Lança, LuísLoução, Maria Dulce2013Lança , L & Loução , M D 2013 , ' Retail Design. Do we need a project instrument or a project tool? ' , Revista Lusófona de Arquitectura e Educação .1646-6756Revista Lusófona de Arquitectura e EducaçãoIn this communication we write about the evolution of the study of the design tools that support the methodological infrastructure of the Interior Design and Architecture professional practice with special regard to the tools mostly used by Retail Design. We intend to bring forward the concept that the study of the different design artifacts allow us to change the focus from the final product into the activities involved in its design process through a clarification of their participating role in the creative process. The common design tools used in design as the sketch and the physical scale model may in a near future evolve as instruments that incorporate the ability to answer the retail design special needs allowing processes of delegation, evaluation and control that characterize the instruments in other human activities. In our conclusion we offer some insights for future development of the research around this problem space.application/pdfengopenAccessARQUITETURACOMÉRCIO RETALHISTADESIGN ARQUITETÓNICOPROJETOS ARQUITETÓNICOSARCHITECTURERETAIL TRADEARCHITECTURAL DESIGNARCHITECTURE PROJECTSarticle