I have visited many optical stores in Dubai before. They were either chain brands in shopping malls, with uniform pale lighting and cold metal shelves, just like being in a hospital's optometry room. Either it's a small street-side store, with goods piled up so densely that it's hard to even turn around. It takes a long time to find a pair of glasses. There are also some popular online stores that look good in photos, but when you actually visit them, they are crowded and stuffy, and are completely impractical. But this optical store in Motor City, Dubai, is different. The design of the double storefronts makes the entire space particularly transparent. Even without turning on the lights, the natural light flowing in through the glass doors makes it look bright and spacious, without any sense of oppression typical of small shops.
Unlike 90% of optical stores
The design of the storefront is very eye-catching. The off-white marble-textured door frame is paired with rose gold line borders. The brand logo in blue and white is embedded inside. When it lights up at night, the warm light wraps around the metal lines, creating a gentle and textured look. As soon as I reached the door, I couldn't resist taking out my phone to take several pictures. The main color scheme of the store is off-white and light rose gold. There are no unnecessary fancy decorations. The overall look is clean and refreshing. There is no pungent smell of newly renovated glue in the air. It can be seen that all the materials used are environmentally friendly. You won't feel bored even after stshopping for a long time.
Eyewear brand zoning
One of the most headache-inducing aspects of many optical stores for me is that all brands are displayed together. To find a specific brand of glasses, you have to flip from one end of the shelf to the other, and it's very easy to get things mixed up. But the brand zoning design of this store has truly engraved the word "thoughtful" into every detail.
The store is divided into separate areas by brand, such as Police, Armani, Fendi, Ray-Ban, and even special sections for adidas and Swarovski. At the top of each area, there is an embedded illuminated brand light box, not the kind of plastic stickers stuck on, but an integrated design with the shelves. The light is soft and not dazzling. The brand logo can be seen from a distance and is easy to find. Moreover, the style of each area also echoes the brand's tone. The Armani area is more simple and elegant, while the Fendi area has more delicate lines. Even for first-time visitors, they can quickly find the brand they want.
Even more wonderful is the lighting design. It's not the kind of pale LED lights that directly shine on people, but warm 4000K neutral light that precisely hits the frames of the glasses. This not only restores the true texture of the glasses but also avoids dazzling the eyes. I tried them on at other stores before and always felt that the frame color was too dark. It was only when I went out and put them in natural light that I found the color difference was huge. It was a wasted trip. But when I tried on the Armani frames in this store, the color was almost exactly the same as what I saw when I went out. Even the metallic luster at the edges of the frames was restored very accurately. This is really important for buying glasses.
Shelves and central island counters
- Brand shelves
This is not the common metal frame found on the market, but is made of a matte off-white panel. It has a fine matte texture when touched, leaving no fingerprints at all and is not easily scratched. The edges are wrapped with fine rose gold lines, echoing the metal lines of the storefront. The overall style is particularly unified and there is no sense of cheapness at all. The height of each layer of shelves is not uniform but adjusted according to the size of the frames, just enough to fit a pair of glasses. It won't be crowded to the top, nor will there be large gaps that make it look empty.
The most considerate feature is the back panel design. It uses a light beige matte panel instead of reflective glass or glossy materials. Therefore, no matter from which Angle you look, there will be no reflection to glare your eyes, and you can clearly see the details of the frame. The backboards of many optical stores' shelves are made of glass. When illuminated, they all reflect light, making it impossible to see the true color of the glasses. However, this store has no such problem at all. Even when wearing polarizing glasses, there won't be any dazzling reflections.
- Stepped central island platform
The central island counters in many optical stores are either large and bulky wooden counters, looking very cumbersome. Either it's a glass countertop. When you touch it, you'll get fingerprints. After wiping it, they'll be stained again not long after. However, the central island of this place is framed with fine metal in rose gold, featuring light and delicate lines. Paired with a matte off-white countertop, it is in perfect harmony with the style of the wall shelves and does not look out of place.
The three-tiered stepped design is also particularly ingenious. Each layer is a little higher than the one below. No matter from which Angle you stand, you can see all the glasses without being blocked by the ones in front. Unlike the ordinary central island platform, you can only see the top layer and have to reach in to flip through the ones below, which is very troublesome. Moreover, the height of the countertop is just right, allowing you to easily reach for the glasses without bending over. When trying them on, there's no need to struggle to adjust the Angle. I tried on several pairs that day and felt very relaxed throughout the process, without any sense of fatigue.
Apart from the grand design, the small details in the store also left a deep impression on me. There are small mirrors placed beside each brand area. There's no need to queue up at the cashier counter to look in the mirror. It's particularly convenient to try them on. A few real green plants are placed in the corner, adding a touch of vitality to the cool-toned space of off-white and rose gold, and preventing it from looking too monotonous. The shop assistants are also very considerate. They won't keep asking you questions all the time. Instead, they will come over to help adjust the tightness of the frames when you need them. There is no pressure of sales throughout the process, making your shopping experience very comfortable.
