Center for Retail Design & Development (CRDI) Flyer

Center for Retail Design & Innovation

Center for Retail Design & Innovation The new Center for Retail Design and Innovation (crdi), located within the University of Minnesota’s College of Design Retail Merchandising Program, will foster collaboration with the retail industry to educate future retail leaders and to address the critical challenges in retailing using a design-thinking approach.

Why the University of Minnesota? Why become a founding partner?

• The University of Minnesota is ranked #8 in research among all U.S. public universities while the Retail Merchandising Undergraduate Program is ranked highly both nationally and in the Midwest region.

Becoming a crdi partner gives corporations the opportunity to directly engage with one of the country’s leading research institutions and retail merchandising programs. Benefits to our partners could also include:

• As one of the only retail merchandising programs in the nation located within a design college, the Retail Merchandising Program and CRDI bring a design perspective to the retail industry.

• Visibility by co-branding with the College of Design and the University of Minnesota through event sponsorships and publications.

• Minnesota is home to 19 Fortune 500 corporations and headquarters to top U.S. retailers, making it the perfect location for industry and academic retail leaders to collaborate.

• Benchmarking studies show that many peer universities have a designated retail center with established industry partnerships and programs.

• Partnering with leading researchers in the field who can assist with business strategy development and analysis.

• Exposure to new perspectives and energy from students by providing hands-on industry exposure and company experience.

• Access to top student talent for internships, job opportunities, and focus groups.

designed to connect

Get Involved To become a founding partner or to learn more contact: Peggy Lord, Assistant Director, Center for Retail Design & Innovation lordp@umn.edu | 612-624-3687

The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. This material is available in alternative formats upon request. Direct requests to Peggy Lord, lordp@umn.edu.