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November 01, 2005
Retail and Interactivity
Having worked at Frankel, a major branding firm back in Chicago, I am constantly judging and trying to see retail interior fixtures differently.
Starbucks today, the only place where I could really concentrate on my work without the distraction of having a smoke or the roommate who loves to play her cantopop. It's amazing how most Americans are addicted to Starbucks. It's especially the case in NYC. Just to get my cup of joe at 4pm, I had to wait in line for about 10 minutes. Would I have really come down here if I had known there was such a long line? But then again, this place is always crowded, being the only starbucks on campus, selling their legally-drugged cup of H2O.
As I sit here reading for about an hour or so for my privacy class, I notice the "starbucks" light fixtures, the lowered ceilings with the cheap incandescent lights, the wall paintings... aren't we getting a little tired of seeing this all? So boring.
An alum at ITP had once said that the "print" ages are over in advertising. It's true I don't see too many children who are surprised when seeing moving images nowadays. So, why is the transition in architecture and interiors happening so slowly? There's the new field of study in interactive architecture. I just purchased the book, 4dspace: Interactive Architecture by: Lucy Bullivant. I'm really interested in as to where and how interactivity would fit into architecture. I have to admit, it's a little sci-fi-ish and I can't stop but imagine them in my head.
I personally think interactivity should be brought into retail environments very soon. I mean, we see them in museums all the time. So why not the next step and bring them into our daily lives? When it comes to retail spaces and interactivity, it'd be about the personal experience in that space as opposed to buying-and-getting-the-hell-outta-here experience.
I wonder if Russ Dow is on it right now.
Posted by min at November 1, 2005 04:54 PM