Spatial Experience Strategist (Physical Retail)

Skill; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 210,000; Part time

Job summary

Aquent Studios is partnering with a global technology leader to redefine physical retail experiences. You will lead strategy-first concepts for immersive store environments, translating consumer insights into actionable blueprints for Spatial Designers, Graphic Designers, and Prototypers.

The role emphasizes big ideas over drafting CAD drawings, guiding narrative-driven strategies and performance metrics to maximize engagement across in-store interactions.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Architect end-to-end customer journey maps and experience frameworks for physical retail environments.
• Define spatial strategies that influence visitor movement, optimize traffic flow, discovery zones, and navigation.
• 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.
• Act as the internal SME on global retail innovation and changing shopper expectations.
• Monitor and report on what's next in retail, including window design trends and experiential visual merchandising.
• Translate qualitative and quantitative insights into clear briefs for Spatial Designers, Graphic Designers, and Prototypers.
• Establish KPIs for experiential initiatives and evaluate performance using post-occupancy studies.
• Partner with design and production teams to preserve strategic intent through execution.

Skills

Brand strategy

Retail design strategy

Experiential marketing

Agency-side design strategy

Strategic thinking

Trend forecasting

Storytelling

Presentation skills

Research & insights

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.