Are Flagships Becoming The New Design Galleries? Here’s 7 Examples Suggesting That They Are

Ahead of their time, in 2015, Acne Studios initiated a transformative shift in its store design strategy by collaborating with British designer Max Lamb. Known for his innovative use of materials and a raw, tactile approach to design, Lamb played a crucial role in redefining the visual identity of Acne Studios’ flagship stores. The partnership introduced a striking contrast between the cool, satin-finished stainless steel that dominates the stores and the coarse, brutalist furniture pieces created by Lamb. These pieces, characterized by their bold forms and textured surfaces, inject a sense of rugged authenticity into the otherwise minimalistic spaces.

This new design language became a hallmark of Acne Studios’ retail environments, with Lamb’s work featured prominently in locations across Europe and North America. The collaboration reached a new level of sophistication with the opening of the Milan store in 2017, where elements such as pink ceilings and granite furnishings added warmth and playfulness to the previously austere aesthetic. Lamb’s designs have contributed to the brand’s visual identity and positioned Acne Studios as a leader in contemporary retail design.

The Antwerp flagship store of Arte represents a seamless blend of modernist architecture and contemporary design, brought to life by Dutch designer Tim Teven. Known for his explorations in material manipulation, Teven crafted a series of pressed aluminum objects that enhance the store’s geometric and conceptual design. Drawing inspiration from iconic modernist architects like Mies Van der Rohe, Teven’s work for Arte features clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic that reflects the brand’s commitment to precision and quality.

Teven’s collaboration with Arte goes beyond decoration; it integrates design into the very fabric of the store. His pressed aluminum pieces, created using custom tools in his studio, resonate with the store’s open, flowing layout. The result is a space that feels both contemporary and timeless, echoing the brand’s ethos. Through this collaboration, Teven has successfully elevated the retail environment, turning it into an immersive experience that aligns with Arte’s vision of contemporary sophistication.

Danish artist Jacob Egeberg has played a pivotal role in transforming the retail identity of Rains, a brand known for its innovative waterproof apparel. Egeberg’s work is characterized by his ability to create sculptural installations that challenge conventional retail design. In Rains’ Aarhus flagship store, he reimagined the cash desk as a vast sculptural element that resembles a cascade of liquid frozen in mid-splash. This dramatic installation, which tumbles from the illuminated ceiling to the concrete floor, serves as both a functional piece and a powerful visual statement that reflects the brand’s core values.

Egeberg’s influence extends to Rains’ Paris flagship store, where he created a large-scale rock-like sculpture with an aluminum skin. This piece provides the store with an almost space-age aesthetic and tactile inner shell, offering an evocative room within a room functioning as a dressing room. The organic yet alien form of the sculpture adds an element of intrigue, transforming the store into an immersive environment that is as much about art as it is about retail. With his urban glaciers, currently embellishing Rains’ Lafayette Flagship, Egeberg’s work exemplifies how custom design can enhance the sensory experience of a retail space, making it a destination in its own right.

The New York flagship of Stòffa offers a calming and refined environment that reflects the brand’s dedication to quality and craftsmanship. Styled in collaboration with Colin King, the space emphasizes natural materials and a minimalist aesthetic, stripped back to reveal the original material language of the historic building. The flagship store features raw brick and plaster walls, coated in soft milk-based paint, and an original terrazzo concrete floor. In the back room, a large custom solid ash table made in collaboration with Brooklyn-based Studio POA, founded by Guatemalan designer Giovanni Valdeavellano, sits beneath a skylight, framed by a large built-in closet made of the same wood. These elements create a serene backdrop for Stòffa’s offerings, which include both ready-made and made-to-measure garments.

Studio POA’s design aligns perfectly with Stòffa, creating an environment that aligns with their aesthetic values. The furnishings highlight the beauty of diverse cultures and periods, incorporating vintage pieces and custom designs from a rich cast of collaborators. The store’s front room serves as a gallery for Stòffa’s ready-made capsule collection, while a private salon at the back is dedicated to the brand’s signature made-to-measure service. This thoughtfully designed space showcases Stòffa’s products and enhances the overall customer experience, offering a personalized and intimate shopping environment.

Since its founding in 2019, REMAIN has quickly established itself as a brand that combines decades of craftsmanship with contemporary design. The Paris flagship store of REMAIN showcases the collaborative work of Andredottir & Bobek, a duo known for their experimental approach to materials and forms. Designers Josephine Andredottir and Emilie Bobek explore unconventional methods to push the boundaries of sculpture and furniture, creating pieces that are as much art as they are functional design.

In their collaboration with REMAIN, Andredottir & Bobek introduced a series of sculptural elements that enhance the store’s modern and sophisticated atmosphere. Their work, which includes illusion stools and thinking space stools, adds an artistic layer to the retail environment, making it a space that reflects REMAIN’s commitment to contemporary style and craftsmanship. This collaboration illustrates how custom design can elevate a brand’s retail presence, creating an environment that resonates with its target audience while standing out in a crowded marketplace.

Thehighkey brought a playful and dynamic approach to the design of JUJU Studios NYC’s Miss Circle SOHO flagship store. Known for their ability to blur the lines between furniture, interior design, and architecture, Thehighkey created a modular furniture system that adapts to the unique needs of the space. Their work includes a deep channel seating system named “The Crawler,” which, while made specifically for this location, is designed to expand indefinitely, reflecting the brand’s growth and flexibility.

Thehighkey’s collaboration with JUJU Studios NYC is a testament to the power of custom design in creating a cohesive brand experience. By integrating their Spatial Systems into the store, they have crafted an environment that feels both contemporary and timeless, enhancing the brand’s visual identity. This project highlights how thoughtful bold design can transform a retail space into a destination, offering customers a unique and engaging shopping experience.

For ON Running’s flagship store in Zurich, artist and designer Lucas Muñoz was invited to create a sculptural installation that embodies the brand’s innovative spirit and its connection to the natural world. The centerpiece of the store is a 2.5-meter-long granite boulder, inspired by the rock where ON Running’s founders conceived the brand in the Swiss Alps. This boulder, replicated in different flagship stores using a variety of materials, serves as a metaphorical link to the brand’s origins.

Lucas Muñoz‘s installation in Zurich takes this concept further by incorporating a layered inner core and a textile skin made from repurposed shoe prototypes and discarded materials from ON Running’s R&D lab. The sculpture also includes a sound system that plays a 24-hour recording of the original alpine environment where the brand was born, creating a multisensory experience that connects the store to its roots. Along with his custom seats created for the brand, this collaboration showcases how sculptural design can go beyond aesthetics, offering a narrative-driven experience that deepens the connection between the brand and its audience.