When lululemon opened their new store in Nanjing, they wanted more than a splash of colour on the walls. They wanted a statement…one that captures the city’s pulse and reflects how movement lives in the city, across every park, lake, and mountain path.

So, we thought: Let’s design an art installation throughout the store that maps the Nanjing city through motion?

The challenge? Turn five blank walls into a connected, meaningful experience. One that honours lululemon’s global identity while remaining deeply rooted in the rhythms of Nanjing.

We began by asking one simple question: How does Nanjing move?

Our insights led to three conceptual directions that grounded the creative approach:

(1) Sporty Nanjing – celebrating movement as ritual, from morning Tai Chi to weekend hikes.

(2) Nature as a Playground – seeing the city’s lakes and mountains as sites of flow, energy, and joy.

(3) Into the Void – using portals to represent transitions, between spaces, scenes, and states of mind.

These directions helped us go beyond the visual surface, shaping how we interpret the city’s rhythm and energy. Through on-the-ground research and cultural immersion, we identified four local landmarks that physically and emotionally mapped these ideas:

(1) Mochou Lake – known for paddle sports and dragon boat racing.

(2) Purple Mountain – a symbol of endurance and elevation, with its iconic cable cars.

(3) Xuanwu Lake – where kites dance and people gather for everyday movement.

(4) Jiming Temple – a place of quiet meditation and inner stillness.

Each direction became an abstract “island” in the art design. We designed a visual story that is self-contained yet interconnected scenes visualising a moment, a mood, or a movement. These islands were linked by stylised river lines representing the Yangtze and Qinhuai, creating a visual spine across the five walls.

Additional design details include:

– lululemon’s signature “love notes” in English and Chinese, offering gentle affirmations in unexpected places.

– A subtle Yoga figure bringing a moment of peace and calm; a nod to wisdom, balance, and inner strength.

– Local birds and flora woven into the artwork as subtle nods to place

Each wall is a chapter in motion:

– Dragon boats slice across water at Mochou Lake

– Mountain runs rise and fall through Purple Mountain

– Kites catch wind above Xuanwu Lake’s community parks

– Stillness and breath come to life in the temple gardens

The rivers flow continuously, guiding guests along the journey. Portals soften the transitions, and a bold, brand-aligned palette gives the whole mural energy and coherence.

The result? Five walls. One space. One fluid, immersive story.

This art installation activates lululemon’s store, and also speaks the city’s language.

As guests ascend the stairs, the story unfolds around them, showcasing paddle strokes, cable cars, flying kites, and temple stillness. Each turn reveals a new layer of how the city moves.

It’s Nanjing in motion. Captured as a living, breathing visual experience.