A competition that asked Watford’s young citizens to ‘imagine what shopping will look like 50 years from now’ has attracted hundreds of entries – and they’re adorable!

The Watford Observer and intu Watford teamed up to invite pupils from local schools to get creative over the summer and envisage the future of retail by 2068. Children were asked to submit a drawing and up to 100 words about their idea.

Kiana age 11, from Croxley Danes School, has been announced as the winner thanks to her brilliantly futuristic entry. Kiana’s vision is a pollution-free world where “the shops are portals”, customer ratings are displayed on the signage outside and “there is a train to take you to the second floor”. She will receive a £200 intu Gift Card to spend at intu Watford, plus a further £200 intu Gift Card for her school, Croxley Danes.

It was a tough call, with imaginative entries coming in from across the town. Creative ideas included:

  • “There will be flying cars and moveable floors,” Adya, 10
  • “The shopping centre will look like a spaceship with people on hoverboards,” James, 3
  • “Shopping will be sent to a collection desk by conveyor belt, so no one has to carry anything,” A.Lee, 7
  • “You can just point to things and buy them,” Ciara, 10
  • “Shoppers will scuba dive for their bargains,” Lily, 6
  • “There will be consoles around the centre where you order Starbucks and drones drop off the coffee to you,” Jamirez, 5

“It’s been great to hear all these wonderful ideas, which have definitely given us some food for thought!” says Vicki Costello, general manager at intu Watford. “Retail is moving so fast and this collaboration with the Watford Observer is a great way to get the younger generation thinking creatively about where it could go next!”

Diamond age 10, from Harlyn Primary School, came in second place with her vision of a shopping centre in the clouds. She wrote: “The light is from the sun, and you can see planets, and people float.” Pamela Okelo, age nine, from Stanborough Primary School, came in third place for her colourful and creative entry, complete with a futuristic play centre for kids to use while their parents shop. The runners-up will both receive a £50 intu Gift Card.

The competition was created to celebrate the £180m development of intu Watford – the future of shopping in the region, which will see 13 new retailers including the three-storey Debenhams which opened its doors last month, plus 11 new restaurants, an IMAX Cineworld and a Hollywood Bowl.