Designing a Store Layout - sorting the puzzle!

let's get going!

Let me be honest with you - how difficult can designing a store layout be?

For a space designer, the layout for a Small Format Store (SFS), like the one in the view above, is not too difficult to crack.

Place a. the stock room, then b. the trial rooms. c. Figure out where the cash counter is next, and then d. fill up the remaining floor space with floor fixtures placed appropriately.

Somewhat similar to the drawing below. simple and nice, isn't it?

Yet, as many of us may have experienced,

It takes a lot of effort to be simple.

In reality, here is how this 'easy' layout design process panned out.

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Step 1. Zoning

We can't harp on this enough - know where what product goes. A bubble diagram is a great tool to explore the zoning adjacencies and variations.

Like this one.

This.

And this one.

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Step 2. Layout iterations

The iterating doesn't stop at the bubble diagrams. Then comes exploration at the layout level. Some samples below.

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Remember the 'Spot The Difference' puzzles?!

Yes, these iterations may feel like puzzles that are a 'blast from the past' from your childhood. 

But there go in much thought and deliberation - in consumer psychology, category placement, business numbers terms - that separate one option from the other.

After weighing-in on multiple factors, not only did option 1 win, but also it also underwent another round of mutations to become the Final Final layout (see the top of this post.)

So Simple, isn't it?

Step 3. Design Development

Once a layout is final final and signed off, the real action begins. 

But that's for another post. See you next week!