Who’s Next?

We had an embarrassment of riches at this year’s International Retail Design Conference (IRDC), with all of our speakers bringing their “A” games and a terrific crowd of attendees who showed up ready to network, learn, ask questions and contribute. We always get a fair share of repeat attendees at IRDC, and they’re great (of course!), but it’s the newcomers – especially the younger designers – who seem to elevate the enthusiasm level and really keep the fires stoked as the days progress.

It was a pleasant surprise to see the number of young designers on hand this year, because, as Retail Design Institute president Andrew McQuilkin discussed in his breakout session that week, it’s a tough time to be a retail designer … but it’s a really tough time to be a young retail designer. We all know who’s the first to go when times get lean. And because of that, our industry is bleeding talent.

Vember Stuart-Lilley, special projects manager/store design for Guess? Inc., graduated six years ago from the Cleveland Institute of Art with an interior design degree. This was her first IRDC, where she also served as a speaker for the session “Renovations, Deconstructed,” because of her award-winning work on Guess’ Michigan Avenue store. Vember’s passion for her work is palpable; she e-mailed us that IRDC was a “life-changing experience,” because, as she wrote, “I was able to bring back so much information and knowledge from the other attendees and the sessions. It was such a great, inspirational few days.”

Andrew’s session ultimately posed the question: “What are you doing to engage the next generation of designers?” How do we keep the Vembers of our industry inspired, even in difficult times?

Both the Retail Design Institute and PAVE, the Planning and Visual Education Partnership, sponsor student competitions that produce wonderful, creative results. PAVE’s Rising Star Award honors up-and-coming young designers at its fabulous gala every December. Smart design firms bring in interns and co-ops, but there are other ways to nurture talent as well. You can offer your services as an instructor at local colleges. As Andrew pointed out, many design majors don’t even realize that retail design and visual merchandising is a career option. You can connect those dots. And by all means, create opportunities within your company to allow the youngest members of your team to really contribute.

If you missed IRDC, or were there and couldn’t attend certain sessions, you can find many of the presentations on the Web at IRDConline.com. To access them, register as an IRDC Insider on the home page. We certainly hope to see you in person at the 10th anniversary of IRDC, in Toronto October 13-15, 2010. Don’t forget to bring the junior members of your team.