Connections: A Travel Store Designed by Pinkeye

Bringing the Online Travel Experience to a Physical Store

When leading Belgian travel agency Connections decided to expand their offerings and venture into selling travel paraphernalia, they needed a flagship store that would capture the essence of their brand. Pinkeye, the renowned design team, rose to the challenge and created a unique and immersive experience for customers.

The centerpiece of the design is a massive screen wall depicting a map of the earth. This highly animated map showcases local information on destinations, movies, and pictures of travelers. It serves as the portal between the store and its clients, connecting them to the global travel community. The main objective was to bring the advantages of online travel booking into the physical store, creating a seamless and interactive experience for customers.

One of the key features of the store is the integration of the travel booking and merchandise areas. Pinkeye recognized that positive emotions generated during the trip booking process can lead to impulse purchases. To capitalize on this, the merchandise is presented in an inviting and nonchalant manner, reminiscent of a bustling market or "boqueria." This approach encourages cross-merchandising and enhances the overall customer experience.

The interactive world map screen wall serves as a bridge between traveling customers and the store staff. Customers abroad can send pictures of their holiday, which then appear on the corresponding location on the world map. This feature offers shoppers a "live" experience and fosters a sense of connection with other travelers. Additionally, the wall can display customer photos, movies, and announcements, further enhancing the store's multimedia capabilities.

The design team faced the challenge of seamlessly integrating the benefits of online travel booking into a physical store environment. The custom-made shop furniture was designed to accommodate a wide range of products, ensuring a cohesive and visually appealing display. By successfully merging the online and offline aspects of the travel experience, Pinkeye created a store that truly embodies the spirit of Connections.

The Connections travel store, designed by Pinkeye, spans an impressive 700 square meters. This expansive space allows for a variety of interactive elements and a seamless flow between different areas of the store. The combination of innovative design, multimedia integration, and a unique shopping experience has garnered this project numerous accolades.

This design was awarded the Bronze A' Design Award in 2013 in the Interior Space, Retail, and Exhibition Design category. The award recognizes outstanding and creatively ingenious designs that incorporate best practices in art, science, design, and technology. Pinkeye's design for the Connections travel store showcases their strong technical and creative skills, contributing to an improved quality of life for customers and making the world a better place.


Project Details and Credits

Project Designers: Ruud Belmans
Image Credits: Ruud Belmans
Project Team Members: Pinkeye
Project Name: Connections
Project Client: Ruud Belmans


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