Quinine’s Founder Ian Johnston to Judge RetailEXPO’s 2019 Retail Design Student Awards

Leading experience consultancy Quinine is happy to announce that our Founder Ian Johnston has been invited to join the judging panel for the Retail Design Student Awards 2019.

The Awards are run by Retail Design World and hosted by RetailEXPO.  Now in its fifth year, the scheme is a partnership between major retailers, brands and design consultancies who will be setting live briefs for the students. Participating universities include the University of the Creative Arts, University of Westminster, Middlesex University, Manchester Metropolitan University and Glasgow School of Art, with their students tackling briefs from The Body Shop, The Co-Op and Costa Coffee.  

“The Retail Design Student Awards are a great initiative. It’s exciting for students to have the opportunity to work with students on live projects which will introduce them to the realities of retail design outside the university environment. These students are the future of our industry and it’s important that we play our part in nurturing their creativity of the next generation of up and coming designers.” Ian Johnston

The briefs are currently being set, with judging taking place on 27 March. Shortlisted students will have their work showcased at the Retail Expo 1-2 May 2019 at Olympia, with the winning entries being announced at the show on Wednesday 1^st May.

We would like to wish all the participating students the best of luck!

Ian Johnston is also a member of the RetailEXPO Advisory Board which provides invaluable support, guidance to ensure RetailEXPO delivers what the industry wants from an exhibition. 

The board gives key insights into their day-to-day issues and challenges that then plays a vital role in ensuring the seminar and conference programme is the highest possible value to give retailers the information they need. They help to validate the submissions, the programme and presentations.

About Quinine 

Beginning life in 2007, Quinine is a retail experience consultancy known for their user-centric design approach, their understanding of human behaviour and how behaviour relates to the physical environment. They are a company committed to making space work better for businesses, brands, customers and staff, their ‘Happiness Circle’. Quinine works with a range of international product and service brands, designing and handling full-scale rollouts, new store concepts, pop-up and mobile stores as well as one-off experiential installations.

A complementary range of skills within architecture, interior design, graphic design and illustration supports Quinine’s solid industrial design background.

Founded by Ian Johnston, who graduated with a MA in industrial design from the Royal College of Art and who is one of the first Helen Hamlyn Research Associates, Quinine is based in London’s Queens Park.

Clients include: Comcast, EE, Fido, Imperial College London, Innovation RCA, LG, Orange, Rogers, Sony Ericsson, Tesco and Xfinity.