Celebrating 20 Years in Beauty & Retail: A Look Back _
The Evolution of Retail
With over 20 years of experience in retail, beauty has always been at the forefront of our portfolio. Throughout this time, we have embarked on a variety of exciting Retail Design projects that showcase our commitment to innovative design. In this overview, we explore some of these projects, focusing on the design elements that made them truly successful.
Sunday Riley – Disrupting the Premium Skincare Market
Sunday Riley partnered with us to uplift their retail branding and debut their counter at Harrods Beauty in Bristol. The concept design contrasted white counters with vibrant high-gloss black, mirror gold, and bright yellow elements, guided by the brand’s refreshed concept. Illuminated surfaces and backlit graphics were incorporated to enhance product messaging and aid customer decision-making. The design featured organic curves to soften the counter’s edges and includes a circular Lazy Susan to showcase the brand’s hero products effectively.
This luxe aesthetic set Sunday Riley apart from other beauty brands, creating a visually appealing and commercially successful counter.
Iconic London – Minimalism at its finest
D4R was thrilled to partner with the Fraser Group to create ICONIC’s inaugural permanent beauty retail concession at the brand-new Flannels flagship store in Fosse Park.
The brief was clear: to create a retail space that exudes an air of luxury and minimalism. Using premium materials and a refined finish, we designed a concession that perfectly captures ICONIC’s brand identity. A variety of mirrors, equipped with multi-light settings, created the ideal environment for customers to experiment with different makeup looks. Beauty enthusiasts can easily explore the brand’s full product line at self-selection counters, which invite them to test items before making a purchase.
A dynamic ‘hotspot’ podium highlighted ICONIC’s latest gift sets and colour collections, while media screens displayed popular Instagram feeds. This integration seamlessly connected the in-store experience with ICONIC’s broader multi-channel marketing strategy, enhancing the customer journey.
Wild Science Lab – Wellness Store & Product Packaging
We partnered with Wild Science Lab to launch a botanical shop-in-shop at the newly opened Printemps department store in Doha, Qatar, alongside the packaging for their latest “Happy Skin” range. This marked the brand’s first venture into physical retail, following its success as an online-only brand. The project aimed to make a bold impression—delivering an experience that was impactful, educational, and memorable whilst staying true to the brand’s ethos.
To showcase the brand’s expertise in naturally derived skincare, a hero ingredients wall was integrated to define the space. In the foreground, two play tables, each dedicated to a sub-brand, stood out with distinctive illuminated motifs, for easy recognition. We also created a shop-in-shop and packaging designed to attract and engage the audience, establishing a retail space that resonates and connects with customers. This approach helped the brand generate significant momentum during its debut into physical retail.