10/30/2025
From design sprints to mentalist tricks, here’s what went down in Providence at the 2025 Ideation and :
Bill Manoliadis and Adriana Dika had the opportunity to participate in the Retail Challenge for the second year in a row. This year’s brief focused on , and over the course of five hours, six teams poured their creative energy into creating six distinct immersive retail concepts and pitched them to a panel of judges. We are thrilled to share that Bill’s team took home the win! Their concept will be brought to life as a real booth at Shop! MarketPlace in New Orleans in May. 🏆
At IRDC, Adriana joined Team Red for the Iron Merchant Challenge, where teams had just one hour to turn a mystery box of materials into a visual merchandising display. This year’s theme was 2D black and white, which added a fun creative twist. The teamwork was unmatched, and it was such a great way to flex design muscles under pressure.
Adriana also had the honor of serving as a judge for an interactive panel that tackled how retail can better connect with Gen Z, diving into themes like authenticity, community, and what really resonates with the next generation of shoppers. The energy in the room was incredible, and being part of the conversation reminded her how important it is to design with purpose and to never underestimate the power of a fresh perspective. 🧠 🛍️
🪄 And yes, Adriana did volunteer during the magician and mentalist show... and everyone is still trying to figure out how Jonathan Vale pulled off that trick. Mind. Blown.
It’s not every day you get the chance to connect and learn from so many brilliant minds across the industry. Our team truly grateful for the experience and honored to have spent the week surrounded by such talented individuals! 👏
