The Branch Museum of Design in Richmond, Virginia, has opened a new exhibition titled “Imagining Best Products,” which revisits the radical architectural and graphic designs of the defunct catalog showroom retailer Best Products. Founded in 1957 by Frances and Sydney Lewis, the company commissioned experimental storefronts from architect James Wines and the firm SITE, creating iconic “anti-buildings” that challenged commercial architecture. The show features architectural drawings, models, photographs, sketches, and printed materials, and runs through June 21, 2026.
The exhibition matters because it reexamines a largely overlooked chapter in American design history, highlighting how a regional retailer became an international touchstone for architectural innovation. By bringing these designs back into public view, the museum underscores the lasting influence of Best Products on contemporary architecture and graphic design, while also reconnecting local audiences with a significant piece of Richmond’s cultural legacy.