As Christian Dior readied its 57th Street store for renovation, it needed a way to keep selling while the flagship was under construction. A temporary store nearby was the perfect solution and provided the team with the opportunity to design a unique space in two months. Because of its temporary nature, the design team created an envelope with minimal intervention on the existing architecture. Instead of built walls, applied graphics were used to create the feeling of custom interiors.

The client requested a scheme that was a nod to the past but contemporary by execution. The design approach retained existing signature elements with a modern twist. We researched the Dior salons and ateliers of the past for inspiration and to leverage their history and rich image archives. Traditional assets from the original salon—houndstooth, lily of the valley, oval frames, bows, wall paneling—were incorporated. The team worked with artist Ann Field to re-create these assets as illustrations in the manner of Monsieur Dior himself.

Understated graphics blend seamlessly into the built environment, making what is a temporary store feel not so temporary. Love the contrast of budget-friendly graphics with a big-budget brand.