Retailers shop for student ideas

Fifty top retailers were today due to hear concrete proposals from students at Central St

Martins College of Art and Design on retailing in 2010.

In a project organised by M&K Design director Paul King and Sally Appleby of Appleby Case, the Chartered Society of Designers’ Design Management Group challenged design students to research specific ideas for future retailing.

Design managers from retailers including Woolworth’s, BHS, Sainsbury’s and Tesco were today being briefed on the results.

Predictions include Sophie Hubble’s suggestion of a boom in second-hand culture. Charlie Kinsman is examining why people buy things they do not need or really want due to heavy marketing. Other proposals include a nutrition aid in the form of computer smart cards carried by shoppers which coax buyers into healthy-eating buying patterns.

King says: “We have been working with the students for the past six months and at first there were a lot of deep blue skies ideas. We have gently brought them down and the result is things which are all technologically feasible in the next few years.

“Everyone is getting something out of this. The retailers are getting stimulation and ideas and the students are getting to talk to hard-nosed retailers.”

King says a repeat of the exercise – this time focusing on product design and manufacturing companies – is being considered.