2025: Design Beyond Predictability

As the new year unfolds, the creative industry is abuzz with possibilities for retail design in 2025. At Checkland Kindleysides, our industry leadership has set the tone with two prominent features in both Design Week and Retail Focus Magazine, offering bold perspectives on the future of creativity and retail. Here’s how our CEO and Chief Creative Officer, Steven Ubsdell, sees the path ahead.

In his thought-provoking piece for Design Week, Steven Ubsdell issues a rallying cry for brands to break free from the grip of algorithmic homogeneity. “The brands that win, year after year, are those that take unapologetic leaps – fearless in their creativity and unwavering in their vision,”.

With the prevalence of trend-driven design, the challenge for the design indusrry at large in 2025 is to embrace human imagination and venture into uncharted creative territory. Key takeaways include:

• Bringing bold, brave ideas to the table: Move beyond homogenous trends to drive true differentiation and growth.

In Retail Focus Magazine, our CEO shifts the conversation to experiential retail, forecasting a transformative year ahead. “For a lot of brands, 2024 was about recalibration – whereas 2025 will be about re-ignition,” he explains. With renewed energy, retailers must focus on design differentiation and the emotional power of shopping.

Steven highlights three strategies for success in 2025:

1. Sensorial IRL Escapism: Create immersive, multi-sensory in-person experiences that captivate and inspire.
2. Disruptive Spatial Narratives: Build storytelling into the physical environment to surprise and delight customers.
3. Connected Experiences: Strengthen brand loyalty through seamless journeys, without borders.

As we look ahead, the message is clear: the time for bravery and imagination in retail design is now. Checkland Kindleysides is proud to lead this charge, pushing creative boundaries and helping brands thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape.

What excites you most about retail in 2025? Join the conversation with us as we embrace this transformative year for creativity and experiential design.