SSA Group, a best-in-class provider of integrated guest services, worked on the Playhouse shop at the Strong Museum of Play in Rochester, New York. The Strong Museum of Play is the only collections-based museum in the world dedicated to the history and exploration of play.
The Playhouse shop was designed to reflect the overall spirit of playfulness and imagination that characterizes the mission of the museum. The general theme was drawn from inspiration from classic toys, notable games, and simple childhood nostalgia, incorporating bright colours, playful patterns, and interactive elements throughout the space. The goal was to create an immersive, over-the-top experience to inspire fun for guests of all ages.
Achievement in store design
The Shop! Design Awards were created to celebrate achievements in areas such as new store design, renovations, fixtures, visual presentation projects and in-store communications. Entries are recognised for their excellence in design, originality in the use of space and materials, and quality of concept execution. The winners are selected by an independent panel of judges.
The Playhouse won in the category of Element, In-Store Visual Display at the Shop! Design Awards 2024.
During a visit to the Strong Museum of Play, a guest’s creativity is channelled, and their imagination is nurtured. Inspired by this, a portion of the store was developed as a “creator lab”, providing a multi-function space that can be used for hands-on experiences, pop-up events, and unique retail opportunities.
The structural columns of the space were converted to jumbo-sized Jenga and Tetris imagery to provide a larger-than-life experience while also creating feature displays that are visually striking the moment the guest enters the store. This creates a unique and memorable experience similar to that offered throughout the museum.
The design intent was to strike a balance between creating a vibrant, modern store while ensuring longevity and still maintaining a timeless shop layout.
Last month, SSA Group in partnership with Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, also received an Appreciation Award at Last Mile Food Rescue’s Miles of Gratitude event.
