In New York City, the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center is currently the focal point for the global retail industry as NRF 2026: Retail’s Big Show commences. The L+R team is on-site, navigating the expo floor alongside our clients and engaging with partners who are defining "The Next Now" through the practical application of technology.
Our presence at the event centers on ensuring that innovation translates into measurable utility within the complex organizational structures of our partners.
Synchronizing Digital and Physical Environments
The industry’s current move toward high-fidelity, omnichannel environments is a space where our recent work has set clear benchmarks. This synergy is a hallmark of our recent work with Printemps New York, where we architected the integrated digital foundation for their flagship launch at One Wall Street.
As highlighted in The Wall Street Journal, this initiative utilized immersive prototyping to refine the customer journey and wayfinding systems before the physical space was even complete. Building on this successful opening, we recently launched their e-commerce platform in the USA, providing a seamless transition for the brand as it expands its footprint in the North American market.
Advancing Spatial Computing and Wearables
The maturation of spatial computing is a core pillar of our focus this week. We are following sessions on the AI Stage that examine the move from experimental prototypes to operational reality, specifically regarding UX/UI design for immersive environments.
This industry-wide transition toward functional spatial tools mirrors the sophisticated workflow we deployed to address the logistical challenges of a 50,000-square-foot department store. While the physical flagship was still under construction, our team utilized ShapesXR and the Apple Vision Pro to perform full-scale retail layout planning and spatial design within a virtual twin of the environment. This approach allowed stakeholders to "walk" the floor and evaluate the placement, scale, and sightlines of digital signage and interactive kiosks in a 1:1 ratio. By validating these decisions in a shared virtual space, we reduced the need for costly physical mockups and ensured that the final digital layers harmonized perfectly with the store's architectural intent.
Additionally, discussions such as "Elevating Retail Experiences in the Digital Age: Building the Future of In-Store Media" and the "NRF Innovators Showcase" align with our development of Ray-Ban Meta applications.
We are currently meeting with groups at the Javits Center interested in leveraging smart glasses for two distinct retail applications:
- Customer Interaction: Enhancing personalized, hands-free discovery and brand storytelling.
- Employee Enablement: Utilizing wearable technology for real-time inventory management and streamlined frontline training.
Strategic Insights from the Expo Floor
Walking the floor allows for a collaborative evaluation of emerging tools from exhibitors and partners. We are particularly interested in the fireside chat between Google and Walmart regarding the "age of agentic AI" and the session "AI in Retail: From Hype to Sustainable Success" with NVIDIA and LVMH.
These interactions directly inform our strategy consulting and mobile application development initiatives. By observing how hardware and software converge in real-time, we help our partners navigate the transition to intelligent, data-driven environments that remain resilient in an evolving marketplace.
We look forward to the remaining sessions and the opportunity to support the teams refining the standards of modern commerce.
