Money WondersPlay

Spending & BudgetingRetail Design

The Gruen Transfer

Malls are designed to make you forget why you came

The man who invented the shopping mall ended up hating it. His name stuck to the trick that makes you wander.

You'll find out

  • Who designed the first enclosed mall
  • What the Gruen transfer is
  • Why its inventor turned against it

Why it matters

A store's layout is designed long before you walk in. Seeing the design is half of not following it.

About 3 min6 interactive slides · 5 questionsLesson 36 · Zone 4

Play this lesson

Free to play in your browser or on iPhone

More in this zone

  1. 28BudgetingNeeds, Wants and the Gray ZoneRent is a need. A bigger apartment might not be
  2. 29BudgetingThe 50/30/20 BudgetHalf for needs, a third for wants, a fifth for the future
  3. 30PricingWhy Prices End in .99$4.99 feels a lot cheaper than $5.00
  4. 31Recurring CostsThe Subscriptions That Never SleepSmall monthly charges add up to a big yearly bill
  5. 32Spending PsychologyThe Pain of PayingCards hurt less than cash, so we spend more
  6. 33Delayed GratificationThe Marshmallow TestKids offered one treat now or two later showed how hard waiting is, and later studies found the setting matters as much as willpower
  7. 34Smart SpendingCost Per UseA $200 coat you wear daily can cost less than a $40 one you never do
  8. 35BudgetingWhere Did My Month Go?Your spending, drawn as a picture