and relax.....

The Lounge in Soho, London, is a perfect example of a great customer experience, they have thought about the experience of getting your hair cut from all angles - not just about the function of cutting hair, not just about the brand, not just about the interior.

The interior is pretty cool yet minimalist. The salon manages to have an air of relaxed yet upbeat. I really enjoy going there because from a customers point of view the staff are very approachable, there are massage seats at the basin, the music is good and to top it all off you can even order food - for those of us that have to get our locks cut during our lunch hour...Genius!!



We here at The Yard Creative, feel that The Lounge team have managed to create a destination salon by looking at the holistic customer experience of getting a hair cut.

Washed ashore

The south coast is gradually getting a face lift. New design creations are popping up along the shores of the English channel, a perfect example is the East Beach Cafe. A steel cocoon solidly rooted on Littlehamptons' shingle coastline. It has been designed to withstand whatever the elements throw at it and will weather accordingly only adding further to its organic appeal.

It is hopefully the beginning of a new era for our coastal towns and villages. Living on the Kent coast myself I am very aware of the shabby state the strong winds and salty air have left our seaside buildings in over the years, not to mention the cheesy arcades and kiss-me-quick tat which unfortunately can not be excused by the weather!

Thomas Heatherwick the designer describes his shell-like building as 'a place of prospect and refuge'. There have also been 'chatterings' amongst the locals that the cafe could have the same effect on Littlehampton that The Guggenheim had on Bilbao. Perhaps a little optimistic, but if it wasn't for the potent media coverage only the odd brave dog walker would ever be likely to stumble across this raw creation on a windy summers day, so anything is possible.

I do appreciate the white-washed look of our conventional seaside abodes but this new cafe is such a refreshing contrast and will hopefully bring new life and more new interest to a seaside town which has definitely seen better days. So bring on more design like this and we could be saying goodbye St.Tropez hello Bognor Regis....maybe..?

A Perfect Match

There have been some amazing highlights from the Beijing Olympics this year. Especially with Team GB reaching their best medal tally in 100 years, Michael Phelps becoming the greatest Olympian of all time & in general the Chinese being good host's. (despite all the initial doubts)

I think the opening ceremony was a demonstration full of life, energy and explosive power (If sport was politics they showed the world that they are a superpower that means business). The 'birds nest' was the perfect setting. The innovative and visually striking stadia designed by swiss Architects Herzog & de Meuron will go down as one of the greatest Olympic arenas of all time.

But with all this, for me the highlight of the games has to be Usain Bolt's amazing performance in the 100m final. His showing has truly matched the spectacular venue, with his explosive, but very smooth running style. He broke his own record leaving many commentators to suggest he could have run even faster. He has brought the excitement back into the sport, which has seen its image destroyed over the years with numerous drug scandals. Remembering he is only 21 so, I fully expect him to get even better.!!!

With this years memorable games now coming to an end. I personally think the 'birds nest' is the best ever Olympic Arena and it has been blessed to have staged the greatest performance of all time. A PERFECT MATCH

Peace

The Greatest high street retail experience........ever?!

For those of you who can remember the Jil Sander store in Savile Row, London, you'll remember the beautiful classical lines of an elegant, grand white space with a graceful black curved wall slicing through the 3 storery high void reminiscent of its historical surroundings.

Walk pass the same building today and you'll have to fight through the frenzy of cool, trendy, early adopters eager to get there hands on the new range of Abercrombie & Fitch to see a space that is truly magnificent and waking up its established neighbours! Whoever designed this store, I take my hat off to you.

Once you've finished gorping at the beautiful people and stumbled across the giant moose head you realise what all the fuss is about. Huge 4m displays with internal lighting that animate the colourful products tower over you whilst staff dance on the newly inserted mezzanine to the banging house music depicting the very essence of the A&F customer. How on earth the designers managed to convince the local authorities to let them paint the classical white interior gun-metal grey I have no idea - but it works beautifully! Strangely enough, although the space is vast it feels incredibly personal - that could be because of the leather sofas and plants bordering on a jungle but just perhaps thats the welcoming and slightly flirtatious behaviour of the people who work there making every visitor feel a little better about themselves. Whilst standing a changing room queue long enough to rival a sell out gig you wonder if A&F every dreamt this store may have been sooooo successful but for what you receive from this wonderful experience you forgive them for.

Whilst starring at one of their many hand painted sporting scenes I find myself asking just one question; 'Has this American brand been so clever to have taken a quintessentially historic English way of life and sold it back to us at a premium price, palming it off as there own...........?'

Either way, a truly wonderful space that challenges all others retailers to step up to the mark.