DDi - September 2012 - (Page 42)

42 AWARDS 2012 Best Visual Merchandising Photo: Liz Hornbeck 1 Programs st Place Anthropologie I n the ﬁve consecutive years that Anthropologie has been awarded the distinction of Best Visual Merchandising Program of the Year, its powerhouse team has created head-turning displays out of anything from toothpicks to bottlecaps, recycled cork wine stoppers and color-treated newspaper. The team’s keen eye for the beauty in ordinary items and moments—what Executive Director of Creative Services Missy Peltz calls “happenstance art”—has made it one of the most respected in the industry. “It starts with a kernel of inspiration from anywhere or anyone,” says Peltz, citing their recent obsession with the rings coffee cups leave behind on napkins. “Put 20 of those napkins together on a wall, and you have an installation.” Anthropologie opened 15 new stores in 2011, and plans to open 15 more by the end of this year—each its own unique representation of the retailer’s liberal, organic style. Behind each store is a team of individuals who are not only wildly creative and gifted, but also committed to sharing their artistic endeavors with the customer— a commitment they continue to take to new heights, with projects like a partnership with the Wyland foundation to create underwater environments for the brand’s Earth Day windows. It goes without saying that at the heart of the Anthropologie visual team is a passion for the artistic journey and all of its possibilities. “A lot of people in our ﬁeld have a speciﬁc viewpoint and are trend chasers,” Peltz says. “We are not; we are experience chasers. We allow the experience to dictate the outcome of our direction. It gives us the freedom to be nimble enough to ﬁnd the right idea at the right time.” —LAUREN MITCHELL, ASSOCIATE EDITOR | Photo: Sheena Birt September 2012 www.ddionline.com http://www.ddionline.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of DDi - September 2012

DDi - September 2012
Table of Contents
From the Editor
From the Show Director
Newsworthy
Shopper Insights
Greentailing
Editor’s Choice
Portfolio Awards 2012
Retail Design Luminaries
Retail Design Influencers
Design Firms of the Year
Best Visual Merchandising Programs
Retailer of the Year
Best-Designed Stores of the Year
Retail Standouts
Calendar
Advertisers
Classifieds
Think Tank

DDi - September 2012