design:retail - July/August 2020 - 6

FROM THE EDITOR

DESIGN:RETAIL

In Search of
Inspiration

"I recently found inspiration taking a few
weeks off for vacation at Yellowstone and
Grand Tetons. Taking time away to reflect
and not be part of the nuance of change
daily on meetings was not only great for
my family and my well-being, but brought
me back with a calm perspective, remembering that at work and in business, we are
playing the long game."

F Y O U ' R E L I K E M E , inspiration has proven
rather elusive lately. Even when life is
humming along the status quo, it's not
always easy to be inspired or keep that
creativity sparking. Add to that a pandemic, social injustice and racism, and an
uncertain economy, and it's no wonder
many creatives are hitting mental roadblocks.
It's also worth noting that it's hard to stay inspired, motivated and optimistic when the work
you're doing seems to pale in comparison to that
of scientists racing toward a world-saving vaccine.
While we aren't curing disease in our industry,
retail design still plays an integral role in life. Devotees of the métier know this already, but I still
think it bears repeating: design is important. Retail
design is important. Shopping is woven into the
fabric of our lives. Shopping is feeling, connecting,
expressing. It's being seen and heard; it's about
community, culture and identity. The spaces we
design-now, more than ever-play a major role in
people's lives. We can make visitors feel safe, comfortable and protected. We can offer familiarity,
humility, joy and empathy through the stores we
design. We can be that bright spot in someone's day.
We can be that thread of connection that dissolves
loneliness. We can-and do-make a difference.
With that said, staying inspired to do such work
is no easy feat. So, in honor of this issue dedicated
to "Inspiration," we reached out to some of our
industry friends to ask them how they're staying
inspired and kindling those creative fires during
these uncertain and trying times. Their responses
blew me away. Here, I'm sharing a selection of my
favorites with you. May you find your next dose of
inspiration, encouragement or resilience in their
words of wisdom-I know I did.

JULY/AUGUST 2020

JESSIE DOWD
EDITOR IN CHIEF
DESIGN:RETAIL
JESSIE.DOWD@EMERALDX.COM

On Finding Inspiration Lately...
"I am finding inspiration in humanity.
Adversity has the value of providing us
with opportunities to create defining
moments within our lives. In the face of
two pandemics-COVID-19 and racism-
the world has united! It has taught us to
have emotion, to feel and to have empathy.
So much so, that even with these masks
on, we have learned to smile with our eyes.
Inspiration is everywhere. Inspiration is
always right in front of us. We were just
moving too fast to be able to see it."

"Having moved to a new city-walking
around, with a mask, and seeing the great
graffiti/art."

"I'm trying to spend more time outdoors.
This summer, I've been able to carve out
what we're calling 'stolen moments' with
family, and heading into the woods or to
the shore. With the rate and pace of life
slowing a bit, I've been trying to see the
natural world in a bit more detail. I've been
particularly enamored with birds lately
(although I would definitely not call myself
a birder). By watching the bird and then
researching their colors, habitat and
migrations, we've created stories and speculate about their journeys."

"I've found myself looking for inspiration
that transports me. Currently, I'm obsessed with travel food blogs. I think it is
the combination of now my lack of travel,
love for cooking and the beautiful writing
that has given me a new sense of wonder.
The color combinations, photography and
storytelling have provided new perspectives that I've applied to my design thinking.
Here are a few that I'm currently enjoying:
towhatplace.com, bucketlistjourney.net,
soleilroth.com."

"Walks. Walking with my dog, Tom, on the
open hiking trails around our area. The
quiet and nature makes you think, imagine and create so many things in your head.
From design solutions to a dinner menu...
Oh, and NO music in my ears during
those walks."

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7/24/20 2:51 PM

http://www.towhatplace.com http://www.bucketlistjourney.net http://soleilroth.com

design:retail - July/August 2020

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