RKumar Opticians’ new store offers a futuristic design, crafted with stainless steel through a creative dialogue between I’m D’sign and the experimental I’mX.
Every retail experience tells a story—RKumar Opticians’ store emerges from a creative collaboration between I’m D’sign and its innovative counterpart I’mX, heralding the dawn of the digital era. And stainless steel figures in big time in the interiors of this inimitable store design. It embodies a futuristic vision with a spatial experience that blends monochrome elements with an out-of-this-world brilliance, maintaining the prestige of this esteemed Indian brand. The store’s design merges the brand’s age, heritage, and established reputation with a future-ready facelift, reaffirming its connection with both longtime and new customers.
In an age where digital spaces are gaining prominence, the role of physical retail is being reconsidered, and this brand is poised to respond by evolving with the times. The store’s aesthetic features silver accents floating over a caviar base, seamlessly blending past and future design styles. The hand-cut black granite flooring, hand-textured wall paints, and soft vaulted silhouettes evoke nostalgia, while the modern details create a contrasting narrative. Mannequin heads encased in clear glass rings and hexagonal displays of edgy stainless steel mimic UFO forms, adding an imaginative touch to the space.
A shiny space
Silver metal, a key element in the material palette, represents both its historical significance and contemporary relevance, symbolising future progress and space exploration. From the shiny, zipped-up suits of the world’s first astronauts to Paco Rabanne’s iconic metal dress, silver has long been associated with futuristic visions. This project encapsulates these cultural references, envisioning a future where retail experiences transcend traditional boundaries. The store’s design aligns with the optical merchandise, creating an immersive environment that transforms a simple transaction into an engaging sensory experience with the brand’s unique retail character.
In essence, this playful and edgy eyewear retail store leverages the concept of frames and layers through sculptural installations, defining the visual and experiential essence of the space.
Client: Rkumar Opticians (@rkumaropticians)
Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Total Area: 1100 sq. ft.
Design Credits: I’m D’sign (@imdsign) along with its experimental arm I’m X (@aarushikalra)
Design Leads: Deepak Kalra (Founder, I’m D’sign), Aarushi Kalra (Creative Director I’mX)
Design Team: Priti Negi, Yuvika Agrawal, Harshita Sethi
Photography Credits: Dhrupad Shukla (@architecturevisualsdhrupad)
Furniture and Fixture Credits: Punam Kalra, I’m the Centre for Applied Arts (@imcaain)
Metal Curtains: Metfab designs (@metfabdesign)