Design Development One

The concept of "Broadcast" is about generating interest in select SEPHORA products. "Broadcast" spoke to me as a concept because I see it as rays that break off from an origin point to influence their environment in various ways. I imagine the pop up store reaching out to recreational shoppers while still pointing them to companion SEPHORA stores nearby. Broadcast rings within a radar system floating out are seemingly weightless, much like the way makeup should make one feel. The shop is open with large mannequins that show the products in theatrical and provocative ways so as to engage the shopper in an entertaining experience. The openness of the layout allows customers to easily get the big idea of what the space is about as well as enabling easy access to the products.

Merchandise is to be out and open for testing. The mannequins stretch out gesturing for their products to be tested. Client/customers enter from all sides as the store is located along major walking throughways. The cash wrap and beauty station are located next to each other as they are both "grounded" with a major column. Products will be displayed with the mannequins, columns, as well as curtain units that travel along tracks underneath the main structure's broadcast rings.

The space will be primarily white with black accents and more minimal red accents. The red will be used to play up key elements such as the mannequins and column components. The heavy use of white is broken up through the use of different textured and patterned materials. White Kirei wood will is used in horizontal applications as its visual texture is very layered much like the SEPHORA brand design.

Schematic Design : SEPHORA BROADCAST

SEPHORA BROADCAST is a pop up retail installation that functions as a companion store to nearby SEPHORA stores. It serves to broadcast popular and anticipated products by SEPHORA and its partners within the framework of theatricality and drama.

Broadcast is made up of modular column units arranged in a cardinal orientation. The columns are dedicated to the showcasing of select fragrance, skincare, color, and hair products. The theatrical nature of SEPHORA’s composition extends to the illuminated cast members who serve as display/beauty station units. The illuminated cast members sport the products in a provocative manner, providing a fresh experience for the consumer/ client.

Broadcast travels to popular outdoor locations around Miami, Fl. rife with color and liveliness. As an outdoor pavilion, Broadcast is open and inviting to the public.

Geeked Out Over Battlestar Galactica

I recently got a Netflix account, and curiously introduced myself to Battlestar Galactica. I was instantly hooked. The character development and branching story lines are top notch.

I really got into the D'Anna Biers character (played by Lucy Lawless) . She's at times very solemn contemplating her humanity. I wanted to capture the cold machine that exists despite her discovery of human emotions.

I also liked Lt. Shaw from the "Razor" spin off. She's cool because she was such a badass. The Aussie accent helped too!

Chroma Station Perspectives

Above are our perspectives of our design for the Greensboro, NC Greenway project. As you can see we brought the energy from the outside bands into the interior of the railroad overpass with the lighting. The panels are backlit with fluorescent bulbs. In key places we also added LED spotlights to emphasize the surging energy. We really wanted to recharge the cyclist or runner as they make their way through the space!

Downtown Greenway: Chroma Station

"Chroma Station" is the name we have given our design for the greenway. I did a marker rendering of our initial design ideas for the underpass space. Because we are at the intersection of major throughways we decided to focus on tracks, rails, and spanning bands as a metaphor for the construction of Greensboro. The colorful bands span the parkway and then integrate with the underpass to build its components. The trail like the bands expands and contracts to give runners, cyclists, and the like a sense of progression as they move through the greenway.

Greensboro, NC Downtown Greenway

Our current group project is to design a section of the downtown Greensboro, NC Greenway. My group members are Nacarra Lesane and Nicole Fowler. Our section contains a railroad overpass along with trail/ recreational park space extending from each end. We are to design a trail from the Lee street end through the underpass to the Spring Garden Street end. Because our section intersects the railroad and major roads such as Freeman Mill, Lee, and Spring Garden, we have decided to look at motion and progression as conceptual ideas for beginning design.

Response to Light Revealing Experience

image courtesy of Horiki Architecture

Though light has various cultural meanings, most regard it as a liberating entity. Religiously and culturally we recognize light as a way out of plight. Most cultures are very structured with very deliberate class systems and architecture. Light is the eternity beyond order; the calm disorder that holds a balance. Light in architecture can be used to expand compressed spaces and provide grandeur to large spaces that capture it. Light can extend long corridors, providing a visual destination or focal glow. This type of space has a very distinct character or genius loci, due to the light and dark balance.

Light and color seem to serve a similar purpose both in categorizing space and complementing each other. Light in tandem with the colors/materials of a space establishes the genius loci. Materials are now manufactured for their color and textural qualities in unison with light.

Water elements in environmental design contain a sense of infinity as they not only reflect the sky but also provide a new interpretation through their ripples. Our attraction extends to observing ourselves in the water through a reverse reflection. Water is constantly changing and changing our environment. When an environment is in constant flux, it resists becoming dull. Life is connected to water; life is connected to light.

Trees provide a rhythm of dark and light through the silhouettes of vertical stalks as well as the filtering through leaves. Trees paint the ground with shadows that are exaggerated by surrounding pools of light. Courtyards within large structures seem to provide the same effect; an eternal light pool within the confines of a structure and roof.

The reading was also very revealing on how light is battled in warm climates while welcomed in cool climates. Regions to the north often have codes built into their architectural design that dictate a workspace’s connection to natural light and surroundings. Regions to the south must often employ special sheathing and window treatments to filter the light.