Lisa Lou: Yabu Pushelburg

This semester it's all about retail design. Now, retail design is one of those areas where you have to be creative and constantly one-upping yourself because stores can go out of style so quickly and most people just shop online these days.

I have to say, with the first two projects, I've been experimenting and having lots of fun. So when we got this current project to redesign Bloomingdale's lingerie department, I was nervous, but up for the challenge.

The point of my story? My teacher introduced me to a pair of designers and their work is so awesome I just had to share it!

George Yabu and Glenn Pushelburg

Yabu Pushelburg (headed by George Yabu and Glenn Pushelburg) is a world renowned design firm who specialize in the luxury retail, hospitality, and restaurant sectors. The two actually met back in the 70s when they went to school together for interior design at Ryerson University in Toronto. Then three years later they opened a studio together after bumping into each other on the street (always be nice to your classmates, lol)!

Public Hotel, Chicago

There are a million things about these two guys that I find amazing. The first is that their work has led them to travel all over the world- a huge dream of mine - and that they manage all these high profile projects while running two large offices, one in Toronto and one here in New York.

I also admire that they don't just have one style. I've been struggling to identify with a style and I don't quite know what it is. Maybe having a style is not as important as having a vision. And that, they do have. They are always very critical of their own work and push ideas and new interpretations of popular materials to make them more tactile and surprising. They achieve a great balance between edgy and elegant and always design with a customer or character in mind.

Lotte Centum City Dept. Store, South Korea

So why did my teacher think Yabu Pushelburg would help me with this project? Because I asked him what makes shopping necessary when there's the internet. And then, I was stumped with figuring out what to do on the ceilings and that five-foot wall space above the display fixtures.

Sometimes with designers, a visual explanation is more helpful than a spoken one and introducing me to this firm was the perfect solution. So to my first question: yes the internet is great for getting what you need, but shopping is an experience. There are people to interact with you; take your coat, offer wine, personally choose outfits for your upcoming occasions and there are places to sit, relax, and eat wonderful food. That is what luxury shopping is and that is what Yabu Pushelburg creates.

Oh, and that pesky space above the display area??? You can do anything!!! As long as it doesn't overpower the product you're trying to sell and it speaks to your desired users, the sky is the limit!