week ten, part two | OPENING THE HATCH

image by vaXine

Now that you've freed your mind via writing, you are to continue 'hatching' your ideas through sketches. Consider the many scales at which your concept can be present -- including, but not limited to : accent lighting; ambient lighting; color; ceilings; entryways; floor fixtures; floor layout; in-store displays; joints and details; level changes; materials; product adjacencies; promotional graphics; props; store facade; signage; texture; wall fixtures; window displays...

For Wednesday, November 4 [at 1 pm], illustrate your ideas about these many facets and more by taking us on a guided pictorial tour through your space via a minimum of 10 images on your blog. In this series of annotated and rendered perspective sketches, explore light, color and materiality within The Hatchery. Use notes to speak specifically about your choices and how they reinforce your concept.

Consider this a brain dump. You can change your ideas as you go along, the key is to getting them on paper. Prior to sketching, if you have not already done so, you may find it helpful to create an inspiration board that speaks to your concept with a broader brush. The images on this board can provide much guidance in the decisions you make while sketching...including, at a most basic level, what color marker to use for what.

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Finally, among your final deliverables for The Hatchery Project will be a detailed information/inspiration folder. This exquisitely crafted anthology will reflect both the brand of your retail space and your design aesthetic from layout to size to construction. Envision this piece as something that UNCG can use in generating interest in The Hatchery, as well as a supplement of your own portfolio – something you can take with you to any job interview. You will need to make three copies of this piece (one for yourself, one for Joe Erba and one for me) so it is a good idea to consider early on how you will execute this artifact and the information you will include in it: process, drawings, specifications, inspirations, etc. One specific piece of information to be included in this folder is a CD highlighting your final proposal.

F [10.31] : a spooktacular workday
M [11.2]: Salvation Army Select
W [11.4] : Salvation Army Select, Opening the Hatch Due on Blog

week ten, part one | FREE YOUR MIND

take a tip from en vogue...

Chances are that you already know much more about how the Hatchery will take physical form than you think you do. Hidden deep within the recesses of your mind are lots of ideas waiting to get out. Your objective today is simply to release them, or in other words, free your mind!

Expanding upon your case study analyses, inspiration investigation and process thus far, spend the next hour writing a narrative that begins to speak to your conceptual framework/intent. What are the pieces you have so far? How do they work together? How do they tie back to the functions of the Hatchery? Greensboro? It may help if you approach this assignment through the eyes of guest visiting for the first time. What do they see from the time they approach the space to the time they exit with [hopefully] shopping bag in hand? Consider the entire space, but focus at length on the retail experience.

This is a free write, meaning your composition can take any shape. It must, however, be posted on your blog. At 2:30 you will read and respond to the writings of the classmate listed below and above you on the blog list. In your comments to your peers be sure to include constructive criticism that can help them in the days to come.

We will meet in the conference room at 3:00 where we will discuss the next phase of this project.

shoes on the move

When you have a moment, check out the photos Tim has kindly taken of our Salvation Army Select efforts thus far. They are filed in the drop box in the Revisioning Retail folder. Thanks Tim!

week nine, part two | BIG, BOLD, BALLSY IDEAS

The past few days have required you to think concretely. The challenge is to now take what you know and use the other side of your brain (the one we love) to think abstractly.

For the next week, let your mind wander, exploring ideas of what The Hatchery can be, with the goal of generating a plethora of ideas through models, drawings, magazine clippings, inspiration boards, blog posts, etc. Be creative. Be thoughtful. Think conceptually.

While you’ve defined a program that can serve as a guide --- do not let it fall in the way as a burden, preventing innovative solutions. It’s imperative that you begin this process outside the box as it will be much easier to reign yourself back in later than to spend the whole time working within the box’s square boundaries.

If you find that, along with your concept, comes a change in the branding of the Hatchery (as expressed by Ashley) this too is ok. Be a visionary.

F [10.23] : workday + desk crits
M [10.26] : workday + desk crits

week nine | GET WITH THE PROGRAM

'...and in last place' by Tim Norris

Eight weeks down, seven to go....  Makes your heart race a little, doesn't it?  And just like with any good competition, the speed picks up towards the end.  During the next three weeks your time will be divided between finishing up things with The Salvation Army Select and diving head first into The Hatchery.  It is imperative, now more than ever, that you balance your time in and out of class to give your best to both of these meaningful opportunities.

But on to your immediate goal : Based on the information you uncovered in week 7 | TAKING STOCK,  define the programmatic requirements for the Hatchery (with special attention to the retail, collaboration and client meetings spaces).  Over the weekend, craft a bubble diagram utilizing your best graphic skills, that reveals your thoughts regarding these needs, as well as the resulting hierarchical, spacial and adjacency considerations.  This should be posted both at your desk and on your blog.

display by last year's retail studio

For Wednesday, October 21:

Building on your initial programmatic investigation, dig deeper to uncover all the detailed information necessary to move forward in the schematic design of the Hatchery. As a general rule, think of this information as all the research that would typically belong in a formal programming document (Don't know what all that entails?  Time to do some research). Create a visual system within the studio for organizing the information you find. This system should be legible from a distance of 5 feet and speak to the project at both macro and micro levels. For this exercise, err on the side of providing too much information. As always, use your best graphic skills.  

A little tip : you may find it best to complete this phase in small groups or even as a class.

shoe box store seminar

Our studio has been invited to an IIDA sponsored Retail/Hospitality Forum event featuring a presentation by Joe Baer, founder of ZenGenius LLC. Baer's career encompasses several years of progressive and innovative leadership in the Visual Merchandising and Special Events industries. He is a creative entrepreneur and creative force.

What is the difference between Visual Merchandising and Interior Design? How can learning more about visual merchandising improve your design work and create additional opportunities for retail and service projects? Understand the basics and guiding principles of visual merchandising and improve your skills as an Interior Designer.

This information session will include a review of the Retail Industry, history, terms, trends and great examples of how retail merchandising and interior design are being used in tandem to create extraordinary retail experiences. In addition, your skills and knowledge will be put to the test with hands-on quick merchandising exercises and an exciting visual challenge.

You have two chances to attend this seminar (next week!) :

Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Triangle City Center
6:00 pm registration
6:30-8:00 pm presentation, refreshments
Cameron Village Shopping Center
Former Talbot’s Kids Store
438 Woodbern Road
Raleigh, NC 27605
RSVP: iida.nctriangle[at]gmail[dot]com

Thursday, October 15, 2009
Charlotte City Center
11:30 am registration
12:00-1:30 pm presentation, lunch
Apostrophe Lounge
1440 S. Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28203
RSVP: Erna Perelle, eperelle[at]gmail[dot]com

Cost :
$5 Student members
$10 Student non-members

RSVP's were due....well, yesterday. However, we'll talk about this in class tomorrow and if enough of you would like to attend, we'll see what we can do...

week seven | TAKING STOCK

logo by Ashley Boycher

Already have some marvelous ideas 'hatching'? Eggcellent! Store these in your mind and sketchbooks for safe keeping as we turn our attention this week to clearing up details that will shape the way we work the remainder the semester.

| precedent research |
Building from the examples Ashley noted in her presentation, you are to identify and analyze 10 environments that share qualities (in style, substance and/or theory) to that of the proposed Hatchery. As in your previous case study investigation, you should include a range of examples, both near and far. These may be traditional retail stores, galleries, museums, offices, bars, coffee shops, pop-up stores...you decide. Focus on spaces which present opportunity for flexibility. Present your findings in an organized, image-heavy, clearly-labeled [and cited] blog post.

| site visit |
Get your cameras and tape measures out! As our access to the site is limited, during this week's scheduled visit, you will need to capture as many photos as possible, as well as take detailed measurements of the space (as specified by Ashley). You are then to use this collective information to create AutoCAD and SketchUp files for the studio's use. These files are to be saved under the Revisioning Retail folder on the Drop Box.

| inventory investigation |
What products make up the Hatchery? This is an extremely important element of the design puzzle, as without this knowledge, it is impossible to sculpt a clear vision for the store. Investigate, explore, postulate. What departments on campus are likely to produce something that would be sold in the gallery? What form would these items take? Refer back to your precedent analysis: what items do other university-related shops house? Compile your ideas in an illustrated list on your blog. Consider a campus photo hunt as one way to define and illuminate this list.

All three pieces of this week's puzzle are due (in the aforementioned places) no later than 1 pm, Wednesday, October 14.

M [10.5] : ashley boycher presentation
W [10.7] : site visit : 318 South Elm
F [10.9] : work day
M [10.12] : fall break!
W [10.14] : TAKING STOCK assignment deadline