Our Approach

Our Acne Studios pop-up began with an in-depth exploration of the brand’s world — from colour palettes, Scandinavian minimalism, and materiality, to signature elements like their iconic scarves, curated interior retail environments, and soft architectural forms. We studied Acne’s café culture, textile craftsmanship, product storytelling, and the emotional qualities embedded in their stores. Using this foundation, we set out to design an immersive environment that felt like stepping into an extension of the brand itself.

Working in SketchUp, we built and tested multiple layout configurations that incorporated interactive elements such as a colour analysis station, café bar, custom embroidery zone, and an Instagram-focused visual feature. This research-driven, spatial-first approach allowed us to craft a pop-up that blurred the line between gallery and boutique, creating a space where design, art, and identity converge.

Vision and Innovation

Our vision was to translate Acne Studios’ quiet luxury into a physical, memorable experience within a mall atrium. The pop-up’s curved pink walls were inspired by Acne’s soft sculptural forms and signature pastel tones, creating an inviting threshold that draws visitors inward. Inside, the space unfolds as a sequence of micro-experiences: a curated scarf display, a tactile seating installation, personalized embroidery, and a minimalist café inspired by Acne’s own cultural spaces. This progression encourages movement, exploration, and interaction. Rather than a typical product-first retail booth, the pop-up acts as a brand atmosphere — placing feeling and discovery at the center.

Identifying Unique Challenges

From our research and iterative planning, we identified four major challenges:

• Designing a standalone structure that fits seamlessly within an open mall environment while remaining visually distinct.

• Balancing minimalism with engagement, ensuring the space felt aligned with Acne’s aesthetic while still offering interactive features.

• Creating functional zones — café, colour analysis, retail, personalization, and lounge — within a relatively compact footprint.

• Maintaining visual cohesion, as each experience needed to feel like part of the same world despite serving different purposes.

Resolving Complex Problems

To address these challenges, we refined the spatial flow through multiple iterations:

• Curved exterior walls soften the entry, create natural circulation, and reflect Acne’s sculptural design language.

• Bubble diagrams and circulation maps informed where high-traffic and low-traffic interactions should be placed, ensuring intuitive navigation.

• Semi-transparent partitions allow the space to feel open yet still define distinct zones.

• Central focal points—like the oversized lighting fixture and seating area—anchor the environment and guide visual movement.

• Modular product displays keep the retail area flexible while maintaining clean lines and a gallery-like presence.

These design choices helped unify the experience while maintaining the calm, curated feeling characteristic of Acne Studios.

User-Centric Design

The design prioritizes emotional connection and exploration. The entry opens with mannequins wearing Acne’s iconic scarves, immediately grounding visitors in the brand’s identity.

Further inside, guests encounter:

• A cozy café nook, referencing Acne’s culture of blending lifestyle and design.

• A colour analysis area that educates visitors on styling and tonal harmony.

• A customization station where guests can embroider initials or motifs onto purchased scarves — deepening personal ownership.

• A lounge area for resting, observing, and experiencing the space at a slower pace.

Soft materials, indirect lighting, and layered pastel tones ensure the environment feels warm and inviting—encouraging visitors to stay, explore, and engage.

Detailed Pages and Features

• Sculpted Curved Walls Soft pink exterior surfaces create a welcoming form and strong brand presence.

• Mannequin & Scarf Showcase Strategically placed at the entrance to highlight Acne’s signature accessory.

• Café Bar A minimalist counter inspired by Acne Studios' lifestyle spaces, offering beverages and reinforcing the brand’s cultural depth.

• Colour Analysis Station An educational touchpoint where visitors explore colour pairings and materials.

• Embroidery & Customization Area Allows on-site personalization, connecting shoppers to craftsmanship.

• Lounge Seating Installation A circular seating arrangement layered with rug textures that evoke Acne’s playful yet refined design language.

• Instagram-Friendly Moment A curated backdrop to encourage organic social sharing, extending the pop-up’s reach beyond the physical space.

Accessibility and Optimization

Accessibility shaped many design decisions:

• Wide circulation paths allow easy movement around curved walls and installations.

• Clear sightlines ensure all stations can be located from a central point.

• Rounded edges, neutral tones, and soft lighting reduce sensory overwhelm.

• Seating options and pauses support visitors who need rest or slower engagement.

  
  

The experience is comfortable, discoverable, and inclusive.

Conclusion

This Acne Studios pop-up represents the intersection of research-driven spatial planning and experiential brand design. By blending lifestyle elements, product storytelling, and Scandinavian-inspired minimalism, we created a space that invites curiosity and celebrates Acne’s artistic identity. The final result is a curated, immersive environment that reflects the brand’s essence — calm, expressive, creative, and undeniably Acne Studios.

Contributing Creatives

Kelly Van