In this issue, we’re covering big trends, big ideas, and providing some important case studies. And, in doing so, we’re also giving you a sneak peek at what you can expect from restaurant development + design magazine as it continues to evolve into 2026.
You see, the rd+d team has been fielding reader surveys, talking to relevant business partners, and looking at the best consumer magazines and websites all year to uncover ways to be more readable, relevant and useful to you.
In surveys, readers told us that they wanted case studies, forecasting and details on design trends they could keep and refer to as needed. And I hope you see that influence reflected in our table of contents this issue where we have multiple trend-focused articles that allow readers to share knowledge and benchmarks with each other.
Readers told us they still want the print magazine, but, for the first time in a survey, told us they also want more from our website and more in-person and virtual events. Specifically, they asked for more webinars, more restaurant design tours, and a greater focus on limited-service restaurants like QSRs and fast casuals.
After taking all that into account during many meetings over the summer, we made the decision to move to a quarterly print publication, each with a specific theme that will provide lasting insights. Readers crave content worthy of permanent ownership, and our goal is to make each issue valuable, collectible and relevant enough to sit proudly on your desk all year long — and hopefully longer.
We’re also adding an Events page (see our most recent Tour the Trends in Chicago here) to help readers keep up with important industry touchpoints.
We’re evolving our approach to our website in 2026 to include more scalable designs as well as aspirational, one-of-a-kind spaces. I’ll host a minimum of four free webinars next year that tie into our issue’s themes. And, even before that, I’ll be hosting a Restaurant of the Future webinar on December 9. Please register for that at rddmag.com.
Thank you so much if you responded to any of our surveys this year. We’ll continue to bring you everything you enjoy about this magazine in 2026 — and hopefully even more — in person and online.
Until next year,
Rebecca
