ABSTRACT
Retail today has arisen from the developments that occurred in the past. By refl ecting on that past and comparing it to the present state of retailing, we should understand better what is happening in retail design and the retail design profession today and what might emerge in retail design practices of the future. Therefore, this chapter expands on two signifi cant developments which originated in the past, and it offers insights or inspiration to anyone involved in the retail design discipline: how retailers strived to seduce their clientele on many different levels and how different senses were a focus of design many years ago, and, second, how stores have always been at the forefront of new technical developments. By understanding its history, we can more easily relate to what constitutes retail design and the profession of retail designer.
