Friction: Pop-Up

The Friction retail pop-up experience was designed to immerse attendees in the history of LGBTQ+ activism while providing a unique, accessible way to interact with the brand. Housed within a 40-foot shipping container, the pop-up creates a vibrant, mobile environment that educates visitors on the significance of activist posters throughout history. By combining historical education with a compact, thoughtfully designed retail space, the pop-up reinforces Friction's mission of celebrating queer voices, past and present, and inspiring continued activism.

The challenge for this project was to design a retail experience that not only communicated Friction's bold identity and historical focus but was also portable, sustainable, and impactful. The structure needed to balance being lightweight and transportable while incorporating the eco-conscious and industrial aesthetics that reflect the brand's homage to urban activism. Additionally, the space had to function as both an educational exhibit and a compact, efficient retail area, appealing to a diverse audience at Pride events and cultural festivals.

The Friction retail pop-up addresses these challenges through strategic material choices and an immersive design. Lightweight, sustainable versions of industrial materials like brick, concrete, and corrugated metal create a tactile connection to the cityscapes where activist posters once hung, while ensuring the structure remains portable and eco-friendly. The use of industrial accents ties the space to Friction's brand identity, while compact layouts optimize the dual purpose of education and retail. This design transforms the shipping container into a bold, transportable symbol of queer history and resilience, allowing attendees to engage with Friction’s mission in a meaningful and memorable way.