Bienenstock Entry #2: The Weatherspoon, Inspiration.

We were given the opportunity to visit the Weatherspoon Art Museum on UNCG’s campus to gain some inspiration for our upcoming competition project. For the project I have to design an art gallery that was once two row houses in New York and are now going to be converted into a three story space, the first two floors will be used as the gallery space as the third floor is the private living quarters.

Anyways, The Weatherspoon was pretty interesting. It showcased pieces from artists as well as art from students. Most of the art was displayed hanging on the wall, but this made me look at how the lighting in each gallery room was placed to accent the art. The actual gallery had small architectural details that made a big impact in the space, curved walls for way-finding, angled ceilings with unique transom windows, and a sculpted molding detail on the inside of a rotunda.

The Weatherspoon Art Museum had pieces with various types of mediums, oil on canvas, paint on canvas, sculptures, technological pieces, and portraits. It was a nice mix of textures that kept my eyes wandering from piece to piece. All in all this was an interesting trip that helped me gain some inspiration, mainly for the lighting strategies. Here are some pictures of a few pieces that were showcased:

I can’t wait to see how this project will process! I’m excited about it! Stay tuned!

-J

Vivid Interiors

On September 5th, 2017 the second year group of the Interior Design program at RCC went and visited Vivid Interiors, a design firm in downtown Greensboro. We were able to chat with one of the head designers and RCC alum, Gina Hicks. She shared with us her story of how she became a force in the design industry and gave insight to us as we begin to venture out from RCC. We also talked with the other head designer, Laura Mensch. They both shared with us the more business side of owning and operating a design firm.

One major aspect that Gina and Laura shared is Vivid’s presence on social media. Instagram is their main social media platform, but this helps them stay updated on current and new trends and getting their name out there for a multitude of viewers to see. Check out their Instagram page here!

They both have such an eclectic and quirky style of design and a welcoming aura about them. It was neat to see how someone manages their own business and to have them share some advice with us who eventually will do the same. Gina and Laura are definitely inspirations as to who a student should reach for their own future. For more information on Vivid Interiors, check out their website.

I have to give them a huge thank you for welcoming us into their firm and sharing with us their own experiences. Can’t wait to stop back by sometime soon!

-J

Study #1: Modern Art Gallery Exhibits

For this study, we will discuss the technological advancements that art galleries have made in order to present the art. These advancements can include interactive exhibitions, modernized showcases, and multimedia platforms. We will dive into five galleries that show these advancements.

Gallery #1: The Cleveland’s Museum of Art’s new interactive exhibition, Gallery One.

This new and innovative gallery uses the combination of art, technology, and interpretation. This gallery offers hands on and technology-based activities that give the viewer the chance to really explore pieces from famous artists in a new way. This space revolutionizes the experience of art by portraying the largest multi-touch micro tile screen in the United States. This screen displays over 3,500 images of the museum’s immense collection of art. It also allows the viewer to shape their own tours throughout the museum.  Click here to watch the video!

Sourced from the museum’s website.

Gallery #2: The Magic House, the St. Louis Children’s museum.

The Magic House holds hundreds of interactive exhibits that encourage children to use their imagination as the exhibits pique curiosity and bring a new way of learning. These exhibits also help engage the kids in hands on educational experiences such as creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. Click here for more info!

Sourced from the museum’s website.

Gallery #3: Assemblance by Umbrellium.

Assemblance by Umbrellium has a new technological exhibit that revolutionizes the way we see art. They use computer controlled lasers to give 3-Dimensional forms in the air and as the viewer comes in, the lasers can be manipulate by their hands, feet, etc. This is an extremely collaborative experience as people interact with each other’s forms and spaces. The viewer can actually build their own art piece by making gentle gesture in the path of the laser. Click here to watch the video.

Sourced from the museum’s website.

Gallery #4: Van Gogh Alive

This new exhibit is the epitome on interactive. It gives the viewer a totally new and innovative perspective of the life of Van Gogh. A new edition of this exhibit recently opened in China. This encompasses the viewer in stimulation of all the senses. The viewer can literally walk into the artwork and touch whats depicted, smell the scene, and hear the sounds that would be relevant to the piece. Numerous touch screen panels allows the viewer to dive into any single piece and learn more about Van Gogh and all that goes into his paintings. Click here to see this interactive exhibit.

Sourced from the museum’s website.

Galler #5: Bosch Visions Alive Multimedia Hall

 

The opening hall of the exhibition BOSCH: Visions Alive introduces the show with all available information about Bosch’s life and career, including least plausible theories. Bosch;s masterpieces are kind of eery and this multimedia hall portrays a variety of them. Some of them are nightmare-esque but somehow are still captivating. This unique and phantom/fantasy world of Bosch’s works never ceases to amaze. Click here to watch the video!

Sourced from the museum’s website.

Project #7: The Healthcare Center

For my Commercial Design class, we were given a project that was the renovating of a Women’s Health Center. The project description was base don the new Moses Cone Women’s Health Center, which is a 4,468 square foot space. The all female facility is located on the second floor of the building. Dr. Megan Phillips and Dr. Lauren Tucker have a combined thirty years of experience in women’s health concerns. Since they offer a variety of services, they want their new space designed to accommodate these services while keeping a natural, holistic, and organic environment.

With this being said, the design intent reads as such, “Dr. Megan Phillips and Dr. Lauren Tucker have requested a design that is natural, organic, holistic, and curvilinear. They also want the design to have a soothing and calming effect on the women who come in for their examinations. The Doctors both believe in healing environments and the positive impact they can have on patients.” The design intent is basically a re-summarization of the project description. I also developed this concept statement, “The goal of this design is to create a comfortable and tranquil women’s health center. With the use of light and color, I have created a soothing and feminine environment. A woman should walk into a clinic that has an atmosphere oozing with serenity and cleanliness. The light shades of blue-green add to the calmness of the space. The lighting is placed to accent the architectural and sculptural accent as well as giving ample light for the space. Plum colored accents help bring the idea of femininity into the clinic. The space is very open to allow for traffic flow and the curvilinear shape of the nurse’s station adds a unique touch.” This was a neat project since I had to space plan for the nurses’ stations and the waiting room. I decided to keep with a blue-green and violet color pallet with natural finishes.

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This slideshow has the rendered perspectives and floor plan that show my design ideals and concepts. The first image is a perspective of the nurses’ station. I really love the idea of pairing a natural, grained facade with the cool tones of blues and violets. Behind the cabinetry are tow alcoves that have acoustic wall panels in them to add visual interest in this area. I also wanted to use tinted acrylic; the hallways, the central ceiling treatment, and the logo are all violet tinted acrylic. The next image is the waiting room. I kept the same color pallet and finishes to create a unified flow from space to space. The custom curved wall has three alcoves with the same acoustic treatment. This rendering is my best Podium rendering. The last image is the rendering floor plan with the space planning of these two spaces.

I feel like I accomplished the design intent for this project. This was the first project that I used Podium, which is an add on program to SketchUp, to render the scenes. I definitely know that I have room to improve my renderings but I am excited about how they both turned out.

-J

Project #6 The Woodward Residence

I have really developed a love for residential design. Making a home tell a story and reflect a personal style is something that I find very important. This brings me to my next project for my Residential Design class, the Woodward Residence. We actually had to go to the clients’ home, measure and photograph the house, and interview the client. It was pretty much life a real life scenario. Once we made it to Holly’s house, we walked through the space as she is talking about it. She explains what she likes, what she doesn’t like, what she wants to change, and what she wants to keep. Then we paired up to photograph and measure the room we were given. I was given the den. Once we all thought we had measured everything correctly and double-checked our work, we sat down with Holly and interviewed her according to a client questionnaire. I then developed a project description and concept statement. My project description reads as such: “The residence of Mark and Holly Woodward is located in Emerywood, a historic district in High Point, North Carolina. Their house was built in 1931. Mark Woodward works as a production manager for a small manufacturing business. He works most of the time, out of his home. Holly Woodward works as a professor at the local community college. They own a Labradane named Dashing and a terrier mix named Lillian August. Since Mark and Holly have lived in their home for nine years, they have become interested in the ideal of “aging in place.” As a result, the interior spaces need to be designed for the accommodation of accessibility for their future use.” My concept was, “Mark and Holly Woodward have shown me all of their wants for this new space: an open floor plan, blue and green hues, a warmth and welcoming sense. They want to pursue the ideal of aging in place and when designing this new space, I will have to design it in an accessible and stylish way. Accessible sinks and appliances in the bathrooms and kitchens is a main desire and so is a new garage area with an added ramp for future accessible needs. Holly expressed that she wants the design to swing toward the Bohemian style. This style is filled with various textures, colors, and patterns mainly in fabrics and tiles. This has been an immensely fun project and I am excited to see what Holly and Mark Woodward think of my design concepts for their new renovations.”

I really enjoyed this project since we took a Bohemian style and made it mesh with the client’s requests. I also thought it was very informative since we were hands on with this one. Holly made it similar to a real life scenario, which I thought was exciting.

I focused on the living room, dining room, and kitchen for this project since these were areas that were higher on the priority list. I really planned and thought out my furnishings and finishes to best encompass the ideal of the Bohemian style.

The image in the top right is the perspective of the dining room. My inspiration was this beautiful Ava wallpaper by Justina Blakeney. Holly already has a china display cabinet, so giving it a fresh coat of dusty blue paint would give it life. The image in the top left is the kitchen perspective. This space have deep navy cabinetry with brushed gold hardware. The inspiration for this space is the FireClay tile backsplash.Marble countertops give a nice contrast to the island butcher block counter top. The image on the bottom is the living room perspective. Many of these pieces, Mark and Holly already own, so reusing them is a plus. The deep teal shade of blue green on the walls really give the space the drama it needs, and when paired with the floral ceiling wallpaper, its a perfect match.

Mark and Holly, it was such a pleasure working with you both, This has been an awesome experience helping create this personalized style come to reality. I hope you both enjoy this space for the many years to come! Thank you so much!

-J

Project #5: The High-end Retailer

Who doesn’t love to shop?! It was pretty neat to take on this fast paced, fun project. For me, this project helped put my mind at ease during a super busy semester. As a whole, we only spent maybe two weeks or so on it. We each were able to choose our own retailer from a list. Even though my all time favorite brand is Burberry London, the retailer I went with was Hermes Paris. Their staple product is the Birkin bag. The design intent was, “Hermes Paris was founded by the German-born French businessman, Thierry Hermes. is brand was originally created for fine leather equestrian goods. The first product made was a large saddle- bag. In 1922 the first Hermes Handbag was created. is brand since has developed into an international staple of fashion. The renovation of this existing store is intended to make the most popular product, the Birkin Bag, the main focus.” My concept was, “Hermes Paris is renovating a store location in New York City on 5th Ave. Hermes’ goal is to keep their French Roots but to portray them in a modern way to evolve the idea of Paris into a modernized New York City. Hermes also wants an environment that will leave the customers intrigued by a unique special with architectural displays that showcase the newest Birkin Bags as the art and main focus. is will be achieved by an eye-catching window display and collection displays that show the newest merchandise. Carrying pops of color and the styles of the displays throughout each section of the store with modern signage will help bring this ideal into the reality of a new Hermes Paris Retail Location.”

The image on the right is a perspective of the store’s interior. You can see the various display cases and wall units. The image on the left is the store front perspective.

For this project we also had to develop visual signage and a window display. I thought it would be a neat idea for the display to bring back ostrich leather and make this the next trend. I also liked the idea of creating a collection signage, specifically an ‘Into the Jungle’ themed collection signage.

This is the concept for the window display.

Overall, this was a quick and fun project to do. I know it definitely isn’t my best work but I mainly wanted to improve my conceptualizing ability with Hermes Paris.

Thanks!

-J

Project #4: West Hampton Elementary School

In my Commercial Design class, we were given a group project on designing a fictional elementary school. We all decided on a private prepretory school and on a color pallet, logo, mascot, location, and what spaces were assigned to what person. We decided on a blue and yellow based color pallet with shades that dip into the purple and orange hues. We come the stingray as the mascot. Our school was located in the Hamptons, NY. for a coastal vibe. I was assigned the fifth grade classrooms and activity space. I had a very simple concept statement, “The design of this fifth grade classroom and activity space makes the spaces feel very bright and crisp and clean. Since West Hampton Elementary is a private prep school, I thought it was very fitting to provide a modern take on an upscaled school. The goal of this design is to make the students and teachers feel like they are somewhere that they want to be, instead of a normal job or boring classroom. The natural light and bright color pallet help add to the cheeriness of the space. Comfort, style, and engagement of learning are the goals that I believe this design will achieve at West Hampton Elementary. Go Stingrays!” Simple and concise was what I was going for. I almost had it! My main idea was make the spaces bright and have a sense of “home” for the students. Here are some photos that show off the classroom design…

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In this slide show are the images that portray the fifth grade classrooms. The first image is a perspective view, looking into the classroom. It shows the custom reading nooks and has silhouettes of children in the classroom. The next image is an elevation of that back wall with the window and the reading nooks. The last image is the floodplain of the classroom. It shows the number of desks and chairs for the students, the teacher’s desk, and the custom nooks.

I was also assigned the fifth grade hall activity space. Since I had the older age group, I wanted this space to have more of a lounge feel, with bean bags and an iPad station. I have a couple of photos that show my ideas for this space…

The image on the right is a perspective view of the activity space. I wanted to keep the “home” idea throughout the fifth grade hall and into this space with the acrylic house structure. You can see the bean bag area and the iPad stations. There is a blue acrylic wall to help separate this area from the rest of the hall. The kids can post their artwork or latest projects on this wall. The image on the left is the floor plan of the activity space which offers a different viewpoint.

We had to use all commercial grade products and the design had to accommodate handicapable students. I chose desks and chairs that had wheels so if a student was in a wheelchair, the other desks could be moved around to help include this particular student. We also had to make sure our spaces had a cohesiveness to them since we were each given a part of a whole school.

This was an interesting project since it was our first group assignment, but fun nonetheless! On to the next one!

-J

Project #3: The Coffee Fox

The Coffee Fox project is definitely one of my favorites that I have done. This was a commercial project for my Fundamentals of Interior Design class. We were able to choose what kind of “Sweet Shoppe” we would be designing and where it would be located. I had a couple of options in my head but ultimately came down to my love for the mountains. I decided to go with Asheville, NC. as my location. I also had to design the logo for my sweet shoppe, develop a concept statement and client profile, and had to consider using green, environmentally friendly products. All of these factored in the brainstorming process to come up with a logo, name, and concept. It finally came to me, The Coffee Fox.

This is the logo I designed! I love it! 

Just like the break room project, I had to develop a client profile and concept statement. These are two things that we all have to do on every project so we can improve on them. Since I revisited my client profile and concept statement, I really took the time to edit them and be more creative and descriptive. This is my improved client profile, “The Coffee Fox is a locally owned and operated business located in the suburbs of Asheville. The owners, Jesse and Marin Boswell, have always had a love for wildlife, especially foxes. They are partnered with an organization that rescues injured or orphaned foxes and rehabilitate them for a chance to be released back into their natural habitat, hence The Coffee Fox. Jess and Marin are soon relocating to a new building downtown. They want to preserve the history and the architecture of the new space. By doing so, they hope to expand their customer range and appeal more to the people of the heart of Asheville by giving them a warm and inviting space to socialize. Going green is also a major request because not only do they want to give back to the community, they want to give back to the environment as well. Keeping the history, preserving the architecture, and going green are the most important for the success of The Coffee Fox.” Here is my improved concept, “Taking in all that the clients are asking for, I have developed a design that I feel encompasses their requests. The new building has exposed brick interior walls, which I want to keep. They just need to be cleaned up and that alone will make a big impact when someone walks into the space by all of the rich, warm, tones that the brick already possesses. It will tie in nicely with a very light and warm toned wood flooring. Laying the flooring in a herringbone pattern will add a nice detail to keep the eye moving throughout the space. I also want to add large windows that will add a ton of natural light during the day; this will help balance out the warmth and richness of the brick and flooring. Since they are moving to a new space, a custom cash wrap and display case is a must. They both will have a reclaimed wood facade, recycled glass towers for extra space to display sweets, and a slight curve that resembles the curve of a fox’s tail.” I really wanted to elaborate and take the time to develop a well thought out concept.

This is an elevation of the custom cash wrap.

I designed a custom cash wrap and front display case, both of which has two glass, domed towers to display muffins and scones. I wanted my sweet shoppe to focus on coffee and desserts that aren’t too sweet, so muffins and scones it is! The cash wrap has a cooler case with bottled water, milk, and juices. The cash wrap and display case have marble counters, a reclaimed wood facade, and charcoal gray hexagon tiles in the toe kick that continue onto the hardwood flooring. Both custom piece have a curve to them, that you will see in the floor plan.

*ADD FLOOR PLAN IMAGE!*

This was such a cool project to be a part of! Jess, Marin, I hope you both fall in love with your newly remodeled coffee shop! I can’t wait to stop back by for a Caramel Macchiato!

-J

Project #2: The Urban Loft

This project was for my Visual Presentation class. We were given a simple floor plan and basically had to create a room with this floor plan. This project was based on our own personal style and the final product was an actual presentation board where were had the best rendering of the space, pictures of the furnishings and samples of the finishes. I decided to go more deep and dramatic with a beautiful teal color on the walls, trim, and fireplace. I found a kaleidoscope-esque wallpaper with the same teal tones with blues and greens and paired it with raw, natural wood floating shelves, on either side of the fireplace. The hearth was flush with the floor, and it was a clean carrera marble slab. The reclaimed wood flooring was laid in a herringbone pattern, which i=has always been a favorite of mine. I really wanted the furniture to pop, either with color or texture, so the sofa was a clean-lined chesterfield inspired piece with a chartreuse velvet fabric. The two club chairs were upholstered in a navy corduroy fabric. I have always loved cow hide rugs, so I found a beautiful black and white cow hide that really anchored the furniture. Various tables, side, coffee, and console tables all were unique in shape but was unified with the white lacquer finish, or with the brushed bronze base. I also place various accessories that I happen to really like and some of which I have in my own home.

This was my best rendering of this space.

Even though this was my best rendering, I know that I have to improve on the angle of view. A perspective should be focused at an angle that is relative to the average eye level. This angle was a little too high, but I really love how how rich the colors turned out. Not too bad for my first time using Photoshop! On to the next project!

-J

 

 

 

Project #1: The Faculty Lounge

One of my first projects in my Fundamentals of Interior Design Class was a commercial project. The staff at Randolph Community College reached out to me for a new and renovated faculty lounge area. After meeting with the head faculty members, getting a feel for the space, and measuring the existing break room, I began planning. The existing space was terribly outdated and I thought taking the design to a more Mid-Century Modern style and vibe was the way to go. The Client Profile is, “The RCC Faculty has requested our help in rede- signing one of their break rooms. e space is currently old, dated, and uninviting. What do they want? New seating, new floors, and functionality! They want to walk in to an inviting space where that can have some time to relax and be social. New lighting is a must and so is making the most of every area within the space.” My Concept Statement was as follows: “Based on these images and the client profile, I developed a design that encompassed their needs, functionality, and style. Mid-century modern with an industrial twist, the windows! White washed brick and rich wood tones create a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere for the faculty members to enjoy.” My very first client profile and concept statement weren’t too bad, but there is always room for improvement.

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The images in the slide show depict this break room from various angles. The first image is a flat 2-Dimensional image called an elevation. It shows the wall with the refrigerator, cabinetry, and two custom dining tables. The next image in a bird’s eye view of the floor plan, which shows where every piece of furniture, lighting fixture, and accessory is placed in the space. And the last image a perspective view of the interior. It shows the break room as if you were standing behind the sofa.

This project was so much fun! I feel like my first big project was a definite success. I want to thank the staff of RCC for this exciting opportunity and I hope you all enjoy every ounce of the new faculty lounge!

-J