ARC’TERYX - SUB-ZERO CITY
Bridging Alpine Utility and Urban Streetwear - 2 Day Pop-Up Concept
ARC’TERYX - SUB-ZERO CITY
Process & Evolution: My initial concept exploration didn't fully capture the brand's true alpine aesthetic. By researching actual flagship retail spaces and how Arc'teryx translates high-altitude performance into urban retail, I refined the design to focus entirely on structural spatial execution and material storytelling.
Brand Exploration & Spatial Research
Analyzing how their current flagship stores handle vertical merchandising and fixture flow before designing the Sub-Zero City layout
Studying real-world brutalist concrete facades and material finishes to ground my structure in actual brand architecture.
Examining nighttime lighting and material contrast to shape the moody, sub-zero atmospheric tone.
Reviewing flagship storefronts to ensure my pop-up concept stays true to their physical identity
VISUAL NARRATIVE & MOOD BOARD
Translating freezing backcountry conditions into a dense urban core, pairing raw concrete, extreme weather elements, and technical textiles.
COLOR PALETE & MATERIAL FOCUS
COLOR PALETTE
Alpine White
Concrete Gray
Matte Black
Glacier Blue
MATERIAL FOCUS
GORE-TEX Pro: 3L Weatherproofing membrane engineered for extreme conditions
Merino Wool: High-density thermal knit for natural temperature regulation
Frosted Industrial Glass: Translucent panels used for retail spatial contrast
RETAIL INSTALLATION & INTERIOR
The Build: A 48-hour pop-up built from raw concrete blocks, frosted industrial steel, and cold ambient lighting to recreate high-alpine survival conditions inside the city.
CONCEPT SKETCH’S
FINAL EXECUTION
CAMPAIGN & COMMUNITY HYPE
Drop Mechanics: Building real local hype through physical out-of-home (OOH) clues, limited accessory colorway drops, and location-based digital teasers.
Reimagining Possibility
The Strategy Dropping traditional e-commerce ads for brutalist physical touchpoints and real-world urgency.
Foot Traffic: Using location-based digital drops to pull targeted local crowds straight to the site.
Sell-Through: Structured for a rapid sell-out across a limited run of 50 technical units.
Engagement: Driving heavy digital entry volume to prove how experiential retail builds actual community demand.