Archigram

Archigram

''Archigram was an avant-garde architectural group formed in the 1960s - based at the Architectural Association, London - that was futurist, anti-heroic and pro-consumerist, drawing inspiration from technology in order to create a new reality that was solely expressed through hypothetical projects.''  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archigram

Some of their work is very 'psychedelic' and you can tell that it was designed in the 60's. However, some of this work really is at the forefront of design, even by today's standards. You will notice Archigram's references to 'Living Pods' of which I have previously posted modern versions of earlier in the blog as 'state of the art'.


You will also notice reference to space capsules, which was obviously influenced by the space race with the Russians, so they are definitely responsive to current affairs and trends. 

I do very much like their form of CGI, if one can call it that, they have simply used lines to show a perspective, no use of shadow or colour. Although, admittedly I have given them the benefit of the doubt as there wasn't a huge amount choice back then, as a computer would have been the size of a room.

Redjacket

Redjacket
Involved in a lot of the high street retailers that we all know well, Burger King, Costa Coffee, Haagen-Dazs.  The schemes seem to use materials reinforce a brand image as well as providing a functional space, good use of timber (adds a 'natural feel' to a corporate interior, makes it more human).

Good for brand imaging inspiration.

Glenser

http://www.gensler.com/#aboutus
Very impressive portfolio, loads of major international projects, including Airports, Banks Universities, with departments in Architecture, Interior Design, Graphic Design and Brand Imaging.  A firm that doesn't to be afraid to be corporate/commercial, they are there to make money and they are very good at it. 

FITCH

''FITCH is a different kind of company. It’s about enthusiasm, personality and creating something compelling.'' http://www.fitch.com/

I was impressed by their website, but from reading through some of the articles it seems to me that they are quite focused on marketing strategies and creating focal points for selling i.e. exhibitions stands retail outlets, which not something that I am overly interested with reference to subject area, although I am interested to learn more about brand image and how this can be developed for my manifesto and final project.

Diller and Scofidio

http://www.dsrny.com/
Matrix style website, got me rather excited!  But actually when you come to use it, its a bit annoying, I think its trying to be too clever and automatic, if you move your mouse to click on the thing you want, it just sends you off somewhere else.  Goes to show, the pretty, shiny things aren't always the most useful.

The first project on this website that caught my eye was 'The Blur Building'.  ''The Blur Building was built for the Swiss Expo 2002 on Lake Neuchatel. It is an architecture of atmosphere...A smart weather system reads the shifting climactic conditions of temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, and processes the data in a central computer that regulates water pressure.''  


Please see my 'Seriously Un Cool - Blue Building' page for my thought on this.

''Their influence stems as much, if not more, from their contributions to the theory and criticism of architecture as from their built works.''  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diller_Scofidio_%2B_Renfro

As I worked my way through the website the more I realised that they were focusing heavily on promoting buildings that haven't been built and I could help thinking that a lot of them were just concepts for a reason i.e. they wouldn't work in the real world.  For example, re-building the city of  Venice in Las Vegas; a bit tacky if you ask me.  Whenever I flick through an architecture or interior design firms catalogue of work, I am always disappointed to see buildings that are conceptual and haven't been built, as there is usually a reason for this, either that the building didn't win the competition it was going for, or the firm doesn't have enough in its portfolio, so they use the scheme as a filler.

I also thought that a lot of the work was quite tacky and badly illustrated.  Some of the CGI work looks to me like first year undergrad work.  Not to put down first year work, some of work I have seen is amazing.  The point I am trying to make is that I think that a large scale firm should realise that there is a heavy reliance on good CGIs (many schemes require them for planning), they have to be good, especially if they are used to advertise the business.

Coolhunter

Coolhunter
The best website I have seen so far, and it looks really cool too (you know we talked about this, I like pretty shiney things ok).  Packed with information on design, architecture, interior design, transportation, gadgets and lots lots more.


Some of the articles that really caught my eye:
The Power of Color:

''Black and white are the safe choices in the design world. The colour of luxury is elegant and subdued. Yet, at the same time, even top-tier designers, artists and luxury brands have always used bright colours as well. It is not about either or. It is not black-and-white or colour.'' 

''Throughout history, colour has expressed and represented status, religion, origin, feelings and many other things, and its use has been dependent on resources. To be able to afford clothing or other possessions in certain colours meant you were wealthier than most, as some ingredients to produce specific colours were not available everywhere.''


I wholeheartedly agree with the concept of the power of colour and the way it can influence our emotions and how we feel.  I also believe that there is some truth in the idea that colour can make us perceive certain physical feelings such as warmth and cold.  

Another useful website on 'The Power of Colour' and how it can make you feel.


Designer Kitchen by Graft:

Another interesting concept, a little bit 'out there', I don't think I could imagine a situation where I or the lay person would ever need one of these kitchen, or want one in there house.  I instincts tell me that Graft the German architects responsible for this design (Lars Krückeberg, Wolfram Putz, Thomas Willemeit and Gregor Hoheisel) were just experimenting with a prototype, to prove that they could realise a design idea, whether it will sell many kitchens is another question.  P.S.  This company has an awesome interactive website, that keeps you on your toes.

Sleep Box - Mini Hotels:

Cool concept, its been done before (of course its Japanese) but I like to execution and the fact that is large enough to fit two people, after all, who wants to sit in a solitary capsule with nothing but claustrophobia to keep you company.

   

Inhabitat

'Green Design will save the world'
Really good website, has lots of news articles on the latest cutting edge schemes, from art, transportation to architecture and energy. Some great links and photos too, case study write ups could do with a bit more detail, but a good starting point.

Design Sponge

Design Sponge is a great website (although it does tend to crash a lot).  Has all sorts from 'mini trends (in interior design) to 'city guides' (although, not sure why?) to podcasts by interior designers.  The people profiles seem to be mainly focused on American interior designers, on residential projects, i.e. their own homes, there are some useful photos, great for material shots.

Design Council

''As one of the world’s leading design institutions, we are a centre of new thinking and insight into new ways to do business. We actively show how design can help build a stronger economy and improve everyday life through practical demonstrations and by supporting private industry and the public sector. In turn we invest in the future of UK design.'' http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/about-us/Who-we-area-and-what-we-do/

''It was founded by Hugh Dalton, President of the Board of Trade in the wartime Government, and its objective was 'to promote by all practicable means the improvement of design in the products of British industry'. And that was to stay unaltered through half a century of social, technological and economic change''  

This website  has a warehouse full of information on Design and Design strategies, when you have a spare week free (and if you are bored enough) read it.  The website gives more information on Design thinking, along with pod cast from Tim Brown from Ideo, see next post for details.

• A guide to interior design
• What is it?
• Who does interior design?
• The interior design process
• Interior Design in practice
• Careers in interior design
• Interior design services

DOTT (Design Of the Times) Cornwall

DOTT

''We believe that great design can bring about lasting benefits for the people of Cornwall. With world class design thinking we are running a series of practical projects to explore how design can help create a more sustainable and inclusive society.''

thinkpublic

'We are a social design agency that helps tackle big social challenges. We work with the public sector, third sector and communities'.  http://thinkpublic.com/

The founding of thinkpublic