Senior Retail Experience & Store Designer

Aquent Studios is looking to add to our team! This is role is with a Global Beauty Brand on the Expeirnce and Store design team! Must be able to go onsite at the Client’s office on as-needed basis in NYC! The Retail & Brand Experience Designer is responsible for designing immersive, premium retail environments that bring the SkinCeuticals brand to life across boutiques, pop-up experiences, events, shop-in-shops, and experiential activations. Combining architecture, spatial storytelling, and brand design, this role will create elevated environments that seamlessly blend luxury retail with science-backed skincare experiences.

Responsibilities

Design immersive retail environments for permanent boutiques, pop-up stores, shop-in-shops, experiential events, and branded activations; Translate the SkinCeuticals brand into compelling three-dimensional environments that create memorable, premium consumer experiences; Develop innovative spatial concepts that balance architectural thinking, storytelling, functionality, and commercial objectives; Design environments that enhance the guest journey while reflecting SkinCeuticals’ science-backed, clinical-luxury positioning; Ensure consistency across all physical brand touchpoints while maintaining flexibility for local market adaptations; Create concept presentations, mood boards, floor plans, elevations, renderings, and presentation decks that communicate design intent; Develop detailed design packages from initial concept through production-ready documentation; Produce high-quality 3D visualizations and renderings that effectively communicate spatial experiences to stakeholders; Present design concepts and rationale to cross-functional teams and senior leadership; Partner closely with Marketing, Creative, Retail, Visual Merchandising, Product Development, Architecture, and Global Brand teams to execute integrated retail initiatives; Collaborate with external agencies, architects, fabricators, production vendors, and contractors throughout project execution; Support photoshoots, retail installations, and on-site activations as needed to ensure design integrity; Balance creative vision with operational, construction, budget, and timeline considerations; Manage multiple retail design initiatives simultaneously from concept through installation; Prepare production files, specifications, fixture drawings, and documentation for fabrication partners; Conduct design reviews throughout fabrication and installation to ensure quality and brand consistency; Stay informed on emerging retail, hospitality, luxury, and experiential design trends to continuously elevate the consumer experience

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture, Interior Design, Environmental Design, or a related discipline; 5–8+ years of experience designing luxury retail environments, experiential activations, boutiques, or branded spaces; Portfolio demonstrating exceptional retail, experiential, hospitality, or luxury spatial design; Advanced proficiency in Rhino, SketchUp, Cinema 4D, or comparable 3D modeling software; Expert knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign); Strong rendering, visualization, and presentation skills; Experience producing technical drawings and fabrication-ready documentation; Familiarity with AI-powered visualization, rendering, and creative tools, with a willingness to continuously adopt new technologies and workflows

Nice to have

Experience in both agency and in-house creative environments strongly preferred; Experience working with premium beauty, skincare, fashion, hospitality, or luxury consumer brands is highly preferred