How can the shopping experience be transformed through design? This question inspired the collaborative project between Eina and Mango, an initiative that invited Bachelor's Degree in Design and the University Master's Degree in Design of Spaces (MUDE) students to develop new solutions for the retail spaces of the future.
The project focused on creating a retail concept and furniture system capable of reflecting Mango's identity, values and brand narrative. The aim was to explore new ways of displaying products and engaging with customers through design, viewing furniture not only as a functional element but also as a tool for communication and brand experience.
Over several weeks, the students worked through every stage of the design process, from trend analysis and market research to concept development, design refinement, and the production of models and prototypes. The project concluded with the presentation of viable proposals addressing the current challenges facing the retail sector and the evolving ways consumers shop.
Led by Javier Nieto Cubero, the initiative represents a space for applied innovation where experimentation, creativity and critical thinking come together to tackle a real-world challenge. In this context, students had the opportunity to work under the same constraints faced by industry professionals while contributing fresh perspectives on the future of retail environments.
This year's edition brought together Abril Acero, Paola Carolina Acosta, Eli Boix, Pedro Figuereo, Claudia Grau, Valeria Micali, Irina Naranjo, Carla Oliver, Bruna Parramon, Aleix Peguera, Xavi Prieto, Iku Sala, Julia Salvador and Monserrat Viedma, selected from more than twenty applicants. The diversity of the participants' backgrounds and specialisations brought a broad range of perspectives to the creative process, enriching the development of innovative proposals.
The selected proposal will make the transition from the classroom to the company. One of the participants will continue developing the project with Mango's Product Team through a paid internship, allowing the idea's real-world potential to be tested and bringing it closer to possible implementation. More than an academic exercise, the initiative has become an innovation platform where emerging talent plays an active role in shaping new models of retail experience.