The record 69 awards presented recently at NASFM’s 32nd Annual Retail Design Awards Presentation highlight the creativity and innovation marking the industry today. Combining form and function, the award-winning imaginative new store and store fixture designs captivated and inspired. They were recognized during the association’s awards presentation Sunday, March 16, in Chicago, following the conclusion of the first day of GlobalShop. In addition to the top two awards, Store of the Year and Fixture of the Year, NASFM presented 16 Special Merits for Individual Store Fixtures, 6 Special Merits for Outstanding Fixture Groupings, 16 Grand Prizes, and 29 Outstanding Merits.

Store of the Year was presented to Nambé by Larry Greenberger, publisher of Display & Design Ideas, presenting sponsor of the Retail Design Awards. The 1,900-sq.-ft. specialty store based in Colorado Mills Mall in Lakewood, Colo., complements the retailer’s product line of high-end metal and crystal home accessories with a clean, elegant presentation. “The undulating radii of the store fixtures meld into one continuous line vertically and horizontally, drawing the customer in,” explains Don Finley, president of Capital Contracting & Design Inc., adding that the shelving was designed to appear to float in the space. Like Nambé’s product, the fixtures, which are built from maple, leather, steel, plastic laminate, and glass, are clean and elegant. The store was designed by Karim Rashid Design, New York; fixtures were fabricated by Capital Contracting & Design Inc., Plainfield, N.J., a member of NASFM.

Fixture of the Year was presented to Best Buy in New York for its Chelsea Digital Platform by David Reynolds, president and CEO of The Miller Group and president of NASFM. The fixture, an interactive kiosk for cell phones and digital cameras, is designed to help customers try out the products in a fun, educational shopping experience. “Sales associates can stand in front comfortably discussing the product with customers,” says Chuck Lee, display design manager for Best Buy Co. The kiosk was designed by Best Buy Co., Eden Prairie, Minn., and fabricated by Retailer Services Corp., Anoka, Minn.

The Criteria
This year’s winners successfully integrated strong brand identity into their store and fixture designs and used traditional materials in unique ways to support their store brands. The winners were selected from projects completed between January and December 2002.