Retail and Brand Experience Designer

This role is based in New York City. Candidates must currently reside in the NYC area and be available to work onsite in NYC as needed.

Aquent Studios is lhiring a Retail & Brand Experience Designer to join our team at this global beauty brand! As the Retail & Brand Experience Designer you will be responsible for designing immersive, premium retail environments that bring the client's skincare 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.

Working closely with Creative, Retail Marketing, Visual Merchandising, Architecture, Product Marketing, Global Brand Teams, and external fabrication partners, the Senior Store Designer will develop concepts from ideation through execution, ensuring every environment delivers an exceptional consumer experience while maintaining the brand's premium aesthetic.

The ideal candidate has exceptional creative and technical skills who thrives in a fast-paced, evolving environment. They are naturally curious, embrace emerging technologies-including AI-powered design tools-and are comfortable adapting as priorities, software, and design processes continue to evolve.

Key Responsibilities

Retail & Spatial Design

• Design immersive retail environments for permanent boutiques, pop-up stores, shop-in-shops, experiential events, and branded activations.
• Translate the skincare 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.

Concept Development & Visualization

• 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.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• 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.

Project Execution

• 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.

Qualifications

• 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.
• Experience in both agency and in-house creative environments strongly preferred.
• Portfolio demonstrating exceptional retail, experiential, hospitality, or luxury spatial design.
• Experience working with premium beauty, skincare, fashion, hospitality, or luxury consumer brands is highly preferred.

Technical Skills

• 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.

#LI-RM21

What We're Looking For

The ideal candidate is an exceptional spatial designer who combines architectural thinking with creative storytelling and a passion for building premium consumer experiences.

Success in this role requires someone who:

Thinks conceptually while maintaining exceptional technical execution.

Is passionate about retail, experiential design, architecture, and environmental storytelling.

Has strong visualization and presentation skills, bringing ideas to life through compelling renderings and design narratives.

Thrives in environments with ambiguity, shifting priorities, and evolving business needs.

Is curious about emerging technologies, AI, and new design tools that improve creative workflows.

Adapts quickly as software, production methods, and project priorities evolve.

Is proactive, resourceful, and enjoys solving complex design challenges.

Maintains exceptional attention to detail while balancing creativity with functionality and execution.

Collaborates effectively across creative, marketing, retail, architecture, and production teams.

Stays calm under pressure and delivers high-quality work in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.

Brings a growth mindset, embraces feedback, and is excited to help shape the future of a growing global brand.

Preferred Background

Candidates may come from luxury beauty, retail, hospitality, architecture, or experiential design firms and have experience creating branded environments for premium consumer brands, including boutiques, flagship stores, pop-ups, exhibitions, showrooms, or immersive retail experiences.