Imagine IKEA, but for Google products! After reading about Google's first-ever retail store, I finally got to experience this store firsthand. Located in New York across Chelsea Market, the store was a project in the makings for 4 years and first opened its doors on June 17, 2021. I appreciated all of Google''s attention to detail to make the store a space that celebrates Google's products with its inviting, hands-on experience.
From storefront windows to the interior details, the Google store imitates an inviting, home-like space. With the Google products thoughtfully displayed in-context, I was able to imagine how these products can make my own home work smarter for me.
Discovery Boxes
Before I stepped foot into the store, the cube displays, which Google calls Discovery Boxes, in the storefront window immediately caught my attention. From the outside, each window presents a theme through a set of 3 Discovery Boxes. The middle cube digitally animates to present product features, and the two outer boxes position the products as smart-home solutions within a home-scene diorama. Some of the Discovery Boxes highlight Google's sustainability efforts by depicting the evolution from raw materials to final product.
From the store interior, these Discovery Boxes tell a different story through its transparent LED screens. The hardware is inside the box, and the screens animate over the product to illustrate its features. Stools and demo hardware are available so you can comfortably sit and try out the product.
Store Interior
Once inside, I was greeted with a warm, homey interior, complete with a mini living room and kitchen. According to Google's blog, the store design is sustainable throughout the building process, with locally sourced cork and wood furniture from Brooklyn, energy-efficient lighting, and sustainably attached carpet. In spirit of experiencing the product, the interior gives off a cozy vibe that invites you to walk up and interact with theGoogle hardware. Within each mini home space, Field Guides highlight products features.
The store houses several wall displays. Pixel cases and the Nest Gallery Wall showcases products in their full range of colors to help people decide which color would best match their preference or home interior, respectively. People can also browse Google's branded merchandise, which includes notebooks, basketballs, and baby gear.
If you need customer support, the "Here to help" desk has staff who can help resolve your Google product issues or questions.
Google Translate
I entered Google's Imagination Space, a 17-foot glass circular structure, and experienced the power of Google Translate. The screen prompts you with a question. Once you respond into the mic, the 3 screens visualize in real-time your response in 24 languages. Admittedly, the mic didn't quite hear my response correctly (probably due to my mask and some background noise) and proceeded to translate a word that was close to -- but not quite -- the word I said.
The Imagination Space is meant to be a rotating exhibit, so I'm curious which Google feature they'll show next!
Sandboxes
The store also has "pods" called Sandboxes that allow people to demo the products in a more intimate setting to get a real feel for how Google's suite of products interconnect and provide a solution for the home.
Stadia Sandbox
Inside the sandbox for Stadia, the game streaming service, people can experience Stadia's flexibility as they demo the switch across various devices.
Nest Sandbox
The Nest Sandbox was my favorite part of the entire store. Once I entered this space, I saw a prompt to sit on the couch. I spent the next 3-4 minutes in an audio-visual immersive environment that simulated a living room. By using Google Assistant through commands that were projection mapped onto the coffee table, I was able to experience the power of Nest products through a series of simulated real-life scenarios.
Not only did the furniture and decor imitate a cozy living room, the lighting and audio further contributed towards the immersive experience. The lighting emulated the illusion of day passing to night, and the surround-sound audio made me feel the rumble of the delivery truck arriving outside, and knocks coming from the door.
Conclusion
Wow, I was completely blown away at Google's store design and its interactivity! Every detail from the furnishings to the displays to the sandboxes were engaging and inviting, all while experiencing the power of Google products for a smarter, more thoughtful home.