Since 1961, ISP has been the only international professional society totally dedicated to the challenges and rewards of retail store planning and design. Our founding fathers recognized that designing, planning, and contructing retail selling environments was a complex undertaking requiring creative efforts from a variety of disciplines. Since 1961, ISP has been dedicated to developing creative, competent retail design professionals to meet the needs of the ever-changing landscape of retailing.


ISP design professional include: architects, industrial designers, interior designers, planners, draftsmen and detailers, visual merchandisers, graphic designers, lighting experts, project and construction managers, CAD & IT specialists, & marketing specialists. ISP members are found in retail organizations, clothing, home furnishings and hard lines vendors, in the design departments of fixture and architectural materials suppliers, large and small architecture/design firms, and also as independent consultants.

Serving 1000+ members in 14 Chapters in the U.S. & internationally, the ISP fosters the growth of individual professionals.

Past Winners- ISP VM & SD International Store Design Competition

EDUCATION
ISP works with colleges and universities to develop retail design programs. We continue to work toward a degreed specialty in retail design through both architecture and design schools.

ISP promotes continuing education to improve the skill sets of working professionals. Each Chapter is required to hold at least four Continuing Education meetings each year. Most Chapters are AIA & IIDA CEU providers. Plus, ISP is working on our own CEU program.

ISP reaches out to the Retail Community at large through workshops and seminars, highlighting new and noteworthy trends, and accomplishments in retailing and retail store design.

ISP has developed presentations for the National Retail Federation, GlobalShop, LightShow West, Retail Construction Expo, The Digital Retailing Show and various gift, decorative and fashion markets. In addition, ISP professionals are presenters in seminars at all of these shows and many others including IRDC & EuroShop.

CAREER BUILDING
At the point a career move is on the horizon, ISP is there for our members. We maintain an ISP jobsite for members seeking a new challenge. The site is set up for employment opportunities, positions wanted and a resume posting service. We work with most retailers and recruiters and are rated as one of the top six placement services in the industry.

COMPETITIONS/AWARDS
ISP Student Design Competition - Each year an ISP Chapter develops a design challenge sent to schools as a request for proposal; the same RFP the students will deal with in the workplace. Challenges have covered a wide range of store types, with merchandise & Merchandising requirements, tenant criteria, and historic & zoning regulations. Over 250 schools use the RFP as a curriculum project in retail design. ISP gives financial awards to winning students and the winning school. Click here for information about this year's competition.

ISP/VM & SD International Store Design Awards - The original store design competition, now in its 37th year, this event attracts the best of the best in Store Design worldwide. The industry's only totally peer reviewed competition, managed by each chapter in turn. An average of over 200 international entrants vie for top awards.
For information about the 2007 competition, click here!!
Held at the historic Time Building in Manhattan, the reception, black tie dinner, and Awards show is the Monday night event at the National Retail Federation Convention in January. The ISP/VM & SD Awards have become "The Awards" in retail design, attracting over 300 designers and retailers to the event.

NETWORKING
Since the inception of GlobalShop, ISP has held a party the first evening of the show. Started as a Chapter affair, in the past two years, it has become an ISP International Event. "The Party @GlobalShop"has become the event, a virtual who's who of Retail Design Professionals.

ISP Chapter Meetings have a social aspect prior to the program event. Most Chapters hold two social events every year. Events vary from a holiday party, to a boat cruise, to a golf tournament. Plus, occasional events like a tour of a new retail venue combine learning and pleasure.

COMMUNICATIONS
ISP maintains this web site, www.ispo.org and publishes a semi-annual Newsletter to keep members up to date with Chapter happenings, industry & international events, and issues & topics important to the profession.

Institute of Store Planners 25 North Broadway, Tarrytown, NY 10590 tel 914-332-0040 fax: 914-332-1541 info@ispo.org


Since November 21, 2005