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Team Retail Design PhD & research projects Master Interior Architecture Publications News & events

Retail Design

The Retail Design Lab is a knowledge centre at the Faculty of Architecture and Arts of Hasselt University. We specifically look at how the spatial environment, the physical store in this instance, is experienced by its user, the customer. We consider this one’s perceptions but also behaviours and emotions. The research is closely intertwined with the educational programmes of the Faculty as well as the consultancy projects we work on for, and in collaboration with, the industry (retailers, designers, suppliers, cities and municipalities, etc).

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Team Retail Design

Our Focus

retail design - experience design - customer experience - service design - sustainable retail design - retail design process - participatory design - consumer behaviour - retail innovation - retail design strategy - design thinking

 

 

Prof. dr. Katelijn Quartier

Katelijn Figuur C
Function

Head of research domain Retail Design
E-mail
katelijn.quartier@uhasselt.be

Our consultancy service: Retail Design Lab

Our main goal is to help retailers and designers to improve the customer experience through interventions in the store design, in each case scientifically based and supported by extensive academic research on retail design.

Find out more at www.retaildesignlab.be

PhD & research projects

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The Role of Consumers in the Retail Design Process (PhD Constant Berkhout)

Retailers and designers view an understanding and empathy of consumers as essential for effective retail design. However, consumers are minimally in the retail design process. We study why this is not happening. We are wondering if consumer involvement will lead to more consumer-centric and successful design. And what the opportunities are for a highly participatory or co-creative role of consumers

Read more...
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A Metadesign approach to sustainable retail design (PhD Nonku Grootboom)

Retailers and designers view an understanding and empathy of consumers as essential for effective retail design. However, consumers are minimally in the retail design process. We study why this is not happening. We are wondering if consumer involvement will lead to more consumer-centric and successful design. And what the opportunities are for a highly participatory or co-creative role of consumers

Read more...
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Retail Design PhD's over the years

From the impact of store lighting on buying behavior to the study of interior architecture with a focus on customer well-being and the search for the true value of store experience for optimal ROI...

Within our research group, many doctoral students have conducted fascinating research in the field of retail design.

 

Read more...
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Proof Of Concept - REXS

The Retail Experience Scan (REXS) was a prototype tool that measures the "experience" in a physical retail environment. This tool was developed at the Retail Design Lab between 2016 and 2019.

From 2020 to 2021, the REXS prototype was further validated, calibrated and adapted through this 'Proof Of Concept' project into a tool that was ready to share with (retail) designers and consultants through a license starting in spring 2022

Curious about the REXS or interested in a license?
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TETRA - Experience Design Generator

From 2015 to 2017, our goal with this TETRA project was to optimize store experiences by making retailers aware of the possible lack of experience, and by encouraging them to do something about it. In addition, we also aimed to provide more insight for designers into the building blocks of experience-based design and help them with implementation. We were able to develop several tools through this research project and start offering them online for free through this website.

Explore all the retail design tools here
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TETRA - Material World

With this research project, conducted from 2017 to 2019 together with partners Wood.be and WTCB, our main goal was to arrive at more thoughtful, experiential and more sustainable material choices for store interiors.

 Through various eco-design tools that we developed, we wanted to raise awareness, educate and support various stakeholders in making choices during the design process.

 

Explore all the ecodesign tools here

Master Interior Architecture

At our Faculty of Architecture and Arts, we offer a master of interior architecture with a specialization in retail design. During this specialization year you will have the opportunity to work independently on a master project. After selecting a domain relevant topic, you will conduct academic research to write a master thesis, the results of which will serve to design a concrete store design concept.

Notice: This master's program is only open to students of Hasselt University or students participating in an exchange program through our partner universities

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News & events

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Summer school seamless retail design 2025

Every year, since 2014, we organize an international retail design summer school more specifically on the design of a 360° in-store experience. This is conducted in collaboration with the Politecnico di Milano and FHJoanneum, Graz. If you decide to join us, you will have the opportunity to work in a multidisciplinary and international team with the support of specialized teachers and experts in the field. Together you will come up with new insights and designs for the store of tomorrow. 

Click here for more info
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Masterclass Retail Design

Have you always wanted to know the knowledge behind store design? Do you or are you yourself working in this sector and want to learn the tricks of the trade?

Then register now for our retail design master class at Hasselt University's Faculty of Architecture & Art.

In 4 sessions we will teach you more about flow, experience, sensory design, ... and so much more. 

More info & registration:
English sessions
Dutch sessions

Information for

Programmes

Hasselt University

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