Let's Go Camping

Store: Urban Outfitters | Location: Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, IL

This is definitely one of the more complex displays I've seen. And by complex, all I mean is that someone (or more people) had to actually assemble this structure together. I'm assuming that this didn't take one day and one person to make. Other than that, the display as a whole is quite simple but still makes a statement. This display is the first thing that you see when you walk into the men's section and the first thing I thought of was that it looked like a cabin so I immediately got a very outdoorsy, camping vibe from it. The outfits definitely capture the camping essence and make an outdoor activity look very stylish. It almost makes me want to go camping too, but I'd still rather just stay inside in the comfort of my own home. If they weren't going for a camping vibe (but I'm pretty convinced they were), these outfits were clearly getting ready for fall.

I love this display because it shows that they had a vision and they accomplished it. It also shows how creative they are and that they are willing to step out of the box and do something different from other retailers. 

I think this display was very well proportioned and balanced. The mannequins are perfectly centered in the middle of the structure, so it makes everything symmetrical. The structure itself gives a lot of height to the display, which emphasizes that whole cabin theme and really makes you feel like you're in a cabin. With that being said, it entices customers to see what merchandise is 'inside' the structure, which gives it a nice rhythm or flow. All these principles work together to make the display unified. 

Just Hanging

Store: Urban Outfitters | Location: Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, IL

As simple as this display is, it's still something that really got my attention. Something as easy as hanging actual product from a bar is a genius way to showcase the shape or silhouette of complex garments or items that have interesting graphics or words on them. They could easily change this table into a sweater display or a graphic tee display. The possibilities are endless and that's what I love about this display because it is so versatile that it can be a denim display now, and in a couple of weeks it can be something completely different. 

Even though this isn't an actual window display, I still think that some of the Principles of Design were present. The metal rods help to make the whole structure balanced and evenly symmetrical and there is a steady flow of denim both hanging and laid out, which emphasize that it is a denim display. 

Transitioning into Fall

Store: Urban Outfitters | Location: Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, IL

Urban Outfitters is one of those stores where you know the mannequins are going to be in the coolest outfits and I was not surprised when I saw this display. Like the previous stores I mentioned, Urban is also clearly ready for the fall season but it isn't fall just yet so they've demonstrated three outfits that are perfect for that transition into cooler weather. Knee high socks, lightweight outerwear, and ankle boots? Hello almost-Fall! I also really liked that the main theme for these mannequins was transitioning dresses (with the exception of the floral one; it's a romper) into the upcoming fall weather.

I love in-store displays like this that get straight to the point. No fuss, no props, simply just the outfits. Sometimes that's all you need to make an impression. 

Since we just learned about the Principles of Design, I thought about which ones would apply to this display. I didn't think it was that proportioned since each mannequin is on a different level, so it doesn't make the display that balanced. Though it is balanced in the sense that the two outer mannequins both have actual legs (while the middle one does not) and they both have some sort of outerwear on, which unifies the whole display.