“Creating a Virtual Retail Store Using The Sims4™ Programs in a Visual Merchandising Course”

Abstract

<p>SnapFashun, a plugin software used in conjunction with Adobe Illustrator (SnapFashun, 2017), was previously used in a visual merchandising course to create a final project: a digital retail store. Due to technological problems and student frustrations, an alternative was chosen: The Sims4™ programs. The expectation was the change in technology would permit students to focus on applications of visual merchandising concepts and result in a more engaged, creative final project. YouTube videos and online guides aided in learning the software for The Sims4™ programs. The outcome was a digital retail store that permitted increased engagement, greater creativity, and the application of visual merchandising concepts learned in the course. Implications exist for a variety of other college programs for the creation of prototypes. Future plans include using The Sims4™ programs in the visual merchandising course for the purpose of creating multiple types of virtual window displays and digital retail floor plans.</p>