Tulane students take the stage at Shop! MarketPlace 2026
May 12, 2026
BY rawad nahhas
Four Tulane School of Architecture and Built Environment students joined Meghan Saas, Professor of Practice in Design, on stage at Shop! MarketPlace in New Orleans on May 6 for a panel titled "Watch This Space: Young Designers Weigh in on What's Next." The annual retail design industry conference brings together professionals from across the country to explore the future of in-store experience and retail environments.
The panel featured Abbas Ghaffari (M.Arch *26), Delaram Khoshhal (M.Arch *26), Cole Hildebrandt (BA Design '26), and Estefania Cardona Forero (BA Design and BS Marketing '26). Together, they offered industry professionals a fresh perspective on how retail spaces are evolving and what the next generation of designers hopes to see from the field in the years ahead.
Beyond the panel, the students had the opportunity to learn about the many ways designers contribute to the retail industry, connect with practitioners eager to hear their perspectives, and meet alumnus Kraig Kessel (M.Arch '86). The connections made at the conference proved immediately meaningful — one student received an internship offer on the spot from a professional they met at the event.
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