Week 10: Last one and done.

This picture represents the overall feeling of The Irvine Spectrum for me because there is a lot going on, especially because of the holiday season. I have been to this location once before and there were already a lot of lights. Now that Christmas is upon us, there are extra festive lights. I think the designers were trying to create a spectacle for the shopping or eating experience. People like lights. There are lighting ceremonies to which people flock, i.e. the Christmas lighting ceremony in downtown Chicago draws a huge crowd every year no matter what the weather is like. Lights can add a special feeling to the atmosphere, and I think that is a big part of the goal. Shoppers of all ages only need to go to one place for an evening out for a full experience. Whether or not it is successful will depend on the individual. Personally, I, like many others, enjoy seeing a variety of lights. I think the lights were cohesive in many of the common areas, i.e. all palm trees had same type of lighting and matched the ferris wheel. In this picture, the movie theater is a bit much and doesn't mesh as well with the rest of the environment, but I am assuming the designers there wanted the theater to stand out, and it does. I am a "less is more" type of person, so I think that overall the Spectrum is nicely lit, but I wouldn't mind a little less.

 This window display for Anthropologie works really well for me. I am quite familiar with this store.........and I think the display is an accurate representation of the feel of it. It is unique, eye catching, detailed, and pleasing to look at. It frames the clothing in a manner that is cohesive with the products sold. From the shape of the window and it's line details to the lights in the decorative element, this store appropriately and successfully designs the aesthetic of the company. And being familiar with it, I can say they are also consistent in their designs.

 The design of this children's store was unsuccessful for me because of its plain nature. More simple designs can definitely work for certain retail stores depending on the product, but I think that there is a lot of room to be creative when it comes to products for children. I think children's clothing and other items necessitates a louder design than this. If I had a reason to buy something for a child, it would not be the design that would entice me to enter the store and purchase something, but rather a need to buy something for a child. I think that is a mistake on the company's part because a well-designed storefront will absolutely catch the eye of potential customers and draw them into the store.

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This picture is more of a postscript...

I actually thought this one was the best, but I think Boroka is using it, so wanted to choose something different. It's so fun! Where is the gobo coming from?!?!?! haha.