nakaoka / roberts is a new york based interior design and retail imaging firm, creating distinctive signature environments for fashion and retail brands.

n / r was founded in 2003 by christine nakaoka and norman roberts as a design lab to explore all aspects of retail design and imaging in parts and whole - from façade design to a shagreen in-laid display cabinet - n / r strives for creative solutions to today’s store design challenges.

christine nakaoka “we specialize in creating exciting retail con-cepts. the differences and similarities of our personal styles, philos-ophy of design and backgrounds come together to make up the ‘sig-nature design style’ of our work. simple… bold… and nuanced.”

norman roberts “retail design gives us the opportunity to really play with how an environment can impact a person’s experience, a brand is an abstract thing, we have the fun job of making it tangible”

nakaoka / roberts 212 274 0033 nakaokaroberts.com

projects

luxury retailbergdorf goodman beauty, new yorkbergdorf goodman men, new yorkd.porthault, parisjudith leiber, dubaijudith leiber, delhijudith leiber, las vegaspaul stuart, new yorkshreve crump & low, boston

specialty retail ann taylor, manassatann taylor, water towerann taylor loft, times quare c’bon, tokyocity center by mgm/mirage, las vegaseva scrivo, new yorkmary norton, charlestonmary norton, melrose place, l.a.sample, los angelessogo, osakavictoria’s secret beauty, prototype

showrooms / offices harrys of london showroom, new yorkmary norton showroom, new yorkmtv headquarters, milantbwa/bddp headquarters, milan

museumsj paul getty museum stores, los angelesjapanese american national museum, los angeles

visual merchandisingd. porthault, parisjudith leiber, las vegasmary Norton, los angelesseibu, japansogo, japan

products and packagingcrystal hanging sculpture installed at divine floating cases installed at samplefragrance bottle for prescriptivesfurniture and home accessories for driadelight fixtures for magis steuben glass hanging sculpture for installation at shreve crump & lowwatches for swatchvarious furniture and decorative accessories for homevarious functional and decorative furnishings and display elements for specific projects

brandingcbmg, new yorkkooba, new york

Awards and Publications

Awards

First Place, 2008 VMSD Retail Renovation Competition – Mary Norton Melrose Place

Grand Prize, 2006 NASFM Retail Design Award - Sogo, Osaka

First Place, 2006 VMSD Design Award - Judith Leiber, Las Vegas

Publications

Interior Design - nakaoka / roberts profile, April 2009

Beautyfeed - Eva Scrivo, New York, April 2009

WWD - Paul Stuart, Phineas Cole shop, New York, March 2009

Men.style.com - Paul Stuart, Phineas Cole shop, New York, March 2009

VMSD – Mary Norton, Melrose Place, September 2008

The Architects Newspaper – Eva Scrivo, New York, August 2008

New York Post / page six - Eva Scrivo, New York, July 2008

American Salon - Eva Scrivo, New York, July 2008

WWD – Eva Scrivo, New York, July 2008

Daily Candy - Eva Scrivo, New York, May 2008

VMSD – Judith Leiber, Las Vegas, March 2007

Maison Francaise – D. Porthault, Paris, January 2007

Best Stores of Year / 2006 – Judith Leiber, Las Vegas

WWD – Ann Taylor Loft, Times Square, November, 2006

Paris Match – D. Porthault, Paris, October 2006

Gotham Magazine – Judith Leiber, Las Vegas, 2006

DDI – Sogo, Osaka, March 2006

Improper Bostonian – Shreve Crump & Low, Boston, December 2005

WWD – Sogo, Osaka, September 2005

Various Japanese language Magazines and Newspapers – Sogo, Osaka, September 2005

Television

Martha Stewart Show - Design Interview for Eva Scrivo, July 2008

Sheila Bridges Designer Living – Designer Profile, May 2004

Various Japanese language televisions – Sogo, Osaka, September 2005

nakaoka / roberts profile

bergdorf goodman bergdorf goodman men

eve scrivo salon

d. porthault

ann taylor loft

prescriptives mary norton

as seen in...

EVA SCRIVO...has unveiled her latest spot, at 50 Bond St.

Page Six Magazine - June 2008

paul stuart / phineas cole

CV

christine nakaoka

nationality usaplace of birth seoul, koreaeducation bs architecture, cal poly u san luis obispo

career

2003-present partner nakaoka / roberts new york • innovative design lab providing holistic approach to creative services for retail industry • projects range from design of a crystal sculpture to creative directing a launch of a global lifestyle brand

2005- 2006 creative director callison architecture, ny •projects responsible for include -sogo, osaka japan -seibu / sogo storewide visual merchandising program, japan -d. porthault, paris -judith leiber, las vegas -ann taylor, prototype manhasset and chicago -ann taylor loft, times square ny 2000-2002 vice president - store design - prescriptives & kate spade beauty estee lauder companies, new york • conceptualized and led the design team for installations worldwide. • set and maintained retail image for the launch of kate spade beauty • created roll-out process, achieveing operational efficiencies and stronger brand image

1998-2000 vice president - store design and visual presentation bergdorf goodman, new york • planned, conceptualized and led the design team for - level of beauty - main floor jewelry and accessories - various others for men’s and women’s stores • played a key role in raising money and negotiating for major renovations • raised the quality of interior visual presentation • master planned women’s and men’s stores for future growth

1996-1998 director - store planning federated department stores, cincinnati • developed and applied straight-forward, customer-oriented planning and innovative retail concepts for new and renovations of department stores.

1985-1996 principal / director of interior design jt nakaoka associates architects, los angeles • led the design team for retail and museum projects including: - bergdorf goodman men, ny - bergdorf goodman accessories court, ny - re-imaging of marui co. ltd. tokyo - japanese american national museum, los angeles - ansel adams gallery, yosemite and carmel, ca - van cleef & arpels, ny and honolulu

awards

First Place, VMSD Retail Renovation Competition (2008)Grand Prize, NASFM Retail Design Awards (2006)Best Stores of 2000 – NASFM & VMSD (2000) Store of the Year – National Association of Store fixture Manufacturers (1994, 1989) Grand Prize – National Association of Store Fixture Manufacturers (1994, 1991, 1989) Preservation Award - National Trust for Historic Preservation (1993) Awards of Honor for 3 projects – Society of American Registered Architects (1992)Inspiration Press Award – Inspirations magazine (1992)Award of Excellence – National Council, American Society of Registered Architects (1992)SADI (Superior Achievement in Design and Imaging) Award – Shopping Center World & Retail Store Image magazines (1991)Best of Show, NEOCON 23 – Showcase of Interior Design (1991)New Store of the Year, Special Judge’s Award - Chain Store Age (1991, 1989) Store of the Year – Institute of Store Planners/VM & SD magazine (1990) Store of Excellence – Monitor magazine (1990)

publications New York Times, New York Times Magazine, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times Magazine, WWD, DNR, Gap-Japan, Interior Design, VMSD, DDI, Retail Store Image, Inspiration, Interiors, The Architects Newspaper, California Preservation, Store Planning/Design: History, Theory & Process, World Space Design, Showcase of Interior Design, The Best of 1990 Visual Art and Store Design Switzerland, Stores of the Year no 14, Stores of the Year 2007, Shop Spec UK, Shops & Boutiques, Retail Design International UK, Retail Management, Executive, Inside Retailing, Rafu Shimpo, Buzz, Gotham, Los Angeles, New York, Maison Francaise, Other national and international publications.

television

Martha Stewart Show, May 2008Sheila Bridges Designer Living, October, 2004

speaking

Annual Store Design and Visual Tour, Kiuchi Group, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008Prescriptives National and International Annual Sales Conferences, 2000, 2001; ASID National De-sign Conference, 1994; Seibu College of Design, Tokyo, 1992; International Conference of Shopping Centers, Tokyo, 1992; National Association of Display Industries, New York, 1991; Asia Conference on Store Planning & Design, Singapore, 1991; World Retailer Jamboree, Osaka, 1990

affiliations

BCN / Be Carbon Neutral – Advisory BoardLIM College – Advisory Board

CV

norman roberts

nationality usaplace of birth berkeley, californiaeducation bfa industrial design / ccac, san francisco studied at ecole nationale superieure des creation industrielle, pariscareer 2003-present partner nakaoka / roberts new york • innovative design lab providing holistic approach to creative services for retail industry • projects range from design of a crystal sculpture to creative directing a launch of a global lifestyle brand

2005- 2006 creative director callison architecture, ny •projects responsible for include -sogo, osaka japan -seibu / sogo storewide visual merchandising program, japan -d. porthault, paris -judith leiber, las vegas -ann taylor, prototype manhasset and chicago -ann taylor loft, times square ny

2000-2002 director - store design, prescriptives & kate spade beauty estee lauder companies, new york • shop design and visual merchandising for prescriptives installations worldwide • roll out project and construction management • new design concepts and development for various prescriptives environment • design of p.r. and sales events • design and development of kate spade beauty collateral and fixturing for global launch • manage capital construction and dept. budget • manage day to day operations of store design department

1998-2000 independent designer milan italy • tbwa/bddp, interior design of international advertising agency’s headquarters • interior design of mtv italia headquarters • lighting design, eurolounge • design of home accessories

1997-1998 designer forakis design, milan • swatch - concept and detail design of watches and packaging • design of seating, shelving, lighting, home and desk accessories

1996-1997 designer branson coates architecture, london • exhibition designs included “living bridges” and “erotic design”

awards

first place, 2008 VMSD retail renovation competitiongrand prize, 2006 nasfm retail design awards

publications

The Architects NewspaperDDIGothamInterior DesignMaison FrancaiseVMSDWWDVarious Japanese language newspapers

television

Martha Stewart Show, May 2008Sheila Bridges Designer Living, October, 2004

speaking

Annual Store Design and Visual Tour, Kiuchi Group, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008

affiliations

BCN / Be Carbon Neutral - Advisory Board

Didn’t you both formally study something other than strictly interior design? CN: My bachelor’s degree is in architecture, an interest sparked by my grandfather’s Frank Lloyd Wright–inspired house in Seoul, South Korea. After graduation, I decided that practicing interior design would have a more immediate impact on people’s lives. One of my first “real” jobs was in-house designer at J.W. Robin-

Clockwise from top left: The principals of Nakaoka/Roberts. The Mary Norton boutique in Los Angeles. A watercolor rendering of Mary Norton’s facade in Charleston, South Carolina.

once upon a time

Christine Nakaoka and Norman Roberts weave tales about beauty and fashion

These two know lipstick. And handbags. And men’s ties. After meeting in the visual-merchandising department of the Estée Lauder Companies brand Prescriptives, Christine Nakaoka and Norman Rob-erts founded Nakaoka/Roberts. Since then, they’ve taken on such

son’s in Los Angeles. I’ve been doing stores ever since.NR: My BFA is in industrial design, which I’d planned to use to enter architecture—my love as a child—like Philippe Starck. But as I progressed, I came to appreciate the Euro-pean model of “designer,” who works across all disci-plines. Recently, I realized I was doing just that in retail. Architecture through facades. Interior design through space

planning. Industrial design through custom furniture.

Why did you start your own firm? CN: We were in total sync from the start at Prescriptives, practically reading each oth-er’s mind. NR: It’s true. We’d complete each other’s sentences or ref-erence the same artist. CN: We thought we ought to apply our partnership to a

crosslines

clients as Victoria’s Secret Beauty, Judith Leiber, and Paul Stuart and are also developing a line of fur-nishings. Whatever the project, environments play out the brand narrative. The plot thickens.

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crosslines

Clockwise from top left: “Retail/Detail,” a show of the firm’s work recently presented by New York’s Bridge­gallery. The Judith Leiber boutique in Dubayy, United Arab Emirates. A pencil rendering of Judith Leiber, Delhi. Powder­coated steel Wallscape shelving.

more independent, experimental way of working, beyond the world of cosmetics. Also, Estée Lauder was downsizing. We didn’t want to stop working together.

What do you each bring to the collaboration? NR: Broadly speaking, Christine brings the big, and I bring the small. She has a great understanding of space, whereas I geek out about the details.

How does visual merchandising differ with accessories versus clothing?NR: It’s mostly scale. Apparel has a larger presence, especially if it’s displayed on mannequins. Smaller items often need to have their own stage inside the larger stage of the store. CN: Accessories require more precisely calibrated, flexible fixtures, but the fixtures also need to be “invisible”—shoppers shouldn’t notice them. It’s also important to incorporate softer elements, such as curtains or sofas, to complement structured, hard merchandise like shoes and bags.

Sounds a lot like the Mary Norton boutiques in Los Angeles and Charleston, South Carolina. NR: Yes, Mary came to us when she was expanding from handbags into shoes. Our clients often have a clear understanding of their product, but they have difficulty tying it in with the larger environment

where the product lives. It’s either too timid or too outlandish. CN: Mary’s very theatrical, very Southern, and her bags have a vintage sensibility. We started by going to Charleston, where she lives. We stayed at her favorite hotel, had meals together, went antiquing. Looking at her and looking at the product—where she wanted to go and who her target customers would be—we put together a narrative steeped in ’30’s and ’40’s sophistication. NR: I Love Lucy and Hollywood musicals came to mind. We researched interiors from those times, developing a palette of peach, coral, and sea foam. We also hit upon chinoiserie, which we made her signature with a hand-painted silk wall covering that set the aesthetic for her two stores, her shoe boxes, even her Web site.

Is your process the same for a bigger brand? NR: With Victoria’s Secret, we watched runway shows for lingerie to find a part of the brand to express for beauty products. And we noticed that Judith Leiber’s packaging and gift wrapping were pink, but it wasn’t anywhere in the shops, so we created pink-lined dioramas. For established brands, we’ll also do a quick pass-through of a store, like we’re shoppers, then ask, “What was our impression? Too dark? Too light? Was an aspect not highlighted enough?” It’s part analytical, part gut.

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How about for Paul Stuart’s Phineas Cole brand? NR: The CEO had an outline of who the fictional character of Phineas Cole should be. In his late 30s, urban, a traveler, slightly irreverent. CN: We rounded out the story, filled in the details. If Phineas travels, he must collect things—an unusual lamp, a wacky chair. If he’s younger than the traditional Paul Stuart customer, the space should be lighter, more open, but it still had to link to the parent brand. So the paneling is herring-bone, connecting with the leather parquet throughout and men’s tweed in general.

Any other retail clients on the horizon now?NR: It’s tough out there. We’ve been focusing on the branding side—developing logos, labels, hang tags, etc.—until clients start budgeting for new construction again.

Speaking of new, how’s your furnishings line? NR: So far, there’s lighting, shelving, a magnetic display wall, a partition, a mirror. We’ve had promising responses from other interior designers and a few big retailers. CN: We hope to design a store for our own products one day.

And what would that look like?NR: Painfully minimal yet comfort-ably casual, like a Donald Judd. CN: Ethereal, like walking on clouds, or intensely rich, like the inside of a Japanese lacquered box. —Annie Block

From top: The Phineas Cole depart­ment at Paul Stuart in New York. A pencil rendering of library­style shelving there.

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