Creative

The Association for Retail Environments has recognized Louis Vuitton's Island Maison store in Singapore as store of the year for being the best in retail design, store fixtures and visual presentation. Designed by New York-based Peter Marino Architect, the entire space reflects a nautical theme consistent with its location and with the brand's historical association with travel.

Zappos.com, a leading online destination for apparel and footwear, today announces the launch of its new Emerging Designer Program, a program developed internally by Zappos employees for up-and-coming fashion designers looking to take their designs to a whole new level. The Emerging Designer Program provides talented people with the big break that every aspiring designer hopes for but so few get — the opportunity to sell their line at a major retailer.

J.C. Penney unveiled a new corporate logo yesterday, giving the store its third in as many years. The new branding evokes the American flag but jettisons everything else that was familiar about the company's last two logos.

Just got off a train? Need a place to stay? Come into the Ikea apartment. The ever-innovative company set up a temporary flat in a Parisian metro station for five people to live in for six days. The idea is to show Parisians how much they can do with 54 square meters if they use Ikea stylings.

Lackluster, nondescript and misinformed creative is a problem that’s actually getting worse despite the sophisticated tools creatives have at their fingertips. This malady is rampant in the design world. It’s often caused by thoughtlessness or lack of experience or training on the part of those who are given the job of design, copy and production of your email program, catalog or website.

When you’re selling your house, you plant flowers in the front yard, keep the lawn mowed and maybe touch up the trim with fresh paint. Your home’s curb appeal catches prospective buyers’ interest as they drive by. You have just a few seconds to convince them to step on the brake instead of hitting the gas. The same principle applies to your catalog covers.

From large photographs that anchor your homepage to small product shots on site pages, photography is a crucial element to the online success of a brand. Product photography not only tells the story of your brand, it sells it. How do you create beautiful images that speak to consumers? Here are three best practices for using photography to boost your sales:

Forever 21 is using holograms in place of live models in a series of fashion shows this summer and fall. During the shows, holographic models wearing designs from Forever 21’s new line walk the runway, disappear into starbursts and climb invisible staircases that light up underfoot. The fashion retailer conceived the promotion with digital agency space150.

L'Oreal has commissioned Demand Media to produce several hundred short-form videos as part as an elaborate new partnership between the two companies. The original L'Oreal-branded videos will start this June and will be distributed throughout 2011.

Levi's has named Walker MacWilliam as its new global head of men's design. MacWilliam will be responsible for the design and development of all Levi's men's product categories globally. MacWilliam joins Levi Strauss & Co. from Coach, where his responsibilities included the conceptualization, design and development for all categories of men's and women's including wearables, bags and accessories.