Design trend analyst Kate Ancketill identified emerging market leaders, new concepts, and “under the radar" signals from around the globe at this NADI-sponsored GlobalShop session on March 7, 2007, in Las Vegas. Drawing from recent projects and those under development by cutting-edge designers, retailers, branding agencies, packaging firms, and technology experts, Ancketill showed how retail environments can capitalize on forward-thinking ideas. Her visually spectacular case studies illustrated how successful retail brands are becoming “lifestyle portals” and how “journey-scaping” is being used to engage, entertain, and educate the consumer. Here is a recap.

Kate Ancketill, Managing Director, GDR Creative Intelligence Ltd.

Kate Ancketill’s background includes studying politics as a post-grad in London, where she worked for Amnesty International for seven years in research and policy writing. The need for ‘independence and impartiality’ came in handy when a career change led to GDR Creative Intelligence Ltd. The London-based firm, which stands for Global Design Resources, was established in 1992 to provide a confidential window-shopping service for clients needing to source design agencies. Hired as an assistant, Ancketill became a partner after two years and bought the company after four. She then reoriented GDR toward research into design trends and publication of quarterly Global Innovation Reports. GDR’s unique relationship with the creative industries allows it to be a conduit between designers and clients, effectively cherry picking the best new concepts. Most of Ancketill's design agency clients now subscribe to GDR’s Global Innovation Reports.

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