Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Palette Generator


I attempted the palette generator for inspiration using a photo of my sister and her husband at their wedding in the mountains.  I loved the color palette that was generated with the pale greens, grays, blues, and pinks.  These colors will surely inspire a soothing retail space.

Monday, August 31, 2009

Case Study: Retail Material Investigation



































1. On Saturday, my roommate and I took a trip to the mall.  Upon entering the mall, I started to look for stores with unique lighting or material methods and The Body Shop was the first store that caught my eye.  The woodwork around the store entrance and the shelves along the perimeter of the store are painted green as this is a signature color for the company.  The materials used in the store were more natural like bamboo, painted wood, linen, woven grass and green and white stone tile flooring.  The Body Shop also made use of an image of grass that was printed and attached to the tops of several display areas giving a natural but modern feel to the store.  Color was brought to the store mainly through the products themselves.  The lotions and soaps were stacked neatly and created a rainbow of color across the wall.


















2. The second store I went into was Brookstone.  I love the modern yet warm feel to the store with the use of the medium toned wood and exposed metal framing.  The store is appropriately more industrial as they are selling home electronics. The use of light in the store was noteworthy as well with the recessed and track lighting and especially on the store front with a backlight on the metallic logo.
































3.  My final case study at the mall was PacSun.  I had never been in a PacSun before, but I was told by an employee that they had been newly redesigned.  The color scheme was blue and orange on the walls representing their surfer-style clothing well.  The floors were a stained concrete with an orange tint.  All of the clothing racks and shelves were metal and dark wood giving the store a more rugged feel.  PacSun also utilized lighting for wayfinding in an interesting way by hanging a large, orange pendant lamp over the cashier's counter at the far end of the store.




























4.  Although I have not been in a Lacoste store recently, I have been to the one in the Southpark Mall in Charlotte.  I mainly love Lacoste for their silly photos on their website with their jumping models because they always make me smile.  However, I think their store materials are something to consider as well.  In Charlotte, the Lacoste store is smaller and more narrow.  The whole store is done in a white plastic that is a bit reflective and very sleek.  In the store front pictured above, they made use of a shiny metal for the logo and the supports for the display tables.



























5.  Similar to Lacoste, I have not been in a Kate Spade store recently but there is one in Charlotte as well that I have been to in the past.  The store front is in green, pushing off of the wall slightly making it stand out and Kate Spade New York is written simply on the green contrasting in white.  Most of the lighting in the store is recessed in the shelves while the rest of the store is dimly lit to put the focus on the handbags.  Kate Spade designs bright and colorful bags with lots of bold prints, so the white store contrasts the products well directing the shopper's eye to the merchandise.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

A Product, A Designer, and A Space


This is a wire pendant light by Green and Graham design.  I thought the wire design would create interesting shadow patterns on the walls and create for an inspiring space.  I also liked the open design exposing the bulb allowing for optimal light emitted




This is an installation by Dale Chihuly, an inspiring artist who works with blown glass shapes and lighting to create unique works of art.  I chose this image for its surprising reflections and shadows casted on the wall.  The blown glass shapes are apparently backlit creating a dramatic effect on the space.




I found this image of an outdoor mall space with a tent-like covering to create an interesting lighting effect.  The white material gives the illusion that it is still bright outside, distracting shoppers from noticing the real color of the sky.
This may be a strategy by the mall to encourage shopping late into the day.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Object of Persuasion













This is a poster I made in photoshop for a dining room table I designed earlier in the year.  I wanted to emphasize the long lines of the table by orienting the poster horizontally and utilizing a photo of my table that focused on the linear aspect of the design.  The word 'lineage' refers to the linear design of the table including the stainless steel strip running down the center of the table top.  However, I also chose the word 'lineage' because it also relates to a timeline or family heritage.  This, I thought, was an important message to send to the potential buyers because the warmth of the distressed wood as well as the familial aspect of the name remind people of the large gatherings that could take place around such a table.  The text in the poster is one straight line to again emphasize the linear design of the table and it further explains the design of the table.  I also included some line drawings at the top of the poster to illustrate that the table can be pulled apart to make two seperate tables to meet the needs of different families and their homes.

Friday, May 8, 2009

Hipster Haven: Urban Planes


Presentation Board
Materials ModelSketch ModelStair Model

Loft PlanReflected Ceiling Plan
Floor Plan
East Wall Section
North Wall Section
Detailed Wall Section
Orthographic View of StairsThe apartment complex Jennifer and I designed focused on apartments that fit together like puzzle pieces. We wanted to create something different than the usual rectangular spaces giving the complex a selling point. For my individual apartment design, I stuck with this concept and utilized a boardwalk to direct circulation in the space. It also helped to break up the space in a unique way, rather than using walls. On the ceiling, the boardwalk is reflected using a row of skylights pushed up into the ceiling. I made use of more sustainable materials such as Lyptus wood, Ice Stone for the countertops, and the original concrete floors. This space is ideal for a couple of the x and y generation.