Pop Pop: A Winter Wonderland in Lotte Duty-Free Shops

Combining Cultural Elements with Retail Space for a Memorable Shopping Experience

Lottee Duty-Free Shops are known for their distinct characteristics and the tendency of customers to visit irregularly, often targeting specific periods of time. Recognizing this, TIST aimed to create a space that not only catered to shoppers but also provided a memorable experience. By combining cultural elements with retail space, they sought to deliver more than just a shopping trip.

The inspiration for Pop Pop came from the desire to capture the essence of winter, Christmas, and the joy of gift-giving. The illustrations by Jordy Van Den Nieubdijk, resembling intricate puzzles, beautifully depicted the winter wonderland of Santa Village. Each illustration was meticulously crafted, with hundreds of puzzle pieces coming together to form a cohesive and enchanting scene.

One of the challenges faced by the design team was adapting the illustrations to fit the different spaces and interior designs of the eight Lotte Duty-Free Shops. They experimented with various materials, sizes, and forms to ensure that the essence of Santa Village was captured in each location.

The technology used in the realization of Pop Pop focused on transforming the white architectural space into a colorful and vibrant environment. Neon-flex lights, attached or standing independently using acrylic and fomex, were employed to bring the illustrations to life. The result was a visually stunning and immersive experience for visitors.

Pop Pop not only captivates the eyes but also engages the mind. The intricate illustrations, with their interconnected elements, provide a sense of joy and discovery, as if solving a puzzle. By recreating and separating various characters within the illustrations, the design team created a fresh and unique experience for visitors.

With its seasonal direction and product design for travel goods, Pop Pop aims to remind visitors of the precious moments of travel. The space becomes more than just a duty-free shop; it becomes a pathway to convey the excitement and anticipation of travel.

Pop Pop was implemented in eight Lotte Duty-Free Shops across Korea from November 2018 to January 2019. The project required extensive research and careful consideration of the unique characteristics of duty-free retail stores. By combining cultural elements, spatial design, and innovative technology, TIST successfully created a memorable and enchanting shopping experience.

Pop Pop has been recognized for its creativity and ingenuity, receiving the Bronze A' Design Award in the Event and Happening Design category in 2020. This prestigious award celebrates designs that demonstrate outstanding technical and creative skills, contributing to improvements in quality of life and making the world a better place.