Luxury retail specialist with 15+ years of experience actualizing global visions

1. MING YUEN-SCHAT
646.431.5499 look4ming@gmail.com
Luxury retail specialist with 15+ years of experience actualizing global visions
Versatile professional with a broad array of skills and experiences. Skilled in multiple CAD software
programs, Artlantis 3D rendering, Adobe Creative Suite, and Microsoft Office. Master of Architecture
from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Area of expertise include:
• Prototype Design and
Design Concepts
• Aesthetic Vision and
Strategies
• Visual Merchandising
• Construction and Millwork
Details
• Project Management
• System Building and Tool
Creation
• Competitive Intelligence
• Team Building and
Leadership
Professional/Artistic Experience
FormNdesign 2013 - Present
Architectural and Store Design Consulting Services
Specializing in generating ideas, analyzing and developing strategies and procedures, store
planning, and visual merchandizing for retail environments. Expertise includes concept generation
and design, prototype creation, mood boards, presentations, millwork and fixtures designs, technical
shop drawings and construction drawings, site surveys, branding, merchandizing with global
awareness. Clients include Shiseido Cosmetic Group, AtelierFAR, and Philosophy Skincare. Recent
projects include concept development of a unique department store prototype for the Qingdao King
King Group, China, and long-term operational plans for project management for proposed rollout of
35 jewelry stores for APM Monaco.
Ming’s Monsters 2011 – Present
Artist, Owner, Sole Proprietor
Design and produce handmade, luxury ceramics. Functional art for the home. Multiple firing styles.
Selected for high-end museum and gallery shows, including Philadelphia Museum, Brooklyn
Museum, Craft Boston, Bruce Museum, Lyndhurst Mansion, and Lincoln Center. Custom pieces
commissioned for restaurant use by La Fonda Del Sol Restaurant on Park Avenue. Represented by
ABC Carpet and Homes, and The Guild at William and Roman. www.mingsmonsters.com

2. Brooklyn landmarked brownstone buildout 2011 – 2013
Owner/ Architect
Designed and managed full gut renovation and building addition to brownstone home in Landmark
Preservation District in Brooklyn, New York. Included aspects of green design.
• Design concept, including structural alterations, interior design and finishes.
• Proposal presentation to Landmark Preservation Commission.
• Submission of all documents to Department of Buildings and Landmark Preservation
Commission.
• Managed build outs and provided all necessary drawings to construction crews through hand
sketch or architectural drawings.
• Collaborated with structural engineer, expeditor and contractor to obtain building permits.
• Managed all aspect of sign-offs.
L Brands
Director of Store Planning, International 2009 – 2011
Created, developed and launched the innovative design for International Victoria’s Secret Travel and
Tourism store concept. Initial tiered growth strategy included the opening of 18 stores that generated
over 50 million USD in profit. With the success of initial stores, worked closely with CEO and EVP to
develop and establish global store design direction and procedures to allow projected growth rate of
100 stores per year.
• Provided strategic direction from ideation to prototype to execution. Established prototype
vision and branding, created global fixture millwork design and visual strategy.
• Provided end-to-end leadership while collaborating with senior management and key
stakeholders to rapidly open the Travel and Tourism stores globally.
• Converted prototype design package to roll-out template with universal millwork/ furniture
details.
• Created scalable modular system and millwork to roll-out into Travel Retailing environment in
airports internationally and plan for the regional growth.
• Developed and re-engineered innovative design flat pack concept to ensure competitive on-
site installation in a fast-paced environment. This re-engineered package reduced fixture
installation time by approximately 70% from average of 3 weeks to 3 days.
• Drafted millwork details and established the international store opening templates.
• Negotiated construction budgets, contract and timelines.
• Generated reports to analyze budget and forecast for SD&C internal use.
• Hired and supervised four direct reports in the new International Travel and Tourism
department.
• Educated and traveled with direct reports to store openings to inspect construction and
generate punch lists.

3. • Introduced global concept with sensitivity to unique and diverse regional cultures and local
construction practices.
Director of Store Planning, Prototype Design 2005 – 2008
Served as point person for prototype design in domestic Victoria’s Secret Beauty franchise and
overall strategy within Victoria’s Secret Brand. Liaised between Beauty Visual Merchandising and
Store Planning teams on best practices, including concept design, fixture design, space planning,
and integration of visual, marketing and merchandising needs.
• Responsible for approval of Beauty cosmetic fixture millwork, plan and production drawings
from prototype to roll-out, including review of all shop drawings and approval final mock-up
prior to full production.
• Patent holder for cosmetic fixture.
• Approval of store templates and design guidelines for standard store roll-out (approx. 1000
stores fleetwide).
• Participated in weekly meeting and worked closely with SD&C departments, including
managing designers, purchasing agents and project managers, to ensure project flow.
• Partnered with Sales and Marketing to design and support the emerging Duty Free border
stores and Military Store Initiatives.
• Served as point person for all Duty Free emerging markets with venders and shopfitters, to
review all shop drawings, and approve construction and punch lists.
• Advised Sales and Marketing team on space selection and negotiation, and assisted with
strategies on how to translate Brand merchandising priorities to new environments and new
fixtures.
• Liaised with key decision-making divisions within the L Brands including the Victoria’s Secret
Beauty Brand, Store Design & Construction, and Victoria’s Secret Megabrand.
• Developed and translated Victoria’s Secret Beauty guiding principles, store plan and fixture
requirements; articulated priorities for Victoria’s Secret Beauty to maintain Brand identity and
equity.
Clinique
Executive Director of International Store Design 2000 – 2005
Collaborated with Clinique Global VP to set Regional guidelines and Brand aesthetics and
maintained regional relations with SDVM team. Supervised all Clinique store design and openings in
Latin America, Eastern and Western Europe, Middle East and Africa. Annual turnover exceeded 150
stores.
• Led Regional Visual Merchandising and Store Design teams on global directives; built and
maintained synergy with corporate affiliate design/management teams and design teams;
assessed the integrity and completeness of design requests from Global and International.

4. • Partnered with Europe Visual Merchandising to set global and regional guidelines to ensure
consistency with brand aesthetics, retail and business priorities and seasonal trends.
• Partnered with local markets, identified needs and developed store designs, planning and
merchandising solutions.
• Provided strategic direction to all vendors in keeping with global brand identity and brand
equity.
Visual Merchandising/Store Design Manager Corporate Travel Retailing, Americas 1998 – 2000
• Established Visual Merchandising and Store Design Department in Miami to service
Americas.
• Collaborated with the Travel Retail marketing team and global brands to develop a continuously
updated strategy for quarterly campaigns on-counter by-program.
• Developed Travel Retail Americas regions with customized virtual merchandising guidelines for
both new store openings and existing store environments.
• Implemented corporate merchandising strategies, image concepts and fixture designs for all
Estée Lauder Company brands, including Estée Lauder, Clinique, Aramis, Tommy, etc.
• Institutionalized Open-Sell system throughout the Americas Division by developing
guidelines, educating area sales managers and streamlining delivery and installation.
• Responsible for troubleshooting all merchandising and store design issues for Americas
Travel Retailing accounts.
• Developed and implemented merchandising guidelines and generated planograms.
• Reviewed shop drawings and inspected all construction.
• On-site merchandising and creation of final store punch lists.
• Liaised between New York headquarters and Miami office for merchandising and store
design.
• Invited and reviewed bids from shopfitters, contractors and firms, familiarized them with
standards and standard details for each brand, and generated a standardized punch list for
Travel Retailing of Americas.
• Established incremental payment and billing procedures for shopfitters’ expenses and capital
spending.
Estée Lauder International
Creative/Technical Consultant, Visual Merchandising 1994 – 1998
• Developed new merchandising strategies, image concepts and guidelines for Open-Sell
system in international markets.
• Produced planogram guidelines for various store types.
• Provided assistance and technical support to Executive Director of Visual Merchandising.
• Developed design and mock-up of trend testers.
• Initial hands-on installation of prototype displays.

5. Education
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1991 – 1994
Cambridge, Massachusetts
• Master of Architecture
Massachusetts College of Art 1985 – 1988
Boston, Massachusetts
• Bachelor of Fine Arts with honors
• Architecture Design Honors
• Recipient of Art School Associates Trust Fund Scholarship
Personal Background
Born in Taiwan, grew up in New Jersey and Hawaii, I have traveled extensively and am comfortable in
many different environments. Fluent in English, Mandarin and Taiwanese.