speaker-photo

Eric Daniel

Retail Design Principal, Little Diversified Architectural Consulting Inc.
Eric Daniel is a highly accomplished retail design professional and creative leader with a proven track record of elevating brand performance through design. As a Design Principal and Creative Director at Little, he specializes in developing visually compelling and functional concepts that seamlessly integrate physical, digital, and human elements to create captivating, inclusive experiences. Eric’s approach is rooted in active listening and design thinking, ensuring every solution is empathetic, profitable, and tailored to client goals. He has led design initiatives for global brands, where his ability to balance creativity with strategic insight has consistently delivered scalable, impactful results.  Widely recognized as an industry thought leader, Eric has spoken at international conferences and contributed to publications that shape the dialogue on the future of retail. His work emphasizes the importance of storytelling, innovative experiences, and purposeful design in driving both customer engagement and business success. With a focus on empathy, innovation, and collaboration, Eric continues to influence the evolution of retail environments, positioning design as a powerful tool for connection, performance, and community. 
9:30 - 9:50 AM

Thursday May 7

Smart Talk Session: Redefining Retail Performance: The UT Co-Op Story (Stage 1)

Retail spaces today must do more than simply sell products, they must adapt, perform and tell a story. As a case study The University CO-OP at the University of Texas at Austin offers a compelling example of how thoughtful planning, flexible design and strong partnerships can transform a nonprofit bookstore into a dynamic retail destination. In this Smart Talk session, attendees will explore how modular fixturing, strategic zoning and adaptive layouts allow the store to seamlessly transition between everyday campus retail and the surge of thousands of fans on game days. Hear how combining retail strategy, strategic adjacencies, and brand storytelling, the project demonstrates how physical environments delivers measurable results because of emotional connection. Attendees will hear about lessons learned, project insights and performance data from concept to completion, offering practical ideas that apply to all retail environments. Takeaways:

  • Understand how modular fixtures and flexible layouts support peak traffic, events and seasonal retail shifts
  • Discover ways design strategy and performance metrics must work together to drive results
  • Hear lessons from a collaborative project journey that can inform future-facing retail environments