Collaborative Solutions for Debenhams: How can Interior Design and Fashion Marketing and Business students tackle industry challenges?
BA (Hons) Interior Design and BA (Hons) Fashion Marketing and Business students were tasked by Debenhams to address the challenges between online and physical shopping spaces within the beauty industry.
Working in groups, the students produced a temporary and freestanding pop-up store concept for a Debenhams beauty brand.
The brief gave students a taste of what it can be like to work to short, demanding deadlines, having only two weeks to prepare their final pitch for Debenhams Creative Director Patrick Duggan. The presentation included an overall concept board, a visual representation of a pop-up space, a launch/event plan and an event invite design.
“I hope to see something that is brave. The idea of something being wrong doesn’t exist to me, just go for it. “
Patrick Duggan, Debenhams Creative Director
To assist students in their creative process, Norwich graduate Beth Poulter returned to the University to speak to the students about her career in creative and visual merchandising.
Beth graduated in 2018 from BA Fashion Communication and Promotion and is currently a Creative Visual Merchandiser for global fashion brand AllSaints. Prior to this, Beth spent three years at contemporary jewellery brand Astrid & Miyu.
We asked Beth what advice she has for the students taking on this brief:
“I would start the project with looking at emerging trends. You can’t be one step ahead if you don’t know what is happening now; understand who is doing what and who is doing it well.”
“Get inspired and think about the brands you’re designing for. You’ve got to ask what is the point of the space, what is it you want people to take from it, do you want people to shop, take photos or learn about the brand. Think about the customer journey.”
Student work
Interior Design and Fashion Marketing and Business students that were involved in this project:
| BA (Hons) Fashion Marketing and Business | BA (Hons) Interior Design |
|---|---|
| Jack Thomas Alex Hartley Dominka Klimczak Amelia Murphy Sofia Bacchetta Ted Saunders Trinity Rogers Leva Barkauskaite Phoebe Bench Rosie Hiskey Hannah Gunton Sophie Smith Ava Powell Celine Mutemererwa | Callie Fillingham Sam Putman Tia Vickers Lydia Cheyne Chadonnae Edwards Libby Godbold Rajan Sekhon April Palfrey Natalia Ramburn Gaynelle Morais Lucy Bristow Matt Nunn Hannah Rudd Arabella Hopkinson Ian Wang Ugne Kivytaite Wiktoria Smolarek Jess Wood George Dunster Jasmine Burgess Desmond Lau Eve Gosling Jess Parry Tzanya Gayle Wiktoria Chmielewska Maddie Gibson Luke Copeman Holly Mullings Daniel Dwyer Abi Newton |
Post published: 28th June 2023
Last modified: 21st August 2023