DG Pilot

Union Depot | St. Paul, MN

Commercial retail design by West Design for DG Pilot in St. Paul, featuring a Twins apparel mannequin and blue tiered display against historic brick walls.

The Creative Brief

DG Pilot built its reputation as a specialty aviation model store — a niche destination with a devoted following and a strong identity. When the store relocated into Union Depot, the retail space nearly tripled in size, creating an opportunity to evolve the concept without abandoning what made it special.

The challenge: expand into a broader retail experience, travel-inspired gifts, local goods, and carefully curated finds, while staying true to the aviation roots that defined the brand. The new space needed to speak to both commuters passing through and the Lowertown neighborhood beyond the depot's doors.

The Results

The finished store blends aviation heritage, travel energy, and local character into a single cohesive environment. Custom travel icon graphics animate the space with a sense of motion, while rustic wood fixtures and wrought iron details feel at home in the historic depot setting. Deliberate color moments invite exploration without competing with the merchandise, and clearly zoned retail areas give each category room to breathe while keeping the experience unified.

DG Pilot's new home honors where it started — and makes space for where it's going.

Before & After

Before retail design: Original DG Pilot space with bare brick walls and a basic white checkout desk prior to renovation.
After retail design by West Design: Custom black DG Pilot cash wrap featuring an airplane graphic and globe accents in St. Paul.
After visual merchandising by West Design: Organized black retail shelving displaying aviation models at DG Pilot Union Depot.
Before visual merchandising: Disorganized DG Pilot storage area with wire racks and cluttered boxes against a brick wall.

The Final Walkthrough

  • Tuskegee Airmen apparel display at DG Pilot by West Design, featuring mannequins, vintage trunks, and airplane seats in St. Paul.
  • Retail merchandising by West Design for DG Pilot, showcasing local goods, pantry items, and travel gifts in a historic brick space.
  • Visual merchandising display at DG Pilot Union Depot featuring a round table with curated travel gifts and airplane wall graphics.
  • DG Pilot retail display by West Design featuring gourmet food gifts and pantry items on black industrial shelving in St. Paul.
  • Visual merchandising by West Design for DG Pilot featuring boxed aviation model kits on black retail shelving against exposed brick.
  • DG Pilot retail store layout by West Design at Union Depot, showing wood floors, historic brick walls, a beverage cooler, and checkout desk.
  • West Design visual merchandising display for DG Pilot featuring a Lake Mode apparel mannequin and blue retail shelving with local gifts.
  • DG Pilot retail store design by West Design at Union Depot, showcasing large arched windows, brick walls, and a wooden merchandise table.
  • Visual merchandising at DG Pilot by West Design featuring a travel-themed gallery wall and postcard display racks against historic brick.
  • DG Pilot retail display by West Design featuring St. Paul mugs and local merchandise set against large historic arched windows.
  • Visual merchandising by West Design for DG Pilot, showcasing a round table with curated local goods and pantry items in Union Depot.
  • Aviation model kits displayed on black retail shelving against an exposed brick wall at the DG Pilot store by West Design.
  • DG Pilot visual merchandising by West Design featuring aviation apparel mannequins, vintage trunks, and bags against historic brick walls.
  • Travel retail display at DG Pilot by West Design featuring an Escape tote bag, local goods, and clocks in front of arched Union Depot windows.
  • Retail design for DG Pilot at Union Depot by West Design showing a curved black desk, blue display shelving, and historic brick architecture.
Previous

Historic Stair Museum
Next

Choo Choo Bob's