They say the eyes are the window to the soul…the same could also be said about, well, windows! Store windows, to be exact. They are one of the first things consumers see as they past by storefronts. They also have the power to tell entertaining, engaging and exciting stories that reflect the brand.
During the holiday season especially, retailers pull out the stops to stand out from the hustle and bustle happening on the streets. This year, Retail TouchPoints brought back Design:Retail’s Winning Windows awards program to spotlight the brands (and teams) spreading holiday cheer through their windows.
team of judges — Alicia Esposito, Vice President of Content for Retail TouchPoints; Anne Kong, Associate Professor, program coordinator for visual presentation and exhibition design at the Fashion Institute of Technology; and Judy Bell, Founder of Energetic Retail — analyzed the submissions and recognized the following brands for their work:
- Judges’ Choice Award: Saks Fifth Avenue, which integrated charitable giving and support of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
- Platinum Award: Bergdorf Goodman, which focused on the small yet critical details in design craftsmanship.
- Gold Award: Macy’s, which spotlighted TipToe the reindeer in a fun yet themed way that represents the heart of the holiday season.
- Silver Award: Bloomingdale’s, which brought the spirit of the season and the retailer’s 150th anniversary together into a memorable design moment.
The winners were revealed and celebrated at the 2022 PAVE Gala earlier in December in New York City. But this year, Retail TouchPoints is going a step further by spotlighting their craftsmanship with a special report and interview series featuring the leaders driving these projects. Part one is now available on the Retail TouchPoints site and newsletter, and part two will run on December 27.
Designers who want to understand how these windows come to life should check out the report now! If you want more fantastic commentary on the latest design trends, you also should join us for the 2023 Retail Innovation Conference & Expo! Who knows, you may be joining these executives IRL in Chicago!
