Checkland Kindleysides

One of the great British retail design agencies, Checkland Kindleysides has a truly impressive portfolio, with ground-breaking retail concepts under its belt that stretch back over more than four decades.

Checkland Kindleysides is a London-based agency that epitomises forward thinking British design, with a vast portfolio of industry-leading work. With a cross-disciplinary and holistic design approach, they offer end-to-end brand-building design services from Brand Experiences to Brand Activations and Brand Communications. Over the decades they have worked with everyone from 250-year old heritage brands to industry disrupting start-ups, luxury stalwarts to sportswear behemoths, and well-known brands across fashion, F&B, automotive, audio, beauty and gaming.

Historically the design agency is known for pioneering ‘brand storytelling’ and leading the way on some of the earliest iterations of experiential retail with Levi’s and Converse. Throughout their 45 year tenure, this visionary mentality has never wavered, seeing them continually push the boundaries: breaking world records with Sony Playstation and creating guerilla marketing campaigns for Beats by Dre in the 00’s. They also designed Hunter’s groundbreaking sensory retail experience on Regent Street, and the world’s most awarded Flagship store in history; Adidas ‘Stadium’ concept in New York in the 2010’s.

The Noughties was a standout decade for the agency, and included the likes of American Eagle’s game-changing ‘AE Studio’ concept, which reinvented retail for Gen Z. It featured a Free in-store laundrette, a student lounge and an extensive customisation service offer,.

They were also responsible for creating a world-first facial fitness studio to aid FaceGym’s global expansion; relaunched luxury footwear brand Hogan with a sculptural and movement-inspired store concept during Milan Design Week, and then went on to develop an eclectic, retail-come-hospitality concept that re-establishes Wedgwood as a luxury lifestyle brand.

In more recent years, their work and client base become increasingly international. From creating Waterford crystal’s first pop-up in New York, to designing Oakley’s digitally amplified ‘store of the future’ in Tokyo, and even more recently, DC Shoes first-ever store in Shanghai.

As Adidas’ global retail design agency, they have creatively authored an array of highly-impactful retail concepts, amplifying the sportswear giants retail presence globally; driving double digit growth and expansion into new markets. The most recent of these is an ambitious new concept store ‘8428 Melrose’ which brings to life the brand’s new direction, with an experimental retail space on LA’s most vibrant shopping street.

Beyond this they were responsible for Adidas Terrex first standalone retail concept, a dynamic omni-channel experience encased in biophilic design which won the ‘Best Sustainable Store Concept’ at Euroshop. As well as this they developed adidas’ impressive retail-tainment Flagship in Sanlitun, which blurs the boundaries of physical sports and virtual lifestyles, and have lead the formation and global iterations of adidas Originals ‘The Collection’ concept, including the new store in Dubai Mall, which offers a uniquely elevated and culturally-rich brand experience in the world’s most visited retail destination.

2024 has been a pivotal continuation of their impressive retail streak. Recent forays have seen them pioneer a new store format strategy for H&M in NYC, alongside designing their most innovative retail experience to date in Williamsburg. A pop-up which acted as an adaptive test bed, offering a multitude of first-of-their-kind experiences over a 12-month period. They also spearheaded a successful retail launch of HUGO BOSS’s new denim sub-brand HUGO BLUE, developing a global retail concept that talks to “a younger demographic that’s really dialled into pop culture and immersed in the world of digital entertainment”.

Closer to home they most recently designed a bespoke retail concept for Hourglass Cosmetics in Selfridges new multi-million beauty hall, that uses a visually arresting, white panda marble to ‘own the room’ and created an elevated interpretation of their already award winning retail identity for Joseph Cheaney, with a new luxury boutique located on the illustrious New Bond Street.

Whether it’s 45,000sqft or 45sqft, or whether you’re dropping a new product or launching a new brand, CK are one of the foremost global retail design agencies – tried and trusted by the world’s leading brands. The results of their work speaks for itself.

It’s always worthing keeping an eye on them to see what they will do next…