Spatial Experience Strategist (Physical Retail)

Skill; New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Aquent Studios, partnering with a global leader in technology, seeks a strategy-focused professional to shape the future of physical retail experiences. This role emphasizes BIG IDEAS—from concepting to mapping and briefs—rather than drafting CAD drawings.

You will analyze consumer behavior, track retail trends, and translate research into strategic blueprints guiding Spatial Designers and Prototypers toward engaging in-store interactions.

Qualifications

• 4–7+ years in brand strategy or retail design strategy.
• Strategy-focused with ability to map concepts into actionable briefs.
• Strong storytelling and deck presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Architect end-to-end customer journey maps and experience frameworks.
• Define spatial strategies to influence visitor movement and store flow.
• Map narrative-driven spatial strategies and present vision decks.
• Partner with design teams to ensure strategic intent during execution.

Skills

Brand strategy

Retail design strategy

Experiential marketing

Strategy storytelling

Brief writing

Tools

Keynote

Google Slides

Figma

Miro

Job description

Placement Type:

Temporary

Salary:

$120,000-210,000 Salary

Start Date:

Oct 5, 2026

Aquent Studios is proud to partner with a global leader in technology innovation at the forefront of redefining industry standards and dedicated to creating exceptional user experiences. We have an extraordinary opportunity with this global brand to help shape the future of physical retail experiences and create magical connections between innovative technology and its users. If you are ready to be at the heart of a transformative project, leading the strategic conceptualization and design execution for high-impact physical environments, this is your chance to help launch unique new retail experiences from concept to opening.

The ideal candidate will have a forward-thinking, strategy-first mindset to help define the future of our client's physical retail spaces. This role is not about drafting spatial layouts and CAD drawings. It is about BIG IDEAS - concepting and mapping them out, uncovering insights, and setting the direction for engaging brick-and-mortar experiences like no other.

You will analyze consumer behavior and track global retail trends - from storefront window display strategies to interactive store concepts - and translate deep research into actionable strategic blueprints. Your work will guide the creative design team on what they should build and why, ensuring every in-store interaction creates maximum engagement.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Vision & Concept Mapping

• Architect end-to-end customer journey maps and experience frameworks for physical retail environments.
• Define spatial strategies that strategically influence visitor movement, optimizing traffic flow, discovery zones, and navigation throughout the store footprint.
• Define the "why" behind spatial installations, establishing concepts for features and store experiences, window displays, and interactive elements.
• Map out narrative-driven spatial strategies and present vision decks that bridge business objectives with memorable customer moments.

Trend Forecasting & Retail Innovation

• Act as the internal SME on global retail innovation, emergent store design directions, and changing shopper expectations.
• Continually monitor and report on "what's next" in retail, including window design trends, experiential visual merchandising, spatial technology, and community-centric retail models.

Research & Insights (Preferred)

• Utilize, synthesize, or conduct primary and secondary research (such as consumer behavior trends, store walkthroughs, competitive analysis, or foot-traffic data) to ground strategic decisions in solid evidence.
• Translate qualitative and quantitative insights into clear, inspiring briefs for Spatial Designers, Graphic Designers, and Prototypers.
• Establish success metrics (KPIs) for experiential initiatives and evaluate performance using post-occupancy studies.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Spatial Designers, Graphic Designers, Prototypers, and creative production teams to ensure strategic intent is preserved throughout execution.

Key Qualifications

• Experience: 4-7+ years of experience in brand strategy, retail design strategy, experiential marketing, or agency-side design strategy.
• Mindset: Strategy-focused over execution-focused-you excel at synthesizing complex ideas and writing persuasive briefs.
• Trend Savvy: A deep passion for physical retail, with an active pulse on visual merchandising, window display trends, and omnichannel store tech.
• Research & Insights (Preferred): Comfort either conducting or interpreting qualitative consumer research, industry reports, and observational insights to inform strategic recommendations.
• Storytelling & Presentation: Outstanding skills in narrative building and deck creation (Keynote, Google Slides, Figma, or Miro) to pitch strategic concepts clearly to leadership or clients.