Insights + Perspectives

Paris in September gave me three big wins, and I’ll admit I didn’t realize how remarkable the tip would be until I was in the middle of it. I went, I saw, and I learned. What made it exceptional was sharing it with members of the Retail Design Institute Europe Chapter. These are brilliant retail minds, and each of them brought their own perspective to the shows and stores we visited, and to what influenced them most. That exchange may have been the best part of the week.

Fontainebleau Las Vegas opened in December 2023 as the newest luxury resort on the Strip. When Cartier selected it as the home for a new boutique, MBH Architects served as the Architect of Record, translating an internationally conceived design into a permitted, code-compliant, fully realized space within one of the most complex hospitality environments in the world.

MBH Architects is proud to be ranked #6 on VMSD's 2026 Top Retail Design Firms list, a recognition that reflects our longstanding commitment to creating meaningful retail experiences that connect brands and customers. For decades, MBH has partnered with leading retailers and consumer brands to design environments that support business goals, strengthen brand identity, and elevate the customer experience. As the retail landscape continues to evolve, MBH remains focused on help

This year’s Shop! Marketplace in New Orleans offered more than just trend spotting. It sparked real conversations about the future of retail, the importance of human connection, and the evolving role of design in customer experience.

By Cynthia Ortiz By now, with the past installments of this series, I hope it has become clear that bringing design and merchandising...

In the heart of Midtown Manhattan, Davidoff of Geneva’s Madison Avenue location has long been a destination for discerning cigar enthusiasts. MBH Architects partnered with the Swiss luxury brand to reimagine its flagship store, blending luxury retail design, refined hospitality, and brand heritage into a cohesive, elevated experience.

Janie and Jack is more than a children’s clothing brand—it’s a design house rooted in story, craft, and memory-making. In partnership with the brand’s store development team, MBH Architects is supporting the rollout of a new era of boutique retail environments. These spaces express the company’s reimagined identity and support its national expansion.

From working together to creating what’s next: growing the unified retail model By Cynthia Ortiz In earlier articles from this series, we...

As retail continues to adapt and transform, the storefront window remains one of the most powerful tools for brand storytelling. More...

By Cynthia Ortiz Having explored the foundational elements of visual merchandising and store design, understanding their psychological...

By Cynthia Ortiz Sustainability Is Not a Trend—It’s a Business Imperative Sustainable store design and visual merchandising isn't about...

Clear, consistent signage and strategic seasonal design changes work hand-in-hand to build lasting customer loyalty By Cynthia Ortiz In...