Set Design & Creative Retail Displays

Here’s a short round up of a few retail displays in and around New York, enjoy!

Aritzia: I find myself snapping Aritzia’s windows just as much as Anthopologie’s. From a creative perspective, they’re just as interesting, though carefully minimalist. Here the retail team devised 3D cardboard hexagons covered in a lux marbling technique.

Anthropologie: These in-store ornaments resemble mythical suns and the spirograph application of the rubber bands add a fascinating touch. These could easily be a DIY project to do at home.

Hugo Boss: This unisex window represents the gift-giving season in a subtle, stately way: a swing of gift boxes constructed together gets the point across after a sidewalk double-take.

Best Pizza: This Williamsburg Pizza shop has crowd sourced their wall art, using customer drawings to make a fabulous and familiar texture. It’s delightful to get lost in the illustrations while getting a late night slice.

November 20, 2013 | By: Shayna Kulik

Patriotic Merchandising in Soho

When brands open shop in Soho, on Fifth Ave, Madison or Broadway, they’ve arrived (in a financial sense). Whether or not the flagship sales support the rent, the physical presence represents retail grandeur – and advertising in a way. Here, we have Broadway’s Converse store and Fjallraven‘s latest opening on Spring Street, both in Soho.

The wall displays are amusingly similar, it almost seems like one’s riffed the other. There’s patriotism, product placement, mood lighting and serious merchandising going on here and both brands are displaying DIY finesse. What do you think of the dueling flags? Does it bother you?

October 29, 2013 | By: Shayna Kulik

Music & Sculpture at MIT's Media Lab

You know when you’re flipping through a newspaper or a magazine and an image is so arresting it stops you in your tracks? So goes the story with Katherine Taylor‘s pictorial spread in this Saturday’s NY Times. The article, Duet for Composition and Software is fascinating. It’s a deep dive into M.I.T.’s famed Media Lab, articulating the audio and visual work of composer and inventor, Tod Machover. Focusing on the future of Opera, his team’s been working to improve sound, through sculpture, movement and visual sensors.

If they ever wanted to cross pollinate, they could commercialize at Owen’s West Village shop, as the paper-covered walls probably offer similar acoustic wonderment.

August 19, 2013 | By: Shayna Kulik

Backdrops, Profiles & Audrey Gelman

audrey_gelman_patterns

Meet Audrey Gelman, the woman of the hour. While Gelman’s not a textile designer, digital strategist or anthropologist, she’s quickly and quietly defining a voice and a vision for New York. Through her job as Scott Stringer’s press secretary, Terry Richardson’s partner, Esquire’s obsession, and Lena Dunham’s friend, she’s a fascinating dichotomy of opposites, and a clear example of the witty, intelligent, transparent, stylish set of gen Y’ers making their mark on culture (and social media) today.

This picture (from the NY Times) is a favorite- it’s authentic, charismatic and not overdone. Gelman’s wearing her sister’s dress, holding her beloved cat and standing beside her Payton Turner wallpaper. Thumbs up for a fun shoot, a beautiful pattern and bright future ahead.

August 12, 2013 | By: Shayna Kulik

Trend: Tangram Sculptures

1tanagram_sculptures 2tanagram_sculptures 3tanagram_sculptures

Every few weeks, we’re churning out tangram posts. It’s longevity mirrors that of the skull trend, as they’ve been around for years and aren’t disappearing anytime soon. Today’s feature highlights the 3D connectivity that occurs when you bring these triangles to life. I snapped the the top photo while at Anthropologie last week. The notebook’s a nice translation of the aesthetic and palette, by Papier Tigre, and the model’s wearing a rather intricate and impressive design by Sandra Backlund. Just below, we’re sharing a very special project by the folks at Pattern Makers. The art represents an info graphic about the frequency of blood groups in Singapore’s donor population. Amazing.

June 12, 2013 | By: Shayna Kulik

Retail: Hanging Floral Displays

1pinterest.com:pin:234257618087805794: 2anthropologie_hangingflowers 3bisousciao_macarons_flower_window

The best retail displays are made meticulously with TLC. Today’s feature highlights the delicate beauty of hanging flowers. Inspired by the drying process, as illustrated in the first photo, flowers are elegant in all lives. Handmade in both instances, Anthropologie‘s paper tulips hang above their home department. Bisous Ciao‘s display, a love of labor by the owner and chef, Tanya Ngangan, is a gradual wave of layered papers. All very season appropriate, isn’t it?

June 5, 2013 | By: Shayna Kulik