for Retail Stores throughout the uk

While cutting my teeth in retail store design during the early 1980s, 

I was tasked to design a new look for Bally Shoes, which I called ‘LINEA' 

- the first slatted wall system in the UK. Unfortunately, things got off to a disastrous start; the day after we completed the first of their 300 planned store refurbishments, Bally's retail arm closed down - and I didn't have a plan 'B'

Confident that my design had potential far beyond the shoe industry, I persuaded my employer, City Design, to exhibit LINEA at SHOPEX in 1982, where it caught the eye of Roy Dyer, Design Director for Austin Reed. He instantly recognised the potential of the system and used it to fit out parts of their iconic Regent Street flagship store. Unfortunately, no photos exist of that job, but it must have looked impressive, because from there, the design took the industry by storm and was eventually adopted by retailers across the country—if only I had a £ pound for every panel I’ve seen since . . . . . . mmm