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Retail Terrorism / Symbiotic Relationships by Corrine Guo at the Royal College of Art, London

Symbiotic selling

By Alex Jordan 07 : 07 : 2015 London : RCA : Corrine Guo

London – In her MA graduate project, Retail Terrorism/Symbiotic Relationships, RCA interior design student Corrine Guo imagines a future retail space that draws inspiration from the layered structure of a beehive.

Taking cues from the world of insects, Guo has designed conceptual retail spaces that enable independent retailers and big brands to work together
Proposed site between Selfridges and Oxford Circus station is one of the city’s prime retail locations for footfall

The world of insects, which are some of nature’s greatest incubators, provides the perfect metaphor for a retail environment that makes possible the symbiotic growth of both big brands and independent retailers.

Using illustrations and models, Guo has created conceptual interiors that could make the high street a more compelling experience for consumers.

‘Big brands benefit from being surrounded by cool, trendy start-up brands, and the small businesses become threaded through the big brands, making them more authentic, raw and dynamic,’ explains Guo. ‘Independent core brands need a large volume of people, and the knowledge of understanding, learning and scaling that the larger businesses offer.’

The Big Picture: Retail spaces are springing up that offer start-ups the perfect conditions to grow and refine their fledgling brands. Find out more about one such space in our article on Retail Lab.