Presenting customers with a store that is not only aesthetically pleasing, but functional by form. Architects and designers have been pushing the boundaries of in-store concepts to enable businesses to re-capture the imagination of those lost to the digital era.

As many businesses begin to look for new ways to become more unique against the cut-out copy that sits next to them. The approach to store design has had to take innovative new steps to keep customers coming through the door, and enjoying the atmosphere once they arrive.

The materials now used for commercial design have never been so scrutinised, as the trends now lean towards a heavy influence on brand integrity and innovation, making a stores concepts far more customer-centric than previously required.

Concrete, metal, brick and Corian have been providing the robust elements required to serve in the industrial trend that has been growing on the high-street. Not only are these versatile materials, but they offer eco-friendly credentials that have become increasingly important in today’s socially conscious customer.

Growing in popularity over the past few years, Corian has been leading the way to create high-tech installations that can fully harness the immersive store experience many brands are looking for.

“Commercial designers are always looking for ways in which a space can become more creative, and Corian allows for this because of the flexibility it offers”, comments Roz Fairbank from Superior Surfaces.

Colourful, angular or curved, the seamless lines of a Corian surface has allowed designers to find a material that offers a bespoke solution suitable for giving businesses a unique edge in their store concepts.

With the ability to offer a sensory experience by embedding lights and sounds into the material; installations and creative sculptures can be designed with every sense catered for.

Adopting this sensual aspect of design is helping many stores make a visceral connection with their audience.