelley.

"Rachel delivered an attractive, functional, flexible and comfortable clubhouse. Starting from an empty shell, her design made a huge difference.  Importantly, this was not an open cheque book vanity project, this was a commercial venture and needed to be delivered on budget and in good time which she achieved.

"The team was outstanding and it was a real pleasure to see their skills employed. Throughout the final fit out Rachel and her team worked together creatively and cost effectively to solve problems - I am pretty sure none of them had ever designed or manufactured a gun showroom before, but the end result was outstanding."

Mr Shelley continues: "I am starting to understand the difference design can make and pleased to report that Rachel and her team delivered a clubhouse and retail space that our customers will enjoy for many years - I suspect most of them will not be aware, but much of this was achieved through Rachel's great design."