THREADED REALMS : Reimagining Retail with Generative AI and the Design of Transitional Spaces

Nikhitha Nimmakayala // Advisor: Sequoyah Hunter-Cuyjet

THREADED REALMS : Reimagining Retail with Generative AI and the Design of Transitional Spaces

Generative AI is transforming the design process with unparalleled efficiency, precision, and adaptability, allowing for highly customized and optimized spaces. However, as AI-driven tools increasingly shape the way environments are conceptualized and brought to life, a critical question emerges: can algorithms - built on patterns and data - truly capture the cultural narratives, emotional connections, and contextual nuances that give spaces their meaning and soul? This tension is particularly evident in large retail stores, where the design of transitional spaces plays a crucial role in shaping the overall experience. Rather than serving as mere connectors, these spaces have the potential to transform stores into "experience-scapes," immersing users in a seamless journey that fosters discovery, engagement, and emotional connection. AI can optimize layouts for efficiency, but can it truly curate the experiential and narrative-driven depth that makes a space memorable? Or does the essence of transformative design still lie in the human ability to infuse creativity, intuition, and lived experience into every detail?