NEC Spring Fair Exhibition Design

The 'Bomb' stand for cosmetic products at the NEC in Birmingham uses corrugated metal as a part of its design. I find this an extremely interesting choice of material as the brand is bright, feminine and warm; the industrial feel created by the metal emphasises the hot pink walls inside (as seen below) by using the cool material on its adjacent. Visitors are given a sense of luxury by stepping out of a harsher environment on the outside. 

Edie Parker- Selfridges

A simplistic, yet effective form of display for Edie Parker's handbag collection, features soft, white lights sitting underneath the products. The light is reflected off of the glossy wall behind and quickly makes the clutch bags into the centre of attention. 

Unique styles of suspense

Wool is used in this particular display for the Oxford Street John Lewis, suspending a large circular piece below containing 2 city-scape stitchings. The many different strands of wool work together to hold the heavy object below and contrast to the usual wire support seen in shops (as seen above the reels). The choice of material also links to the department stores furniture section; drawing the eye down to the level below, there is more for customers to see downstairs. 

Nike Town- Oxford Circus

 My visit to Nike Town made me realise just how important lighting is in achieving a particular look within a store. Neon signage was clearly the main drive of the shops interior, playing with shapes and typography to entice the customer into the various different sections. 

The clean, glass box suspended above the floor below is the beating heart of Nike Town, offering the unique opportunity for buyers to design and purchase custom made footwear. 

Bold and colourful artwork hanging in the stores entrance is eye-catching to passer-bys outside on the street. The busy, vibrant wall is framed by a minimal concrete-style floor, which runs throughout the ground floor area. 

Using electrical wiring to an advantage

John Lewis, Oxford Street, have taken electrical wiring and sockets to create a bold and quirky piece of art representing the London skyline. By contrasting the powerful artwork against a white brick wall in the background, shop customers are stopped in their tracks to notice the clever imagery. It is a really neat trick emphasizing the fact that any aspect of an interior can be made interesting aesthetically. 

Morelli's- Broadstairs

Open since 1932, 'Morelli's' of Broadstairs, Kent, is one of the longest running ice cream parlours in the UK, with only 14 more open around the world. The interiors have remained exactly the same since opening with the same pink leatherette booths, formica tops and soda fountain. Once stepping inside you are hit with a feeling of nostalgia whatever your age; with other shops in the area trying to stand out for being modern, it is extremely interesting how popular it remains for sticking to tradition.  

Original shop signage:

Novelty pieces feature in the parlour's interior such as ice cream cone lighting fixtures. 

Pockets of wonderment

Selfridges are renowned for their striking and magical window displays, drawing in the public who pass by outside with vivid colours and rich textures. This year, a personal favourite was created by jewellery brand Tiffany, contrasting against the overwhelming scale of the displays outside with miniature paper set pieces. The frames alone were extremely small and dark, allowing the difference in light to emphasize the snowy scene. I automatically felt drawn in to the display, especially to take notice of the amount of detail created by the scenery and small font at the bottom of the tree. 

Size of the set pieces in relation to a human hand:

It felt as though the window was trying to emulate a message linking to the size of the jewellery and how a sheer amount of pleasure and beauty can be created through each individual piece, no matter what scale it be on.