GLOBAL RETAIL ∙ HIGH-VOLUME PROGRAMS
Outdoor Furniture for Global Retail
Developed for one of the world’s largest retailers, this collection demonstrates how thoughtful product architecture can support international launch, long-term retail performance, and continuous evolution.
overview
Designed for Costco's global network.
Still running.
Rafael began as a 5-piece outdoor seating collection — two chairs, two ottomans, and a side table — developed for global placement at Costco. Built around an all-aluminum frame, synthetic wicker, multi-step finish, and Sunbrella fabrics, the collection offered a value proposition calibrated to one of the world's most demanding retail environments. It launched in 2018 across seven international Costco markets and has remained commercially active ever since — growing to 7 pieces and continuing into its eighth year of retail placement.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Costco operates with a consistent commercial logic: high quality at a price that justifies volume. The opportunity was to develop a collection that could satisfy both sides of that equation — well-designed and well-made, but built to perform at Costco's retail price and scale. Getting there required the right materials, the right construction approach, and a design language that would read clearly across markets with very different consumer preferences.
01 • collection
Designed to perform at price.
The collection was built around all-aluminum construction — lightweight, durable, and consistent across production runs. Synthetic wicker gave the frames warmth and visual texture without the maintenance concerns of natural rattan. Sunbrella fabrics brought performance credibility to the soft-goods program. The multi-step aluminum finish was developed to give the frames depth and residential character at a price point where quality signals matter most.
The result was a collection that looked and felt more considered than its price suggested — which is exactly what a Costco customer responds to.
At Costco, the price point is fixed. The quality has to earn it.
COLLECTION
Designed for Costco's value equation: quality that performs at a demanding retail price, across outdoor environments and markets.
GLOBAL RETAIL
A single product architecture built to work across seven international markets — different consumer preferences, one coherent collection.
refresh
Color, material, and soft-goods updates introduced each cycle to keep the collection current without changing the design foundation.
longevity
A 5-piece program that grew to 7 and has remained in active commercial placement for eight years.
02 • Global Retail
Built for multiple markets at once.
Launching simultaneously across Costco UK, Spain, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan required more than a well-designed product. Material specifications, colorways, proportions, and soft-goods selection all had to work across markets with different aesthetic preferences, outdoor environments, and living contexts. The collection was developed with that range in mind — a design language neutral enough to travel, and a specification robust enough to perform wherever it landed.
03 • longevity
Eight years of continuous retail placement.
Rafael has remained in active commercial placement since 2018. The program grew from its original 5-piece assortment to 7 with the addition of a sofa and coffee table — an expansion driven by commercial performance, not planned from the start. Refreshes have been introduced through color and material updates: wicker colorways, frame finishes, and Sunbrella fabric selections updated to keep the collection current without altering the underlying product architecture.
Longevity comes from separating what changes — color, material, finish — from what stays.
COMMERCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
Design decisions evaluated through global retail requirements.
Costco value proposition
Designed to meet the quality expectations of a global Costco customer at a demanding retail price.
Material specification
All-aluminum construction, synthetic wicker, and Sunbrella fabrics selected for cross-market performance and consumer appeal.
Multi-market launch
Colorways, proportions, and soft goods developed to work across seven international markets simultaneously.
Commercial longevity
Refreshed through color and material updates; expanded to 7 pieces based on retail performance. Still active in 2026.
CONTINUE EXPLORING
role ∙ 2016-2020
Director of Product Design & Development
MARKET
Costco · Global Retail &
E-Commerce
scope
Concept Through Production & Multi-Year Refresh
reach
7 International Markets ·
8 Years in Retail