As Creative Director and Director of Merchandising for The Museum of Modern Art’s Retail Division, Bonnie Mackay was responsible for interior design, store and window graphics, and merchandise presentation for all MoMA Store/MoMA Design Store venues, which grew to include three store locations in New York and one in Tokyo.
Bonnie partnered with renowned architect Richard Gluckman of Gluckman Mayner Architects on the design of the three retail venues that opened in 2004 in the newly renovated and expanded Museum of Modern Art in midtown Manhattan. These include the 5,800 sq. ft. MoMA Design and Book Store on the Museum’s first floor, MoMA Books on the second floor, and an exhibition shop on the sixth floor.
Across the street from the Museum, Bonnie partnered with 11OO Architect on a major renovation of the 3,300 sq. ft. MoMA Design Store in 1999 that marked its tenth anniversary. She again collaborated with 11OO Architect on design of the dramatic two-level, 5,300 sq. ft. MoMA Design Store in Soho, which opened in a landmark cast-iron building in 2001.
The Museum of Modern Art’s first store location outside of the U.S. opened in Tokyo’s Omotesando district in 2007. Bonnie partnered with Gluckman Mayner Architects on this innovative and flexible 4,500 sq. ft. retail space which features fixtures that can be moved easily on tracks laid in the floor. It also incorporates large LCD monitors that utilize the same dynamic visual display system used in MoMA’s lobby in New York.
Bonnie Mackay was responsible for creative, merchandising and marketing for the MoMA Store’s popular Destination: Design series. Each Destination: Design event focused on a specific country or region and showcased emerging designers and design themes in a MoMA-exclusive product collection. The series was a highly successful tool for driving incremental consumer interest, traffic and sales outside of the usual product seasons.
Each Destination: Design event consisted of a 75-125 sku product collection sourced directly from the featured region and supported by custom graphic treatments, multichannel marketing outreach, and special events. Most products offered were never before available in the U.S.
Destination: Design collections focused on Finland, Denmark, Buenos Aires, Berlin, Japan, Seoul, Brazil, Portugal, Istanbul, and Mexico, and usually involved partnerships with local arts, culture and/or government organizations. These sometimes developed into long-lasting relationships benefiting MoMA and its development initiatives.
The High Line in New York is a public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets of Manhattan’s West Side. The popular destination opened in 2009 and is maintained, operated, and programmed by non-profit Friends of the High Line, in partnership with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation.
Bonnie Mackay served as a retail consultant to Friends of the High Line, helping to turn its retail program into a business that would support the organization’s mission. Bonnie partnered and worked closely with the new Director of Retail to help create the business case and lead merchandise planning. She also helped identify and select outside vendors and resources necessary to develop and relaunch the ecommerce business.
Bonnie helped to create a distinctive product selection consistent with the brand attributes of this beloved New York City venue. Together they focused on sourcing products from local designers, artists, craftspeople and businesses. Good design, functionality, environmental concerns and fair labor practices were all priorities. Bonnie also helped create an eclectic collection of High Line logo products.
The High Line Shop went live in 2014 at thehighline.org and at kiosk sites along the High line and in the nearby Chelsea Market.
Able Made is an innovative retail platform launched to bring communities together to create beautifully designed, exclusive products that fund social impact projects. National brands, emerging designers and artisans around the world join forces, supporting causes that are closest to their hearts through inspired products and collaborations.
Serving as Merchandising Director, Bonnie Mackay helps guide Able Made’s product lineup and partnership development. Her innate sense for design and materials, combined with an understanding of the financial needs of a business enable her to help Able Made create exclusive products and a distinctive niche in the social impact retail community. Bonnie brings a broad network of contacts and relationships to the table through her extensive global retail experience in product sourcing and development in Europe, Scandinavia, India, and Asia.
