Retail Experience Designer - SSC

Summary:

The Retail Experience Designer is a creative storyteller who brings Event Network’s narratives to life in three-dimensional space. This role helps shape meaningful, memorable retail experiences that reflect our partners’ missions and stories. Working closely with the VP of Experience Design & Development, the designer focuses on concept creation, guest-journey development, environmental storytelling, and translating big ideas into clear visual direction and design packages that guide cross-functional teams—all while ensuring every concept is both inspiring and buildable.

Key Responsibilities:

Story-Driven Concepting & Experience Design

Translate creative and strategic direction into compelling spatial narratives, mood boards, concept sketches, and visual storylines that express the desired emotional experience.

Identify signature storytelling moments, thematic elements, and environmental touchpoints that extend the venue experience into retail spaces.

Develop concepts that reinforce partner brands and missions through thematic storytelling and world-building.

Explore innovative materials, textures, colors, and experiential moments that support an engaging guest journey.

Design Development & Visual Expression

Transform storytelling concepts into clear, tangible design assets—including sketches, 3D studies, renderings, and experiential mock-ups.

Produce conceptual renderings, annotated sketches, layout studies, and design boards that communicate narrative intent to internal teams and external partners.

Support experience-based space planning and layout exploration, focusing on storytelling flow, sightlines, product connection, and guest engagement.

Identify opportunities to enhance guest discovery, encourage dwell, and connect product stories to thematic elements.

Iterate quickly, refining ideas based on feedback and evolving narrative direction.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Partner with Construction, Operations, Visual Merchandising, and Product teams to ensure storytelling translates seamlessly into practical execution.

Support presentation development, contributing to emotionally resonant storytelling for partner reviews.

Participate in partner meetings to capture narratives, understand mission and intent, and articulate design direction both visually and verbally.

Contribute to a creative culture that values imagination, exploration, and disciplined execution.

Requirements and Skills:

3+ years of experience in retail design, experiential design, environmental design, or exhibition design.

Strong portfolio demonstrating storytelling, concept development, mood building, sketching, and spatial creativity.

Proficiency in creative tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, SketchUp (or other 3D visualization tools), and sketching (digital or analog).

Ability to visually communicate ideas through sketches, diagrams, and storytelling boards.

Ability to organize creative work into clear, structured deliverables.

Strong communication skills—both visual and verbal—with an ability to bring others into a story.

Understanding of retail guest behavior, immersive experience trends, and experiential design thinking.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience working with cultural attractions, lifestyle destinations, or branded destinations.

Familiarity with environmental graphics, signage systems, or branded storytelling.

Curiosity and experimentation with materials, sensory design, or interactive elements.

Ability to bridge creative vision with operational execution.

Comfort working in a matrixed environment with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.

Travel Requirements

The Retail Experience Designer will be required to travel as needed to meet the needs of the business.

Physical Demands – The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a team member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the Retail Experience Designer is frequently required to stand; walk and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

The Retail Experience Designer must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

Salary Range: $80,000/yr-$100,000/yr