Rodney Fitch in retail design education move

Fitch founder Rodney Fitch has been appointed professor of retail design at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands in a move that promises to create a new model for the study of retail and retailing, not least in developing countries.

Fitch is in line to head up a two-year MA course at Delft, and will also oversee an outreach retail course in Mumbai, India, aimed at giving local and Western practitioners a formal qualification. He says the Delft course is due to start in September, and the Mumbai course in April.

For now, the Delft course will sit within the industrial design school, but it is expected that, as it develops, it will be supported by the faculties of engineering, architecture and industrial design, Fitch says. Fitch, who ceased to be chairman of WPP consultancy Fitch at the end of 2009,maintains that the Delft post means he holds the first fulltime retail design chair in Europe.

’I like to think it recognises the importance of retail and retailing, given the size [of the sector] and its economic and societal values,’ he says.

Fitch says the Delft course will be modular, covering context – the history and politics of retail; strategy from the perspective of retail and the retailer; innovation; and communication. It will be pan-European, but include overseas students, he says.

Fitch is also looking to take on PhD students in Delft, building on the MA. ’I am interested to see research into retail being done out of universities,’ he says.

Fitch says the Mumbai course is organised by Delft in partnership with local company Kyoorius, which runs the annual creative conference Kyoorius Designyatra, among other things. Also modular, it is described by Fitch as ’an malgam’ of retail studies, of which design is part. He says it will run for one year and result in an Executive MA Diploma for successful participants.

RETAIL DESIGN GOES POSTGRAD

  • Fitch has already enrolled professor James Woudhuysen to lead the innovation module and Dutch retail branding expert Michel van Tongeren to head up communication
  • It is expected the course will accept 25 students in the first year, most being already at Delft and choosing the discipline as part of a design MA

 

 

Hide Comments (1)Show Comments (1)
Comments
  • ASHOK B PATEL November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    wish you all the best and sure success Mr Fitch founder Rodney Fitch for your appointment professor of retail design at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands
    your wish strong will and promise will bring new era in distributing Knowledge our in India and worldwide “in a move that promises to create a new model for the study of retail and retailing, not least in developing countries.

    Fitch is in line to head up a two-year MA course at Delft, and will also oversee an outreach retail course in Mumbai, India, aimed at giving local and Western practitioners a formal qualification.
    your Delft course is due to start in September, and the Mumbai course in April.
    for your information My name is Ashok B Patel and a qualified Practioners in Income Tax, Sales Tax, Legal Matters,Project Consultants,
    I have contacted you with a intention to support you in expanding your concept two-year MA course at Delft in India
    if you contact us we can meet and have a personal discussion, I can arrange 5000-sq ft
    carpet area in Vikroli in Mumbai Fort area 1700 sq ft, and places as per your choice
    2000 sq ft carpet in Bhandup all the places are developing and we can give all the places on leave & licence basis
    I wish that the New concept should be capitalised and a Brand Equity should me made within know time
    My full support and co-operation is with you
    Awaiting your positive reply for mutual benefits at both the ends
    with regards
    Ashok Patel
    vcando2000@yahoo.com
    ashokpatel929@gmail.com

  • Post a comment

Latest articles