A look ahead to 2010

Retails sales post increases in LFL and profits for the first time in what feels like a long time. Is this the turn of the tide?

Back in April we posted our video about 'Weathering the storm' and for most 2009 has been just that. As 2010 approaches we have seen a change in the weather with positivity in both the media and our direct clients, old and new. Sales are up for most and reinvestment is now essential to build upon the foundations of what most have managed to retain.

At The Yard Creative, we have a feeling 2010 is going to be a good year for all those who are serious about succeeding. With the right approach and understanding this is now a time where anything is possible.

We wish all our clients old and new all the best for the upcoming year and to achieving remarkable goals that 6 months ago seemed impossible.

Have a great break, have fun and here's to 2010!

Cheers
Steve

Pop-up marmite marketing

Pop-up stores, like the new Marmite one, are the new marketing tool for brands to spread the word in a new and exciting way. They spring up without much warning, cause a media storm and then vanish before they have a chance to go out of fashion. The well timed Marmite pop-up store on Regent Street opened on 3rd of November and will be around for 1o weeks over the Christmas period, stocking over 100 Marmite inspired products (100?...how?).

This new type of pop-up store (another recent one being the Central Perk coffee shop) comes across more like a quirky exhibition than a money making scheme. In fact it's a very clever way of luring people in with the excitement of 'an experience' or a giggle with their friends rather than 'a purchase' but once inside they find it hard to resist buying a souvenir.

Now is the perfect time to be popping-up too, with low rents and vacant retail outlets, landlords are more open to taking short-term leases. Well worth a try too as they're an amazing marketing tool, none pass by without causing a media stir which is great publicity for any brand.

These new temporary stores are also a great way for brands to 'test the water' either in terms of popularity in a certain area or for an online brand to try a more face-to-face approach with it's customers, or simply to get a brand in the public eye in a fresh, exciting way.

The Marmite store has taken their pop-up as an opportunity to show itself off as a lighthearted fun brand.

The store's dotted with quirky, tongue-in-cheek props like a Marmite jar in a bird cage, a Marmite pyramid and a Marmite styled couple eating, yep you guessed it...Marmite, at a breakfast table. So once the shop window display has tempted customers off the street to get a closer look inside they can go upstairs to the 1950's style tearoom where you can buy Marmite on toast and a cup of tea! A perfect finish to the customer experience and a great way to get people spreading the word to their friends and colleagues, whether they're lovers or haters.

The return of Jeeves?

Is our current economic and employment structure going to be enough to sustain the growth of the UK in the years to come?

Currently the public and private commercial sectors support the majority of the financial growth but we’re wondering whether we will see a trend of ‘people-employing-people’ (PEP) to help support the system.

With the increases in population would we ever get to the point that there just aren’t enough jobs for everyone? Even though we all strive for better education and healthcare perhaps it would get to the point whereby a percentage of the population would end up work for the ‘people’ rather than organisations.

This trend already exists with many more career driven couples using nannies to look after their children whilst at work. People are using at-home chefs for dinner parties and even a handyman. These types of roles have been around for centuries but as we have developed they have remained only for the richest of society. How long would it be before these luxuries become everyday to ensure economic success and the elimination of unemployment?

Would we see a new modern-day-extended-family style of employment coming directly from the people to support the economy?

A little piece of Farm in the crazy City of London

Locally sourced food is ever present in today’s market place with everyone from Tesco to Jaime claiming such support for our countries producers. And some clearly do it better than others as traceability has recently shown.

In to this already established ring enter the Farm Collective. Representing in the green corner ‘the new movement in food’, FC promotes itself as using UK sourced food to provide its customers with fresh, natural, and good quality food.

The difference with FC is that they are very clear about who they buy from and are very vocal and proud of their suppliers. As the name suggests, they have a Collective of suppliers who have to fulfil a set criteria proving their ‘UK’ness’, commitment to animal welfare and the exclusion of nasties in their produce.

And having just visited the new addition to the trendy streets of Farringdon I must say, I was impressed. Greeted by friendly staff that clearly love working there, I was tempted to try the ‘Best sausage roll in London supplied by a nice lady called Kitty’. To quote the esteemed Borat, all I have to say is “Wawa Wee wa!”

The space itself is nicely kitted out with a sense that these guys really believe in what they are doing rather than just recreating a craze. The bright flashes of colour against the heritage colours and natural materials really helps make it jump out to any passing customer and the food is just there in front of you without any fuss.

Definitely one to go see and watch out for. I expect we’ll be seeing a lot more from Farm Collective over the next few years.

A New Chapter

It's Saturday afternoon in London and I'm in Waterstones Piccadilly. Although it seems busy, very few people have bags and there seems a reluctance to buy and even interact. Some people seem to be buying something specific, others look like they are being dragged round. The general atmosphere seems tense and nervy.

Why is this? Why have bookstores lost their personality, their interest and their intrigue?

Well Amazon certainly hasn't helped. Online book sales are high and the technology-friendly consumer is loving cheaper books with the 'ease-at-home' style of shopping. With instant emails at sale time and recommendations on that next book internet brands are the VHS to the cinema right now.

So what's next for the high street stores? Borders have sold their UK arm. Waterstones, owned by the HMV group still have the biggest share in the market place but are struggling to maintain this in todays tough economy and the independents are falling victims to the Tesco of the world.

Is now the time for a fundamental change?

Books are a wonderful extensions of our imagination. They allow us to escape to another world, to create our own 'in-head-cinemas' and have endless opportunities. So why not embrace this and design a store based on this excitement and intrigue and make the book store of tomorrow a destination that attracts all and stimulates our senses?

We have asked ourselves these questions and tackled the challenge head on and found that there are so many new ways that the bookstore of the future could reinvent itself.

Our customer research has shown that people still love the tactile nature of a physical book but they come up against many obstacles that stop them from buying in store. We need to breakdown these barriers and as we enter the Wisdom Generation, people combined with technology will be the answer.

By embracing this combination of people and new technologies stores will have a clear point of difference over the online retailers and they will help us all to access the plethora of titles on those shelves. Combining personalities with new technologies such as QR codes (an easy way to contain information in such a small bar-code-like square) would be a great way to tell customers more about a book.

Social media allows us to instantly access millions of people and many of those people are happy to give recommendations and advice to help customers buy that next, right book.

And rather than going against products like the Kindle, take it head-on and provide opportunities to embrace the change and plug-in in store.

And there are so many more!

Many of these new opportunities have been worked in to a conceptual project at The Yard Creative titled A New Chapter. By exploring customers needs and demands we have identified a totally new way to engage with books in the real world.



All we need now is a client who wants to fight back and take the next step to help us all find that next great book!

By Steve

Urban Picnic pops UP again

Last month saw the opening of yet another UP unit in Vauxhall, the third to be opened in London.

The Urban Picnic is a great concept aimed at customers with medium to high disposable income and little time to cook a decent evening meal. With meal boxes from Morocco, Italy and Turkey the idea is simple - good quality, well balanced food that is is either cold and ready to eat or hot options that you take home and throw in the oven.

Offering chilled wine to make a completely delightful evening meal it makes UP the perfect cheat for serving a gorgeous meal from home and passing it off as 'something you just rustled UP'.

So next time you're passing and thinking of grabbing a bite to eat on the way home, try UP and be pleasantly surprised.

Sushi is the new fast food

In an NHS study published this year 90% of men and 92% of women said that 'healthy eating isn't just another fad' but government predictions have suggested there will be a rise in levels of obesity in the future, such that by 2025 almost half of men and over a third of women in the UK are predicted to be obese.

There was a time, not long ago, when all you could buy to eat 'on the go' was a cheese burger or a stodgy sandwich but now there's a gradual shift towards more healthy fast food. Wasabi in Waterloo station has just opened with a fresh, bright design, made memorable with it's splashes of lime green and a beautifully designed staircase which takes up almost half of the tiny unit.



Further out of town, and just down the road from our offices, is Sushi_n at Wimbledon station. A more natural, cosy interior using timber but with the same selection of single wrapped sushi parcels and a hot counter selling bento. Something both places could have thought about though is using sustainable, natural packaging, like bamboo boxes to take the food back to it's Japanese roots.

Sushi also embraces the 'miniturisation' trend of bite sized nutrition, so chances are it will become more and more popular in the future and pave the way for new mini foods. I'm sure our fast pace lifestyles won't change but hopefully with more healthy fast food options out there we can try and prove those Government stats wrong!

By Emily

Not just any food, 'Woolworths food'

Whilst on a recent trip to South Africa we were both amazed and stunned when we came across their local supermarket. Woolworths, although having unfortunately slipped away from the UK market recently, is alive and kicking in SA - though not as we know it over here!

From the outside it looks a little bit 'American-Whole-Foods-esk'. When you get inside however its quite another story.....it's M&S! Look, see what we mean?

Not quite sure exactly how this works but according to our SA friends it is the name under which M&S trade over there. If it isn't M&S it's amazing how identical the store is once inside.

Woolies may be down and out in the UK but it's simply amazing in SA.

The cross road that faces retail onboard our trains

Customer demands in todays World have grown expediently. We want more for less and we want it now. High street retailers have fought hard to keep their customers by improving their service and listening to their customers needs. With your neighbour doing exactly the same its a tough market place to stay ahead.

Onboard retailing however, doesn't have this extreme pressure as its not exactly easy to just step off and go next door! Has this therefore been the reason onboard retailing has fallen so far behind in so many areas?

Having worked on several projects in the past 18 months we have seen how many retail operations onboard still live in the shadow of the British Rail sandwich and although many are trying to make a difference, there seem to be many hurdles to overcome.

Firstly and most importantly, is sales. As a business model in its own right these operations struggle to make good profit if any at all. There are many reasons to this including logistical difficulties and product waste. However, if we look wider, a loss in sales is certainly down to customers buying before they get onboard. Retailers on train concourses have improved their game dramatically and are offering quality, freshness and range that onboard operations just can't match - if you think in a historic manner...

The second is awareness. As travelers we expect there to be a service onboard but do we ever really know what is on offer? Are we ever told? Do we ever buy something we really want or do we buy whatever there is and hope it will fuel us until we have a better opportunity? Without awareness there is no demand. Without demand there is no area for improvement.

The third is product. In todays World when others reveal traceability, nutritional and quality information it is hard to compare onboard with the high street in such ways. The quality of the food and beverage we eat and drink whilst on the move are ten fold compared to only a decade ago. Although a tough challenge in many ways, the ultimate aim must be to sell a 'handmade sandwich, made today' if we are ever going to compete with those around us.

But perhaps this is the reason that onboard retail has fallen so far behind - perhaps this isn't the train operators aim. It might just be that being 'OK' is good enough. Probably not the customers view though.

So does retail have a place onboard any more?

Many people have suggested that it should be removed to allow for government legislation and make way for more bums on seats. However, history has shown us (via First Great Western experiment in the-not-to-distance past) that this isn't a good idea, as customers like to have it onboard, even if they don't use it.

I think the answer is, yes, it does have a place onboard - but it has a lot of hard work to do. If it is going to be taken seriously by the customer as a food and beverage offer and if onboard retail is going to become a successful business model there are some big changes that need to happen.

The question is, who will be the first to make such a change?

Sammi's leaving to go back to Uni!

I’ve had an excellent year at The Yard Creative. My skills and knowledge have tripled due to some fantastic teaching, time and effort that has been put in to making my Placement a success. I feel the London experience at The Yard has helped me to grow as a person and inspired me to go on to produce exciting, innovative, customer focused design.

The Yard has given me some great opportunities this year and I’ve had the chance to get involved in some really exciting projects from every aspect start to finish. I’d just like to say a big thank you to Steve and all of the team and wish them all the best in the future.

A new Breed

The first Breed store has opened in Covent Garden's Thomas Neals Centre opposite its older brother Superdry. Pitched as a younger, more streetwise brand, the store has kept the urban feel of the arched space with concrete floors and a black backdrop.

All of this allows the bold, striking clothing to do its thing and battle it out against each other to grab your attention. The store has a good feel to it. With urban music setting the scene and good merchandising it is a nice experience.

But you feel that it's lacking something unique. Especially when you look at the website and see the quirky locations of the fashion shoot - you almost want that power generator bang smack in the middle of the store! At least then it would have that 'white piano' - that one thing that everyone remembers and uses to tell their friends about this fantastic new store.

Hopefully the brand continues to do well and we'll see if they start to have as much fun with their stores as they do with their clothing.

All tie'd up

At times like these its hard to open your first store. But that hasn't stopped the newest tie concept store to hit the streets of London!

Peckham Rye has been selling ties to the rich and famous for 4 years and now they have opened their new store on Newbury Street. Just off Carnaby street, the small store is simply but effective with friendly staff on-hand to help out.

Past customers include Busta Rhymes, Dizzee Rascal, Terrance Conran, Bond and now some of the staff here at The Yard Creative!

Go have a look and let us know what you think. We'll be adding it to our What's New tours for sure!

www.peckhamryelondon.com

What's this? - futuristic, driverless pods straight out of Basildon...

So what's this all about?

Fantabulous looking pods driving themselves around with their own little brains to help us get from A to B, quicker, easier and in a more environmentally-friendly manner - sounds too good to be true!

As it turns out these 'Personal rapid transport pods' are the latest innovation in the Science museum's celebration of 100 years of transport and are being installed at T5 as the new way to get from car parks to terminals. They work using a complex array of lazers, sensors and complex calculations to ensure they get you from A to B quickly and safely.


Yesterday saw the first of its 3 day appearance at the Science Museum as part of a celebration of 100 years of transport. The pod is the last of the innovations in the exhibition and demonstrates how a little bit of abstract thought can revolutionise the way we live our lives.

Congratulations to those chaps over in Basildon for creating a piece of history!

Can the Virtual become Physical?

We have seen many brands that originated in the physical world migrate and expand in to the virtual world of online and succeed - supermarkets, travel agents, insurance brokers, even banks.

Is it possible the other way round though? I can't think of anyone who has done this yet and succeeded.

But perhaps that's because society hasn't been ready for this flip back to a real-time, hands-on approach. Perhaps we're all too busy enjoying the wonders of global, instant access, to be ready to jump in the car and drive to town for a piece of retail therapy.

Yet trends shows us that everything goes round in circles. And just may be, now is the right time. With high street units empty and agents desperate to fill them, now could be the right time for a virtual repositioning and online to enter the real-time arena.

With the likes of ASOS posting profits of 93% growth today (well-done ASOS!) perhaps they could become tomorrows TopShop? Think about it. A brand that has turned the fashion industry upside down, changed how we buy our clothes and even encouraged men to buy from an online catalogue - why not?!

We're not saying they simply need to open a store and it will be good times all round. Quite the opposite. But what if they were to approach designing a store in the same innovative way as they launched there website. What if they were to totally change the way we buy in store, what then?

Could they, and others do it? It's a massive challenge, but we'd love to make it work!

Real Eco super model

To rival Steve's blog on the low-carbon lorries... here's the Scorpion, a hydrogen fuel injected sports car.



Basically 'it generates water from from the inbuilt tank, turns it into hydrogen and then injects it into the cars system'. It's carbon emissions are reduced by 75% and fuel millage is increased by between 20-40%!! Plus the design looks super slick, proving eco-friendly doesn't have to mean unattractive design. The Scorpion's just had it's European debut at Top Marques in Monaco so hopefully we might see it in over here soon...

Bee uber-local

The discovery that legendary food retailer Fortnum & Mason (F&M) produces and sells honey from the bees kept on its roof left us amazed and in awe. What a great idea and resourceful approach to sustainable food production!

The palatial beehives were created for the Carniolan bees and were orignally located in Shropshire, circa. 2005/06. The superior domiciles are now located on the roof of the iconic building at 181 Piccadilly.

F&M say that "they (the bees) fly high above Mayfair, visiting the grounds, gardens and squares of the best addresses in London, gathering rather superior nectar. The first batch of Fortnum's rooftop honey will be unusually fine, thanks to the wide variety of flora in the immediate vicinity, and the pollen from numerous chestnut and lime trees."

Images care of Fortnum & Mason.

Eco super model

Just saw this... a new generation of super model lorries that help to reduce carbon emissions whilst also providing more haulage space.

The aerodynamic innovation is predicted to reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 10%.


Image care of www.shiply.com

A parking revolution

Writing that title makes me think that this could be a very boring blog! But believe me once you've used intelligent parking you will never want to park in the normal way ever again.

The intelligent parking system is becoming more common in large, new complexes such as Westfield London and T5 Heathrow. It is definitely a system that has been designed with parkers in mind, here's a drivers experience:

- as I enter the car park there are signs indicating the number of available parking bays in different locations of the car park, this info is real time, so it's accurate at the point I am looking at it. I can then make a choice about the best area for speedy parking

- then as I drive through the car park there are more signs that again indicate the number of available parking bays within the immediate area, handily directing me to the most likely available spot

- now that I am in an area where there are supposed to be available spaces I can see rows of lights positioned above each parking bay, colour coded to indicate which bays are available and which are taken.


In summary, when these parking systems are in place you don't really think that much about them but you do appreciate not having to spending time, sitting in a hot, stuffy and polluted multi-storey car-park.. just follow the lights and they'll find you a space, nice!

Images care of: Highlightparking

Don't play with your food!

On a mid-week field trip through the capital, Inamo restaurant on Wardour Street was the top of the must see list! The concept behind it came from the owners own frustration with not being able to get a waiters attention, something I'm sure we've all experienced at some time.... The basic idea is that the menu is projected on to the tables and you interact and order from it via a small pad in one corner.



The idea that you can order anything on the menu at the touch of a button is obviously very efficient but also a very clever form of relaxed ordering that makes it very easy to stack up quite a bill.



Many psychological studies have proved that the key to raising sales is to encourage your consumers to "linger for longer'. The longer they're in a store or restaurant, generally, the more money they will spend.

So another little trick Inamo has up it's sleeve (whether it knows it or not!) is that it's very entertaining projection technology can keep you busy for a fair time, playing games, checking the chief doesn't drop your food on the floor with 'chief-cam' and changing your table cloth 30 times over.. all whilst ordering another round of cocktails.



So the fact that this restaurant is so unique and currently the only one of it's kind in the world certainly makes it a destination and something unique to talk about so the young, trendy crowds of Soho are no doubt spreading the word as we speak!

Twilight Phenomenon/ MIT Breakthrough

After finishing the Twilight Saga I feel it is only appropriate to share with you some of my enthusiasm for the sensational story created by Stephanie Meyer. This fascinating love story has taken the nation by storm and Stephanie Meyer is being referred to as the next J.K. Rowling. The Story is reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet and takes a modern twist on the ultimate forbidden love affair. The main characters Bella Swan and Edward Cullen soon after meeting become swept up in a passionate but deadly romance. Edward is beautiful and mysterious but is also a natural predator of humans, and the closer he gets to Bella the harder he battles with temptation to resist from taking her life.



Admittedly I only discovered these books after watching the Twilight movie, which takes me on to the reason for writing this blog. After reading the first book in the series I couldn’t stay away from the bookstore, I simply had to have the next edition in the Twilight Saga. Therefore it comes to my attention that without the marketing of the film and the experience of enjoying it, that I would have had no desire to go to buy the books? Why you ask…. Well, I would have no knowledge of the books and admittedly I’m not one for regularly visiting my local bookstore. I find this somewhat depressing to feel that I could have missed out in reading and being fascinated with the Twilight Saga due to the lack of interest I have with the bookstore.



…. So why is it that the bookstore isn’t as popular as the local cinema? ok some might say that the film industry has the upper hand when it comes to marketing but I personally believe that we aren’t gaining enough from our visits to bookstores to make it become part of our social routines. I feel that they need to open our eyes to how incredible the stories in these books really are. They need to make us trust them in our purchases. We need reassurance that we are buying the right thing. When you enter a bookstore it can be rather intimidating with so much choice, where do you begin to try to find the perfect book that’s right for you?

Ok so you have Amazon and other online websites that sell books and offer reviews but is it the same? Do you get to feel the book, experience it and really enjoy the experience of being in store surround by so many wonderful stories?
Which brings me to my next topic, what If you could walk in to a store and pick up a book and get an instant rating or even a review by your favorite critic or maybe info on the author and their past pieces of work. Well new technology being created at MIT will allow you to do just that. They have created a wearable device with a projector that helps create easier interaction with our environment. To find out more select the link below

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/pattie_maes_demos_the_sixth_sense.html

Imagine what this kind of technology could do. It would help us build and gain more trust in our day-to-day decisions. This could offer a whole new dimension to going to a bookstore and could offer a deeper insight into the books and help us to more openly interact. The only problem being is that this technology is about 10 years away from now and bookstores may not last that long if they don't react to the changing market.

By looking at today's market and what is currently available we can try to adapt that and make it work for bookstores. Currently the IPhone is a great example of how much technology has progressed and by using data feeds to run applications it gives us access to knowledge we may require. This could be brought to bookstores by creating info points where you can scan books and the screen will use its data feeds to give appropriate info such as reviews and ratings. This is just an idea but I am still hopeful that bookstores will see the change in customers needs and therefore will adapt to become more current with technology.

How long will it take...

...till we catch-up with our friends in mainland Europe when it comes to recycling?

We talk a good game in this country and sure, steps are being taken to reduce landfill waste but it seems we are lagging behind other European cities when it comes to everyday life.

Recent trips to Norway and Belgium were a real eye-opener in terms of everyday inclusion of recycling. From recycling bins on streets, in stations, airports and even on trains, they are on every corner!

Lets hope this type of inclusion hits our streets soon and it becomes part of everyday life for everyone...not dependent on your postcode!

Midnight bakery

On an early evening stroll around the West End last night in search of food I was surprised by how many places had shut up for the day. We decided to head towards Basaba on Wardour street as a safe option but just before reaching it passed a place a normally missed from blind hunger, Princi. Bearing in mind the streets were fairly quiet this place was buzzing! So much so I was a bit intimidated to go in. Nothing was hidden from the outside with the full height glass shop front. With my face pressed up against the glass the first thing that stood out was the simple metre deep counter neatly displaying rows of pastries, pizzas, meats and salads.



The interior was clean and bright and the bread was framed in lit recesses in the back wall. All the surfaces were chunky and and made up of simple, clean plains. This all day bakery is open 7am till 12 at night! and doesn't even need to flex through out the day because the food is so versatile and the displays are so extensive but so simple. Next time I eat out I'll definitely be going there for a closer look and some sneaky photos!

Sunkost, Oslo

Following a recent trip to Oslo we stumbled across Sunkost - a modern day retail alternative to the likes of Holland & Barrett.

The concept combined all elements of a healthy lifestyle into one space in a unique and fun way. To the right of the store you had supplements and vitamins combined with natural remedies with the left hand side focussed on healthy food and drink.

The display of all areas was bang-on the money: All information and education was right at eye-level making it easy to engage with, whilst the food was superb and mouth-wateringly presented.





The staff knew their stuff and in case the language was a barrier, there was an interactive terminal to assist you.

The store itself is bright and eye-catching and feels welcomingly unique. The bake-off produces a great smell that adds to the calming ambience.

Whilst everything around us seems to be being turned upside down, focus on living healthier lifestyles seems to be on the increase. Perfect timing then for Sunkost!

Yotel, Schiphol

During the recent armageddon that was the snowy weekend in London, being trapped airside at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam I checked out the Yotel… I’ve seen the concept before at 100% design which is great; a bit more than a capsule hotel but not quite a full room. I had a single which had the bed at low level, next doors bed would be above it and every ‘cabin’ includes toilet, shower, tv and desk with controls for everything including the mood lighting right by the bed. I’ve noticed Yotel before at Gatwick but being that it was landside and the Travelodge is way cheaper it never quite seemed to work. Schiphol is different, its basically right in the departure lounge so given a last minute delay as I was or a long transfer you can check-in for a shower, use the free WiFi, watch some tv and have a snooze all within 5mins of the departure gate. Its not cheap at €35 for 4 hours (only £23 in old money I suppose!) but a bit of peace, quiet and comfort compared with a bench seat surrounded by screaming kids, priceless

What can you see?

How many times have you been pleasantly surprised by design?

Think hard about those little moments that made you think “they really thought of me when designing this”. Like the hook under the bar to hang your coat on so you don’t have to drop it on the floor. Or that hole in your jacket that you can feed your headphones through so you don’t have to unzip to get to your ipod out each time you want to change the song.

How many times can you remember this feeling?

Few and far between it seems. Too often design is seen as aesthetic and even a necessary evil by some.

Customer research and user design is nothing new – The British Empire was strengthen by a chap who realised if he could just get from A to B quicker and move multiple necessities on-bulk he could expand the Empire with an unparalleled advantage. Voila! Utilising the birth of the Locomotive and effectively creating modern-day logistics! Yet in today’s fast moving pace of business, the very essence of why and whom we are designing for is forgotten.

On a recent project with one of our clients we have yet again embraced customer research and observations to allow a greater insight to behaviours and desires. Following a ten-week process, our analysis showed dramatic negative effects by the current design on the customer.

These observations have allowed us to create new designs that dramatically change the use of space with simple, yet effective adjacencies. The outcome should be that we create a space that improves not only the general look-and-feel but also efficiency, productivity and customer satisfaction.

Our trust in observations and the ability to listen to users, suppliers and client alike will hopefully prove successful once again.

Berlin Skybars

On recent visit to Berlin I was amazed by the variety of design within this fantastic city. I had expected to see some great new architecture as well as remnants from the cold war and soviet blocks and maybe its these contrasts that have led to a new wave of design in the city where nothing is quite as expected.

Skybars are incredibly popular in Berlin in a way that I haven’t seen in any other city, its seems that in almost every tower there’s a slick modern bar at the top, all with stunning views and interiors and a mix of minimal, furnished with design classics to the retro and cheesy to the point of being cool. One of the slick examples is the Solar Bar. Set in an unassuming 60s block near Potsdamer Platz, Berlins Canary Wharf. Once you actually find the place after weaving through the car park and passing the main block entrance you turn into to a secretive looking door, opened by a concierge to a reception with an eerie feeling that you’ve stepped into somewhere you shouldn’t have… I actually had to ask if this was the solar bar… a few seconds in an glass lift and you re-enter the building on the top floor to a slick black and white interior with 3m high windows framing the city, the leather seating is suspended from the ceiling and arranged to take in the views with the mezzanine level giving an impression of floating above the city skyline. With the Cold war TV tower and Eastern accommodation blocks as a backdrop to a Champagne Mojito you could be in another era…

A World within a World

To follow on where Sammi left off, what a truly amazing place - potentially one of the best shopping-centre-experiences in the World?! Having spent time in HK and being blown away by their fascination with shopping Malls, Westfield White City is reminiscent of of their glamour and splendour.

As a customer it felt spacious, light and airy (bearing in mind this was a Monday evening). The absence of any hard angular lines makes the space feel fluid and easy to navigate. The wayfinding pods not only look fabulous but also work well with touch screen technology used in such a human way you'd think it was designed by Apple. The stores are great, feeling like a collection of flagships to the point that your never sure where to look next.

As a designer, inspirational. Enough said. Any aspiring designer should get down there and understand not only that it looks good, but also why it all works so well.

As a real person in the real World at a time of an economic downturn....its timing is the only downfall. Nothing Westfield could do about that, but it does feel slightly superficial and not part of the real World.

Still, great experience. Go see it.

Westfield

Just before Christmas I visited the new Westfield store which is located in White City, Shepherds Bush.



The experience began when I stepped of the train. The whole surrounding area has been reworked from the pavements to the buildings to the trees, plants etc. It feels as if walking in to a picture everything looks so perfect and new.

The design of the building is quite extraordinary when entering Westfield you feel like your leaving the world behind and stepping into the future. The outer shell is very impressive and almost has a Buckminster fuller feel to it with the interior housing a fascinating wooden structure.





They have managed to capture this luxurious futuristic feel with all the high-end retail stores being present and each offering a design experience of their own.



The touch screen monitors in the main complex offer you information on all the stores and where they’re all located and the small cafes individually placed throughout the complex also fit in with the design of the building.

Unfortunately I didn’t get chance to look around it all but will definitely be going back, a great experience all in all.