Inspiring Conversations with Laure Marianne of marianne consulting llc

Today we’d like to introduce you to Laure Marianne.

Hi laure, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born and raised in France, where I first developed a fascination with design, art, and the ways people experience space. I studied Interior Design at the École des Beaux-Arts before pursuing a Master’s degree in Industrial Design at ENSAD in Paris, France.

After moving to the United States in 2010, I built a career in luxury retail design, working for international brands including Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Kenzo, and the LVMH Group. For nearly twenty years, I worked at the intersection of architecture, branding, and customer experience, designing stores and retail environments around the world. This experience gave me a unique perspective on how architecture can shape perception, desire, and cultural value.

Over time, I became increasingly interested in the broader questions behind the spaces I was designing. Why do certain environments captivate us? How does design influence behavior, memory, and meaning? These questions ultimately led me back to academia.

Today, I am pursuing a PhD in Architecture at the University of Cincinnati, where my research explores the relationship between architecture, retail, museums, and consumer culture. My work examines how contemporary retail spaces increasingly function like cultural institutions, blending exhibition design, storytelling, and immersive experiences. I am particularly interested in how architecture mediates the relationship between people, objects, and images.

Alongside my research, I teach design studios at DAAP and continue to draw connections between professional practice and academic inquiry.

Looking back, my journey has been one of continuous curiosity—from designer to researcher, from practice to scholarship. What connects every chapter of my career is a fascination with the power of space to shape how we see, experience, and understand the world around us.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has certainly not been a smooth road, but that is also what has made it so rewarding.

Throughout my life, I have embraced change and continuously pushed myself outside my comfort zone. Moving from the south of France to Paris at a young age was a major adjustment, both personally and professionally. Later, moving from France to the United States brought a whole new set of challenges—adapting to a different culture, language, and professional environment while building a career from the ground up.

Over the years, I have also experienced life on both the West Coast and the East Coast, each with its own pace, culture, and opportunities. Every transition required resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to learn.

Of course, there have been moments of uncertainty and challenges along the way, but I have always viewed them as opportunities for growth. More than anything, I have never wanted to stay still. Curiosity has always been my driving force. I genuinely believe we only have one life, and we should live it fully—embracing new experiences, taking risks, and continuing to learn and evolve.

Looking back, the challenges are often what made the journey most meaningful. They pushed me to grow, reinvent myself, and ultimately led me to where I am today.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Marianne Consulting LLC is a design consulting practice that operates at the intersection of architecture, interior design, branding, and customer experience. Drawing on nearly two decades of experience in luxury retail design, I help brands, organizations, and institutions create meaningful spatial experiences that connect people, place, and identity.

My professional background includes designing retail environments and flagship stores for internationally recognized brands such as Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Kenzo, and L’Oréal. Starting my career at Dior set an incredibly high standard for creativity, craftsmanship, and execution—values that continue to guide my work today. Through Marianne Consulting, I bring that same level of strategic thinking and design excellence to projects ranging from retail concepts and brand environments to experiential spaces and design research.

I specialize in retail design, experiential environments, brand strategy, spatial storytelling, and concept development. My work is driven by the belief that architecture and design are powerful tools for creating emotional connections and meaningful experiences.

What I am most proud of is not a particular project or brand, but the relationships I have built over the years. I have been fortunate to develop a network of clients and collaborators who value integrity, trust, and long-term partnerships. For me, those relationships are the true measure of success.

Marianne Consulting is built on creativity, curiosity, and a commitment to excellence. Every project is approached as an opportunity to tell a story, create value, and design experiences that leave a lasting impression.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
As a designer, I have always believed that inspiration comes from being curious about the world around us. More than any app, book, or podcast, travel has been my greatest source of creativity. Experiencing different cultures, cities, architectures, landscapes, and ways of life constantly challenges my perspective and fuels new ideas.

I try to approach life as a sponge, absorbing inspiration from as many sources as possible. Art, architecture, fashion, photography, film, music, literature, and even everyday observations all play a role in my creative process. Some of my best ideas have come from wandering through museums, exploring unfamiliar neighborhoods, visiting exhibitions, or simply observing how people interact with spaces.

I do read extensively for both my professional practice and academic research, but I believe creativity thrives when we remain open and engaged with the world. For me, curiosity is the most valuable resource, and travel is the catalyst that keeps that curiosity alive.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.marianne.work/