material investigation | case study

|white house:black market|
the textures are smooth and many of the display tables look like black acrylic or lacquer. the colors are all black or white with accents of silver and red throughout. the lighting is appropriate for a retail store but is a bit dimmer which gives the store a more intimate, warmer feeling. without the obvious name of the store, it is clear that they are selling all black and white, by not only the merchandise but also the colors of all of the accenting tables and displays. the materials are consistent and the way that they've designed the stores really speaks for itself.




|r.e.i|
this store has a really industrial/warehouse-y look. many of the materials are wood and metal. i appreciate how even when it comes to the smallest details they have good representation of what they are selling, like the handles to the doors as a customer is entering. there are high ceilings and many windows which give a great, open feeling. the fact that they are able to have such great branding even though the store is so large is really great. their consistent with their textures and materials throughout the store which i feel ties it all together successfully.




|swoozies|
this is one of my favorite stores simply because of how amazing their stores are, design wise. their signature colors, pink and orange and carried throughout the store in polka dots and merchandise. but aside from these colors, the store is splashed with tons of bright colors. the walls are all white but the store has no lack of color what-so-ever. these bright colors promote a fun atmosphere and the idea that they are a party and gift store. the materials are pretty constant throughout and the merchandise itself acts as textures for the store. i really like how they don't rely completely on the decoration of their stores for their branding but also the merchandise itself. if the store didn't have a sign in front i could walk in and easily identify this store.




|urban outfitters|
this store has great branding and although no two stores are exactly alike i love how they all read as an urban outfitters. their display tactics for their clothing is creative and different from any other store. as you can see in the second picture they don't just hang their clothing on racks. they even hung some of their featured items in large picture frames. the furniture that they display their clothing on is always interesting and never the same throughout the store. a lot of their textures are smooth but the materials vary overall. some tables have glass tops while others seem to be like a white acrylic, there are some wood pieces, and a lot of metal. their lighting is mainly halogen but they accent those with large chandeliers across the store which adds a lot of personality.






|francescas|
i think that this stores design compliments the clothing that they are selling and the brand that they want to portray. the lighting is pretty low and there are spotlights towards the clothing on display, above the racks that surround the perimeter of the back of the store. the colors are warm and the textures are smooth and some reflective. much of the furniture are dark woods and the dressing rooms have a thick tapestry-like curtain instead of a door. they also sell accessories and small home decor. the overall effect of this store is very eclectic and represents what their brand perfectly.