Kevin Roche

Kevin Roche, a San-Francisco-based partner at RYA Design Consultancy (Dallas and New York), has been setting a course for creative exploration ever since his days as a young boy.

“From age five until my senior year in high school, I was a nationally recognized competitive figure skater, which is all about creating, training and discipline,” says Roche, whose father was a part-time fine art painter. “And in high school, I had an art teacher who encouraged me to explore.”

Those early roots led Roche to earn a degree from the University of Cincinnati's College of Design, Art, Architecture and Planning (DAAP), from which he later received the distinguished alumni award.

Since graduating, Roche has spent the last 25 years traveling the globe, soaking up experience and learning the ins and outs of retail design from both the design firm side and the retail side. He has served many roles, including designer and planner for Federated Department Stores; design director, president and ceo at FRCH Design Worldwide (he's the “R” in FRCH); senior vp, marketing and retail development for DFS Group Ltd.; and ceo of Fitch:Worldwide.

“Every designer should gain a variety of experiences, both professional and personal,” he says. “I stayed too long in one place, one town and focused on one ideal. You have to remember that it's a BIG world and it is 'flat.' “

Roche will share his insights on design and San Francisco retail in upcoming issues of VM+SD magazine leading up to the International Retail Design Conference, to be held September 6-8 in the city by the bay. (For more information, visit www.irdconline.com.)

What was your first design project?

Remodeling a Catholic church. They always paid on time and appreciated what you did for them.

Name two lessons from that project that you still carry with you today.

The design business is personal. It's about your own expression and your relationship with the client. They are depending on you to deliver what's on their mind. I've also learned that people work with people they like and trust, and at the end of the day, it's the relationship that will resolve conflicts before it gets to the lawyer.

Is there one starting point from which you approach every project?

Listening, looking and observing the not-so-obvious influences.

What's the first thing you notice when you walk into a store?

How I feel and who else is in there.

If not design, what else would you be doing?

At the moment, I would be teaching at the college level or working in the yacht industry on the water somewhere in the world.

Name one thing on a wall in your living room.

A Willem de Kooning painting.

If you could live in another decade, which would it be?

I liked the 50s, its music and sense of simplicity.

San Francisco is a hot-bed right now for retail, restaurants, real estate. What do you think is the city's best attribute?

It's a real and bona fide brand by all measures. I think its diversity, culture, lifestyle, physical beauty and history make it a great place. California is a very big and diverse state, but a lot of people express delight when you mention you live in San Francisco. There is a reason for that!

What are your favorite restaurants in San Francisco?

The Boulevard and In and Out Burger.

Favorite place to spend a Saturday afternoon in San Francisco?

In the morning at the Ferry Building Market or the deYoung Museum; in the afternoon, the wine country; and for dinner, Beauchamp in Yountville.

What was your New Year's resolution for 2006? Have you broken it yet?

To not work so hard. YES, I have destroyed it…although I am sailing around Cape Horn at the tip of South America in March.