Fenty Skin: Adaptable Display
Fenty Skin: Adaptable Display
UX & Industrial Design | DMX Shopfitting
From problem framing to iterative design, informed by physical constraints and visual standards.
Adaptation of retail display pieces for Sephora stores.
Note: This is one example of several micro-projects I worked on at DIAM Shopfitting & Display, showcasing my approach to adapting design for production constraints.
Quick Overview
Context/ Framing
This project focused on the design of retail display structures for Fenty Skin in Sephora stores.The work required adapting designs sent from the New York headquarters (D3) to ~50 stores in Mexico, each with up to three different shelf versions, while maintaining visual consistency and functional integrity using acrylic and metal materials.
Context/ Framing
This project focused on the design of retail display structures for Fenty Skin in Sephora stores.The work required adapting designs sent from the New York headquarters (D3) to ~50 stores in Mexico, each with up to three different shelf versions, while maintaining visual consistency and functional integrity using acrylic and metal materials.
Research/Field Study
Field research was conducted in several Sephora stores in Mexico, including Antara, Mitikah, Portal San Ángel, and Manacar. Prototypes were tested on-site to evaluate how they fit on the existing shelf versions.
This study revealed that not all shelves shared the same measurements. Even millimetric variations required redesigning the displays to ensure a proper fit across all store formats, maintaining both functionality and visual consistency.
Research/Field Study
Field research was conducted in several Sephora stores in Mexico, including Antara, Mitikah, Portal San Ángel, and Manacar. Prototypes were tested on-site to evaluate how they fit on the existing shelf versions.
This study revealed that not all shelves shared the same measurements. Even millimetric variations required redesigning the displays to ensure a proper fit across all store formats, maintaining both functionality and visual consistency.
Key pain points
Shelf variations across stores
Impact: Display pieces did not fit uniformly.
Insight: Even millimetric differences required iterative adjustments.
Graphic alignment on different shelves
Impact: Risk of misaligned branding.
Insight: Graphics had to be scaled and positioned precisely for each iteration.
Coordination with international design team (D3)
Impact: Potential miscommunication.
Insight: Clear documentation and proactive feedback were essential.
Material constraints (acrylic & metal)
Impact: Limited flexibility for adjustments
Insight: Had to balance structural integrity with adaptability.
Core problem
Designing a retail display that could adapt to subtle but critical shelf variations across multiple Sephora stores, without compromising brand consistency, materials, or production feasibility.
Core problem
Designing a retail display that could adapt to subtle but critical shelf variations across multiple Sephora stores, without compromising brand consistency, materials, or production feasibility.
Narrowing the Challenge
Ensure a display piece could fit on various Sephora shelves, which differed structurally across locations.
Narrowing the Challenge
Ensure a display piece could fit on various Sephora shelves, which differed structurally across locations.
Process & Iterations
Increased assembly cut tolerances by +5 mm to ensure proper fit across all shelf versions.
Adjusted acrylic components to allow greater tolerance, reducing the risk of incompatibility while accepting controlled movement on certain shelves.
Modified the magnet cut on a metal component from a circular shape to a straight edge, preventing misalignment in case of in-store movement.
Redesigned acrylic box shelves with wider tolerances to simplify assembly and reduce installation errors.
Iterated each adjustment through on-site testing to balance fit, stability, and visual alignment.
Process & Iterations
Increased assembly cut tolerances by +5 mm to ensure proper fit across all shelf versions.
Adjusted acrylic components to allow greater tolerance, reducing the risk of incompatibility while accepting controlled movement on certain shelves.
Modified the magnet cut on a metal component from a circular shape to a straight edge, preventing misalignment in case of in-store movement.
Redesigned acrylic box shelves with wider tolerances to simplify assembly and reduce installation errors.
Iterated each adjustment through on-site testing to balance fit, stability, and visual alignment.
Core Features
Adaptable assembly system allowing a single display to fit multiple shelf versions.
Built-in tolerance ranges across acrylic and metal components to prevent fitting failures.
Magnetic alignment mechanism designed to remain functional even with in-store movement.
Consistent graphic placement rules ensuring brand alignment across all iterations.
Core Features
Adaptable assembly system allowing a single display to fit multiple shelf versions.
Built-in tolerance ranges across acrylic and metal components to prevent fitting failures.
Magnetic alignment mechanism designed to remain functional even with in-store movement.
Consistent graphic placement rules ensuring brand alignment across all iterations.
Physical solution
The display system was composed of modular acrylic and metal elements designed to appear visually unified while allowing structural flexibility. Straight edges and simplified geometries were prioritized over product-following curves to reduce alignment risks and support adaptability across shelf variations.
Physical solution
The display system was composed of modular acrylic and metal elements designed to appear visually unified while allowing structural flexibility. Straight edges and simplified geometries were prioritized over product-following curves to reduce alignment risks and support adaptability across shelf variations.
Outcome
A flexible display design that could be installed across different Sephora shelf formats without compromising visual consistency or ease of assembly.
Skills strengthened
Translating international design concepts into solutions that work in local, real-world conditions.
Designing within tight material and production constraints while maintaining brand consistency.
Iterating directly in context, using on-site testing to inform design decisions.
Anticipating installation and usage issues before they become failures.
Balancing precision, tolerance, and visual clarity in scalable retail systems.
Outcome
A flexible display design that could be installed across different Sephora shelf formats without compromising visual consistency or ease of assembly.
Skills strengthened
Translating international design concepts into solutions that work in local, real-world conditions.
Designing within tight material and production constraints while maintaining brand consistency.
Iterating directly in context, using on-site testing to inform design decisions.
Anticipating installation and usage issues before they become failures.
Balancing precision, tolerance, and visual clarity in scalable retail systems.