Silence & Noise: A Window Display Design for Inform

The Intersection of Architecture and Retail Design

Cutler was invited to create a window display design for our neighbours at Inform, a long-established furniture retailer and design hub in Vancouver’s Gastown. Known for their impressive collection of contemporary furniture and lighting, Inform has long supported Vancouver’s design community.

The display, titled Silence & Noise, was developed under the parameters of a modest budget and complete creative freedom. It ran from June 1 to July 30, accompanied by an opening celebration on June 7.

A Concept of Silence & Noise

“An immersive environment that explores the idea of sound as a quality of the visual and physical environment.”

We set out to explore how sound might look and feel without being heard – translating auditory ideas into a visual soundscape through colour, form, repetition, and scale. Moving through the installation, visitors experience two contrasting energies: one of calm, and one of intensity. The meeting point between the two creates balance – the equilibrium between silence and noise.

Discovering & Developing the Concept

Our process began with a conversation about what drives our work: creating spaces that make people feel something. For this collaboration, Inform gave us full creative freedom to express that philosophy through design.

We explored the tension between two opposing concepts – stillness and movement – to create a display that evokes both serenity and energy. This dichotomy became the foundation for our retail design concept.

Using colour, texture, and scale, we developed two distinct spatial experiences: one light, airy, and reflective of silence; the other dynamic and expressive, representing sound and motion.

Exploring the Completed Design Through Words and Images

Photography by Brooke Stephenson

We landed on an airy, white, and transparent palette for the silence side. Using suspended fabric, soft lighting, and clear glass furniture in a simple, minimal composition helped create the feeling of stillness and calm – a key goal of this window display design.

We took a still, utopian summer approach, composing playful seasonal objects together. The ladder placed above a white pool of acrylic references the quietude of slipping into a still body of water. Each element was positioned to appear as if it were floating, bringing a sense of serenity to the space – an approach inspired by retail design principles that emphasize spatial storytelling.

As the installation transitions toward the noise side, the composition becomes more energetic, a mix of materials, colours, and reflections arranged in a suspended, angular formation.

Bright, dynamic showroom display featuring mirrors and lighting at Inform Vancouver by Cutler, retail window installation showing orange glass and reflections.

Furniture is placed in an unconventional composition within the layered environment of mirrors and colourful transparencies. We used mirrors to represent the way sound bounces through space, creating a sense of visual reverberation, an idea rooted in commercial interior design and the artistry of branded spaces.

To tie the concept together, we introduced a large abstracted window graphic symbolizing a sound wave moving from low to high amplitude. As you move across the display, it feels as though you can sense the rhythm of the sound itself reflected on the glass.

Watch Timelapse Video

FAQs

What is a window display design?
A window display design is a visual marketing tool used by retailers to attract customers and showcase products through creative, engaging displays.

How does Cutler approach retail design?
Cutler emphasizes collaboration and brand alignment to create functional and impactful retail spaces that connect with customers and support brand identity.

What are the benefits of professional interior design for retail spaces?
Professional interior design enhances customer experience, strengthens brand perception, and ensures that retail environments are both inviting and functional.