37º COMES TO OLYMPIA

37º, the new health and fitness centre concept from operator ARK Leisure Management Ltd, has opened its second outlet in a Grade-II listed, six-storey building in London's Kensington Olympia, with all architecture and design by SHH. The initial outlet for the new brand, also designed by SHH, opened in summer 2006 at the More London Riverside complex on London's South Bank and has been a tremendous success for the operator, a specialist leisure company with a long pedigree in the management of corporate wellness centres and employee work-life balance programmes for major UK corporations.



37° Olympia, the new 27,000 sq ft centre, is comprised of a reception and juice bar on the ground floor, along with a sauna, shower area and swimming pool, disabled changing area, the circulation core and the reception for the treatment area, leading into three separate treatment rooms. On the lower-ground floor are located the back-of-house area and crèche, the communications room, towel storage area, staff kitchen and lounge, cleaning store, switch rooms, swimming pool plant room and a bricked-off area where the underside of the pool is suspended into. The first floor houses the male and female changing rooms and further shower facilities, with a linking stair to the pool area, the swimming pool lobby, circulation core, unisex steam room and two physio rooms. The second floor is dedicated to the massive gym area, including a boxing ring and kinesis system. Yoga and dance studios are on the third floor, along with a dedicated spin studio, a golf simulator lounge and office space for the club management teams. The top floor, where the lift over-rides, will be the location for a further future development SHH are currently working on - a rooftop sun terrace - scheduled to open in Summer 2008.

At the heart of the brand is the identity 37º - with strapline 'Life in balance' - inspired by the body's core temperature and the need to respect and refine the body's natural sense of balance. SHH have applied the 37º identity for all the environmental branding and signage on the project, as well as creating the overall lighting design.

'We treated this scheme very much as an installation into a historic building' commented Stuart McLauchlan, 'keeping the historic fabric and exposing or restoring it wherever possible.' This included restoring old riveted original steel beams and creating new fineline steel windows to replace the existing crittel windows, which were too rusty and damaged to be repaired to the standard required (and which were also a heat loss liability). The new window treatment avoided having to put in heavy aluminium frames, but had to be specially approved by Hammersmith & Fulham's listed building department. The steel beams had to be newly fireproofed, using intumescent paint (which reacts to heat by swelling up to the power of 50 to protect the steel beneath!). There was also a lot of waterproofing work also to be done with a completely new upper building surface.

The dramatic pool area has bright white tiling with a strong fluorescent orange edging for delineation (also used for the pool's racing lines), surrounded by a chocolate brown tiling treatment which ensures that the pool will glow as if in a dark box at night-time. The treatment reception area, located adjacent to the pool, subtly joins the space with a full-height glass corner, allowing maximum light into the rooms, whilst allowing views into the pool for waiting clients. Pale blue pool lounge chairs provide a subtle colour contract with the pure white Panton chairs beyond the glass in the treatment reception area.

In one of the most dramatic features of the whole scheme, a steel-framed tunnel is suspended over the pool, clad in stainless steel mesh, leading swimmers to and from the changing rooms on the floor above. For health and safety reasons this mesh structure had to be created to be completely 'grab-resistant' from all angles, so that swimmers can't hold on to it from the pool itself! The bright orange mosaic tiling on each of the tunnel’s steps echoes the orange pool tiling. A poolside shower takes the form of a freestanding glass cube and related facilities such as the sauna are located alongside. The chocolate brown pool floor tiling continues up the back wall of the sauna, creating a dark, relaxed environment.

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CHECKLAND KINDLEYSIDES WINS AT THE NASFM RETAIL DESIGN AWARDS IN CHICAGO  

Our retail concept for Sony Ericsson won yet another award at the NASFM Retail Design Awards, which took place in Chicago on the first day of Global Shop.  



A big congratulations to the project team as this is the 4th award that the concept has won.  

Timberland’s Milan store also won ‘Special Recognition for Green Awareness’ and a ‘Store Fixture’ award for our reclaimed wood cashwrap, while Virgin Megastore also won an award in this category with our design for the ‘gig-style’ merchandising cases.

  A great night for CK!

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SEYMOURPOWELL DESIGNS THE NEW COMPACT MACHINE FOR COFFEE NATION

Seymourpowell has designed the new fascia and interface of COMPACT, a brand-new self-serve coffee machine aimed at the convenience sector for client Coffee Nation, the UK’s leading gourmet vended speciality coffee company. COMPACT is set to launch at the 2008 Convenience Retail Show in Birmingham in April 2008

As a complimentary addition to Coffee Nation’s existing portfolio, which is currently available in over 550 motorway, petrol forecourt and convenience stores across the country, the COMPACT is an ideal solution for grocery; convenience and forecourt stores wanting to build a profitable, fresh coffee business. COMPACT is set to be the star of the show at CRS with its sleek fascia and simple user interface, delivering customers fresh Latte, Cappuccino and Americano, Mocha and Hot Chocolate.



The average Coffee Nation site generates sales of £40,000, whilst its top performing site makes over £400,000. From just one metre of floor space, the COMPACT is set to maximize valuable retail space in convenience stores and create a profitable 24 hour coffee business, delivering real gourmet coffee in less than a minute.

Matthew Tidnam, Senior Designer at Seymourpowell, commented: “Our biggest challenge on this project was to design a left-to-right consumer interface with this project within a small product architecture with a central dispense unit. We also had to apply the design language we have been developing for Coffee Nation right across the brand to the unit’s materials and finishes, as well as designing all the graphics for this particular machine on a tight timeline. Our relationship with KMF Precision Sheet Metals was critical to the project’s successful conclusion.”

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CHECKLAND KINDLEYSIDES CREATE GRAPHIC PALETTE FOR URBAN HEALING

For holistic pharmacy brand Urban Healing, we created a refreshed graphic palette for their concession within Harrods.



New lifestyle and ingredient imagery was introduced along with a clean, contemporary approach to in-store communications. These refinements work throughout the retail space in the form of light-boxes and information pods, through to signage and high level navigation, reflecting the vitality and wellbeing ethos of the brand.

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CHECKLAND KINDLEYSIDES DESIGN ROADSHOW FOR SONY PS3

The PlayStation® 3 UK tour is designed to showcase the capabilities of the console which stretch beyond the realms of gaming and also to demonstrate how PS3 is the heart of the home entertainment system.



The concept is made up of a twelve building blocks which are stacked in a range of configurations to suit each venue. At each site consumers will be able to experience mini workshops, view HD showreels and movies, explore the PS3 in detail and enter a prize draw to win prizes

The roadshow toured for three months taking in major shopping centres across the UK.

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CHECKLAND KINDLEYSIDES DESIGN LITERATURE FOR BATHROOM BRAND KOHLER

Kohler’s new literature for 2008 reflects recent developments in the product, brand and channel distribution strategies.

The brochures use aspirational photography and set designs to convey the brand’s contemporary design trends and aesthetics; designed to inspire consumers, but also to be used by retailers, specifiers and installers, hence the inclusion of detailed technical information.



For 2008 we have created three new brochures, the first of which is the ‘Bathroom Statements’ brochure which showcases Kohler’s premium product, telling stories of their iconic and experiential products. We also designed brochures for ‘Bathroom Collections’ and ‘Brassware Collections’ which have been translated into German, Polish, Russian and Dutch.

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CHECKLAND KINDLEYSIDES WINS FIRST PLACE WITH SONY ERICSSON IN NYC

Sony Ericsson was awarded first place in its category at the ISP / VM+SD’s 37th International Retail Design Competition which took place in New York on January 14th.



The competition received over 200 entries of new retail design projects from around the world and our concept for Sony Ericsson was the only UK project amongst the winners.

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JHP LAND ULTIMATE IN AIRPORT RETAIL DESIGN

London design consultancy JHP has been awarded a prestigious project by World Duty Free to design its 29,000 sq ft store in Heathrow’s new Terminal 5.

The design practice won a three-way pitch and has designed “the world’s greatest store in the world’s greatest airport”, according to joint Managing Director, Steve Collis.



This commission includes the consideration of the entire store experience – staff uniforms, service style, in-store ‘soundscape’, music and entertainment.

The store, which is over two levels, will have a clean and simple architectural scheme and will retail beauty, food, luxury, liquor and tobacco products on the departure level, and sunglasses, watches and jewellery on the check-in level. Also located within the store will be ‘London’s best cocktail bar’, crowned by a stunning chandelier light fixture and other firsts such as live ‘make-over’ areas, luxury tasting bars and a food hall.

The company’s designs reveal an entirely inspiring, luxurious and yet uncomplicated ambience. Bringing together the store architecture and key moments of retail theatre, with the world’s most exciting retail brands, the store will offer the ultimate in Duty Free shopping.

JHP’s Steve Collis stated: “We worked closely with World Duty Free’s Head of Marketing, Sue Gosling, on exploring the concept of ‘contentainment’ - meaning the harmonisation of cross category promotional campaigns, entertainment, events and airport information. No two visits to the store will ever be the same, so the design displays will be constantly updated and changing.”

The centrepiece of this work is an ‘Art Wall’ capable of displaying any type of moving or still image and will be used by both retailer and brands as part of store wide tactical campaigns.

The customer journey through the space easily blends luxury products with commodity in a singular store environment. The client’s brief to the agency and their experience in understanding how consumers shop for such products was critical to the success of this project.

Sue Gosling commented: "Our partnership with JHP means we can combine their strategic understanding of consumers in transit and their commercial design services with our retail expertise to deliver an outstanding World Duty Free store in Terminal 5”.

World Duty free launched their new brand badge and corporate identity design by JHP in May of 2007.

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CHECKLAND KINDLEYSIDES CREATES GRAPHICS FOR BANK’S STORES

For Bank’s new store in Cambridge we created an environment which communicates the personality of the Bank brand more powerfully, while simultaneously providing a showcase where capsule brands are presented with confidence.



A new Bank identity was designed using a distinctive typeface, which we drew upon to create sub-identities for denim, footwear and T-shirts. This has been applied to navigation, POS and ticketing; strengthening the presence of the Bank brand throughout the store. We also created large scale graphics to add character and texture to the store.

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SOPHIE PEDERSEN NAMED AS NEW ASSOCIATE AT SHH

Architect Sophie Pedersen has been named as the new fifth Associate at London-based architects and designers SHH. Australian architect Sophie has been with SHH since 2004, working on major residential and leisure projects such as the 68-bedroom, four star Parkcity hotel and a new leisure centre for Ark Leisure Ltd - whilst becoming an invaluable part of the SHH team.



Sophie is also now the only female Associate within SHH's second tier of management - although not the first female to be appointed Associate (following on from Amanda Gallagher's Associateship at the company in the 1990's.) Sophie joins Architects Stuart McLauchlan, Steven Southall and Guy Matheson, as well as Designer Daniel de Groot, as a client-facing project runner in the practice, helping the three company directors Graham Harris, David Spence and Neil Hogan administrate the company's growing workload (the company was named by FX Magazine last November as the third most-improving company in terms of overall turnover, as part of a retail interiors industry review).

Sophie graduated with a BA in Architecture from Deakin University, Australia in 1996, going on to work for a number of Australian architectural practices such as James Architects in Cairns and Gary Hunt & Partners in Port Douglas on luxury housing and commercial projects (including masterplanning a resort on the Great Barrier Reef and the design of an alternative health care centre in Port Douglas), before re-locating to the UK in February 2004. After a short contract with Sutters Partnership Architects in London, Sophie found just the right opening for her skills at SHH, where she has stayed ever since, now joining the other Associates, several of whom have been with SHH for ten years or more.

Sophie commented on her new appointment: 'When I arrived in London, I never imagined I'd find myself being awarded an Associateship at a top architectural practice within a few years. It has all been a really wonderful experience and I'm lucky to be working for a company that suits me so well, with interesting and complex projects and a cheerful and relaxed work environment. In design terms, working at SHH has taken me 'to the next level' and I look forward to pushing myself and my role still further in the years to come.'

SHH Chairman David Spence added: 'We are delighted to be able to offer Sophie an Associateship at SHH. Ever since she started working for us, she has been consistently professional in her approach and handles everything she does with ease. Nothing seems to faze her – even our most challenging projects!’

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BLACKSHEEP BRING BAGS OF INSPIRATION TO VENDôME

For the new interiors concept for Knightsbridge bar and club Vendôme, designers Blacksheep referenced the area's high-end fashion stores, creating a colourful, glamorous and high-end destination environment - and the perfect location for posing in a newly-purchased outfit!

Taking their inspiration in particular from monogrammed luggage and quirky and individual handbags, Blacksheep have designed a very individualistic space that is high on luxury detail, unusual colours and sumptuous fabrics and which communicates a precious and female-friendly aura. Blacksheep also created the new identity for Vendôme (together with Studio Output), as well as brand applications including menus and matches.

Bar and clubgoers arrive at Vendôme's Walton Street entrance, where the front façade is painted in an elegant gun metal grey, with the new external branding in stainless steel lettering. The aluminium door is also painted in gun metal grey and the metallic feel continues into the entrance area, which is surrounded in stainless steel mosaic tiles. Once inside, attention is immediately drawn to a new focal point at the back of the space - a host's table on a club night or a party or group table - where a single table with curved seating in a single continuous banquette is backed by an uplit curved polished brass strip wall treatment with green wallpaper inset between the strips.



Blacksheep, who always create bespoke furniture for projects where possible, created bespoke booth areas for the new bar/club based on the idea of an open trunk case - underlit, with ostrich leather backing plus inset oval mirrors and LED lighting on the trunk 'cover', referencing the inside of a vanity case. Each trunk seating area can seat up to six people at one go (and also cleverly conceals the air conditioning units). There are four trunk seats in total, each created as a single freestanding unit, with each one delineated by high seat backs with leather head 'rolls' in textured ivory, as well as an overhead suitcase 'hood' in gold reflective material.

Lighting design throughout is by Blacksheep and includes 9 crystal wall-lights (by Cameron Peters), as well as uplighting to the rear of the curved banquette seating area, which reflects up onto the bronze curved wall. Lighting below the lip of the bar front downlights onto the feature graphic panel.

Colour-changing LEDs shine down onto the wall-side banquettes, controllable from the back of house in a mood-changing spectrum of ambers and golds. Amber lighting is also inset beneath the seating to give the impression of floating.

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MORE GOOD VIBRATIONS FROM SEYMOURPOWELL

Launching this autumn, in time for the Christmas gifts market, is a duo of his'n'hers disposable sex toys, both designed by Seymourpowell: the 'Durex Play Ultra' and the 'Durex Play Touch'. Both are priced at £10.99 and come with two battery pods, offering 40 minutes of use.

The 'Durex Play Ultra' is an innovative evolution of the classic cock-ring, with a revolutionary aperture and a vertically-positioned flexible head, which can be angled to maintain contact with the clitoris at all times.

The 'Durex Play Touch' is a unique finger stimulator, with flexible fitting for maximum comfort and adaptability, which can be worn by either partner.



For Durex Play Ultra, research showed that the generic cock-ring product is formed from a complete circular band, typically of quite thin rubber, which can be very constricting and uncomfortable to wear - and in some cases can even pose a health risk.

Seymourpowell's ring structure is created instead with a revolutionary aperture. The overall structure is a combination of a rigid matt and a soft polymer, so that it is robust, but also, thanks to the aperture, fits a range of sizes. The ring widens near the gap with larger soft-textured contact areas for extra grip so that it won't slip and is also easy to take off in a hurry if needed. The second major change compared to other rings on the market is that the vibrator attachment is normally attached horizontally, failing to act very effectively on the clitoris. The Durex Play Ultra ring, however, has a soft base and can be angled so that is has almost an inch with which to reach its target area, with the added flexibility and movement creating more possibility of stimulation.

The Durex Play Touch design development stages were long and very thorough The final product had to be stable but not constricting. This was achieved with a harder shell on top of the product and a clear, softer and flexible silicone section beneath. The product also had to be waterproof and easy both to put on and take off.

'We wanted this product to feel extremely comfortable, almost invisible' explained Nick Talbot, 'and as much like an extension of the user's own body as possible. For this reason, the battery-bullet 'active zone' had to sit as in line with the tip of the finger as possible.'

Both final products also have a commonality of parts, which offered the client cost-effective manufacturing options. Both use a modular, waterproof and battery-powered 'bullet' as the vibrating mechanism.

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JHP TO RELAUNCH MYLA AT HARRODS

Myla, the luxury lifestyle lingerie brand has collaborated with innovative design company JHP, to create a new boutique concept. Myla appointed the design consultancy to develop the future direction of their boutiques and concessions, following an exercise by the lingerie retailer on the strategic repositioning of their brand.

The design brief for the new generation of Myla boutiques was to create an intimate and luxurious shopping environment for their customer’s, whilst mirroring the character and personality of the brand.



The brief was achieved by the use of colour, lighting and visionary interior design. JHP drew inspiration from Myla’s focus on balancing opposites, yin and yang, light and dark, soft texture and hard shiny surfaces. Key features include a sculptural centerpiece which will showcase the brand’s main fashion ranges, silk fabric padded walls and reflective bronze mirrored surfaces.

Myla Creative Director, Franceska Luther, comments, “We set out to achieve an ultra feminine intimate environment and shopping experience for our customers. Our new store design achieves the irresistible combination of luxury and sensuality, which lies at the heart of the Myla brand.”

The new lingerie floor in Harrods will provide the backdrop for the unveiling of the first concession concept, which opens late November.

Going forward, the development of a new concept will enable Myla to continue to redefine the concept of luxury lingerie for the modern woman. The retailer plans to continue its expansion strategy with a second USA boutique opening in New York, early 2008.

Raj Wilkinson, JHP joint Managing Director states “The design is wickedly feminine and we believe customers will enter the Myla world with a luxurious glint in their eye and be immediately transported to the world of ‘new boudoir’.

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CLAPHAM HOUSE DESIGNED BY BLACKSHEEP

Blacksheep were commissioned by a private bachelor client, who had just purchased a traditional, four-storey Victorian townhouse in Clapham, south London, to create a more contemporary interior for the home, with extensive AV facilities and newly-appointed rooms, including a cinema area, study/games room and enlarged master ensuite bedroom.

The brief for the project was to use bespoke joinery to create rooms with discreet or even completely hidden storage (with a complete ban on open shelving!), with hidden or integral AV and individual TV screens throughout the house, to be hidden where possible when not in use. Doors were also to be re-hung to improve entry where needed. Blacksheep also created bespoke furniture for the house where appropriate to meet the exact needs of the client.



On the lower ground level, the house is now comprised of a main kitchen area, new cinema room and dining room. On the ground floor are the office area, formal living room and a games room. The ensuite master bedroom (for which two existing bedrooms were knocked into one) is located on the first floor, along with a further guest room and bathroom, with two further double bedrooms, a single bedroom and a bathroom on the top floor.

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SEYMOURPOWELL CREATE ILUX FOR AQUALISA: THE NEXT EVOLUTION OF THE DIGITAL SHOWER

Having worked with Aqualisa's research and technology teams to design the world’s first digital shower (Quartz), as well as its sophisticated successor (Axis), Seymourpowell have now designed the next step in the evolution of the digital shower for long-term client and digital market pioneer Aqualisa. Available to customers from Autumn 2007, the ilux Digital allows perfect pre–sets of both temperature and water flow for up to four people from a single controller. The technology is not only applicable to showers this time around, but also to baths.

The shower controller is vertical with a rounded top and bottom. In the centre are four pre-set buttons, allowing for individual shower settings for up to four family members (or flat- or housemates) to be recorded - or even four different preferences for one user at different times of day! The chosen button lights up with a surrounding blue LED light. The dial at the top of the controller denotes temperature (with hot and cool settings indicated by variable red and blue LEDs between the two, indicating current temperature), whilst the flow rate is controlled by the lower dial, illuminated by white LED lights with a green minimum flow ‘eco’ setting. Users can choose any flow from an economical 8 litres per minute to a luxurious 18. The lights oscillate whilst the water is warming up and the flow rate is rising and only hold steady when the choices determined by the pre-set button are met. The top dial also serves as the start and stop button, whilst the bottom dial has a pause facility (eg for shampooing or shaving), which returns immediately to its pre-set flow and temperature on release.



The ilux Digital bath control functions according to the same principles of interactivity, but is horizontal, with the temperature dial to the left and flow dial to the right. The bath will fill at the pre-set volume and to the pre-set temperature, with the user able to leave the bathroom with no risk of overflow, thanks to the 'fill and forget' option! Should there not be enough hot water, it will stop and allow the user to determine what to do next, rather than making up the volume with colder water.

The accompanying remote control allows users to run the bath from a different room – or even from the bed! - and can also be used for a hot top-up whilst in the bath. The control is completely bathroom-proof and even if dropped in the bath will float to the surface! There is also a lock button, indicated by dimming lights, that disables the control, helping to prevent a child from using or changing the control whilst unsupervised. For extra security, the control can also be positioned away from the bath if so desired.

Dick Powell, co-founder and director of Seymourpowell, commented: 'With every new digital generation from Aqualisa, we move closer both to delivering on the potential which the technology offers, and to providing a better bathing experience. The pre-sets are super simple to use - just shower as you like to, and press and hold a preset button to memorise. The same thinking extends into filling your bath with the push of a button and, with the new remote, you can do it from your bedroom.

ilux is an innovative and contemporary product which delivers seamless performance . . and that surely is the holy grail of design.'

The technological capabilities, combined with the design's aesthetically-pleasing high-quality metal casings and metallic dials help set the ilux Digital shower and bath systems apart as high-end products.

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SHH CREATE SLEEK AND SEXY NEW CHAMPAGNE BAR FOR DION IN CANARY WHARF

Architects and designers SHH have created a sleek and sexy new bar and restaurant for premier champagne and wine bar brand dion, set within a historic building on West India Quay in London’s Canary Wharf. The Canary Wharf bar, the third to open under the dion brand, is the first to feature the new interiors concept, which marks a departure from the design concepts of the initial two outlets (in St Paul’s and Leadenhall Street, in the heart of the City).

As well as being responsible for the interior architecture and design of the space, SHH have also applied the brand to new menus, matchboxes and signage.

The design concept was to develop and accentuate dion’s status as a luxury brand, creating 3D and 2D brand associations in terms of pattern, colour and materiality.

The entrance to the bar itself features a dedicated reception area, backed by a black glass wall and with a feature bespoke reception desk made up of tightly-packed brass poles (a design feature used throughout the scheme).



A dramatic feature display wall leads away to the left, made up of white, split-stone, angled bricks with glass shelving set in front of it to display the range of champagne, fronted by a series of vertical wires, off which hang further intermittent brass poles (which reference the rigging of the tall ships from the historical harbour). The bottles, shelving and brass poles are all side-lit and all catch the light like a jewellery box, further enhancing the preciousness of the product. This display area incorporates all the key elements that SHH sought to associate with the brand and which are used throughout the space and also in the graphic applications.

Beyond the wall is the 7.5m long main bar, which uses electro-luminescent tape, set within a glass counter, to create a glowing white surface (also used for the reception desk), as well as a mirrored back wall bottle display. The brass pole idea is used again here, with a solid brass pole bar front.

Lighting is low level and used as an accent, either in the form of side lighting or reflected back from the feature wall, glass and mirrored glass in the space. The timber columns and beams are lit by downlighters and freestanding gimble fittings (freestanding because they cannot touch the fabric of the listed columns/beams).

Seating on the ground floor is chrome and black leather, whilst tables are bespoke in gold back-painted glass (same as the stair treads). The flooring throughout is a new and rich dark timber (dark-stained oak).

The lower ground floor is a smaller and more intimate space, with a lower ceiling height. Tables on the lower-ground are white marble and bespoke, whilst the flooring is the existing flagstones. This is a smaller floor with 120 capacity (with 240 upstairs). The bar in this area is the same as the ground floor bar in treatment but is less than half the size (at 3m long). A sliding wall partition enables a separate private party area to be created and hired out for eg private wine tastings.

SHH completed the job on a very tight budget and timetable – four months from May 1st for a complete refit, including lighting, sound system, security and kitchen. This broke down as 8 weeks from concept to design development and a further 8 weeks on site. ‘This was a challenging programme’ commented Addy Walcott, ‘but we are delighted with the end result, which communicates both the sense of welcome and aspirational luxury the brand embodies. Our goal was to make a huge impact on the developing Canary Wharf bar scene with a unique venue that celebrates champagne and socialising and I believe we have definitely achieved that!’

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MINISTRY NEW STORE CONCEPT

Briggs Hillier Design have created the first concept store and visual identity for emerging menswear fashion retailer, Ministry. The new store concept takes inspiration from historical elements of the ‘Ministry’ brand name, translated with a contemporary twist to appeal to the Ministry target customer and effectively reflect the fashionable mix of urban brands on offer, which include Gio Goi, Duck and Cover, Fred Perry and Bench.



The store features a large open-plan entrance enabling the customer to see deep into the store and encourages footfall. Decorative chainmail, raw materials and high quality gloss finishes are used; reclaimed oak is used to define the entrance area and cash desk back wall, and in contrast glossy finishes are used on unitary and feature tables helping to create a dramatic effect and define key areas.

The overall store concept is successful in providing a prestigious and unique feel which is inline with the aspirations of the target customers and brands on sale.

The first store has launched at the new Westfields Shopping Centre in Derby, with further stores planned later this year.

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LEADING DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT CENTRE LEAD THE WAY TO GROUNDBREAKING ENGINEERING TECHNIQUES

The National Centre for Product Design and Development Research (PDR) has recently become one of the first design and development centres in the UK to offer the latest breakthrough in 3D technology to businesses.

As the first portable, hand-held scanning device on the market the 3D Handiscan allows users to capture data in a single continuous scan, and generate digital models from any physical shape or form in a record-breaking timeframe and accuracy.

The application of such advanced technology has significant implications for automated reverse engineering, with the ability to re-create complex products or components which would have been impossible to achieve through conventional engineering and design methods. It is also ideal for emerging applications such as the production of customised devices and automatic recreation of legacy parts.



PDR, widely recognized as a European leader in the fields of product design and production, is unique in it’s concentration of leading-edge facilities and knowledge, and has always maintained a history of revolutionary application of the very latest technologies and processes.

It is one of just 3 companies in the UK to own a Selective Laser Melting (SLM) Machine, and the only company in the UK to offer it commercially. As the only machine to make it possible to produce 100% dense stainless steel parts from custom metal powder, the SLM machine can achieve the finest details such as thin vertical walls of less than 100 µm.

Jarred Evans, Commercial Manager PDR commented, “this is reflective of our philosophy to offer world class expertise and cutting-edge technologies all under one roof. We are continuously investing heavily in prototyping and batch manufacturing technologies to work with data submitted or created at PDR to offer a range of solutions to companies who require anything from 1 to 5,000 parts per annum quickly and accurately. By offering capabilities that are unique to PDR, we aim to provide creative and practical solutions that add value to our client’s offering and help them prosper in the most profitable, competitive and cost effective way”.

PDR has the resources and capabilities to take products from concept to successful production and launch all in-house. Services offered include research and analysis, product design, engineering, prototyping, manufacturing, and graphics design and branding.

For further information contact Angela Spiteri on 02920 416725.

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PIONEERING DESIGN CENTRE BAG INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR PRODUCT THAT TRIPLED CLIENT’S SALES

Leading-edge product design and development centre PDR (The National Centre for Product Design and Development Research) has just become the first design company in Wales to receive an International Design Excellence Award (IDEA) for its outstanding design work.

A bariatric hospital bed developed for Nightingale Beds, the ProAxis Plus, is the epitome of great design, and since its launch has increased Nightingale’s sales figures by 286%.



With most bariatric beds failing to consider patient and carer health risks – the ProAxis Plus has been cleverly engineered to maintain a functionality that is among the safest, user friendly and most practical on the market. Its ergonomically designed mattress and electronically controlled functions optimise patient comfort whilst alleviating the potential for manual handling injuries.

Nigel Quinn, Managing Director of Nightingale Beds commented, “Since The ProAxis Pressure Area Care System was introduced into the market, I am delighted to be able to say that the response to date has exceeded all our expectations. The quality of PDR’s work throughout the project proved to be exceptional and their support through all phases was first class”.

With over 1,600 entries from 30 countries, winning an IDEA is the ultimate compliment from the design industry and defines a design as the very best in business. Winners are selected by a panel of top international designers and only pioneering products that have the ability to thrive in global markets are selected. Other notable winners this year include Apple and Kodak.

PDR, a design and development centre at the University of Wales Institute Cardiff (UWIC), has bagged a total of 5 prestigious international awards over the past 2 years – more than any other UK design company. Jarred Evans, Commercial Director of PDR commented, “This is a fantastic result for our talented team who surpassed competition from some of the world’s most innovative companies. I am delighted to showcase the exceptional expertise we have at PDR and in Wales on such an international level”.

PDR is a multidisciplinary design and development centre and has the in-house resources and capabilities to take products from concept to successful production and launch. Services include developmental research, product design and development, prototyping, low volume rapid manufacture, graphics, marketing and branding.

For further information, or to set up a meeting, contact Angela Spiteri on 02920 416725.

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UK BUSINESS TO BENEFIT FROM COLLABORATION WITH CHINESE DESIGNERS



With booming trade between UK and China, exporting OEMs from both regions will need product designers with up-to-date, local experience of these markets. And as China follows up its strength in manufacturing with growing creative expertise, designers who collaborate across continents will be in the best positionto help clients with global ambitions.

Cheshire based product designer Matthew Link has already taken advantage of this opportunity, by forming a cross-cultural design team that cooperates between the UK and China, sharing skills, experiences, influences, and even clients.

For Matthew, the time is right for joining forces with his Chinese counterparts. “The country now boasts many professional world-class product design consultancies,” he says. “Creative talent and regional success is giving them increasing confidence to export their services to the west, and rather than burying my head in the sand, I've decided to embrace this change by working partnership with them- on projects where it's appropriate for my clients.”

Until recently, one possible drawback of such a move would have been China's reputation for copying designs. But Chinese companies and their government now see the economic benefits of working to professional international business standards, with remarkable achievements in the revision and improvement of their IPR laws now widely acknowledged by international observers.

After a year long search for best-fit partners,Matthew has now joined forces with a talented Beijing based product design consultancy. Impressed with their previous work for clients such as Samsung, LG, Lenovo and Danfoss, he visited all their suppliers and tested them on several live projects before agreeing the partnership. Working as uk:chinalink, the team is now ready to offer a versatile, highly innovative, product design and manufacture service to clients in Europe, Asia and beyond.

“Together we have an amazing team of around 30 qualified people,” says Matthew, “including product, graphic and web designers, electronic, mechanical and software engineers, and project managers. This diversity means we can handle even the most complex projects, quickly and professionally - and lower costs are an added benefit."

One of the main advantages to UK clients is the team's strategic location in the world's major manufacturing region. Not only does this mean they have in-depth experience of designing for Asian manufacturing methods, it also makes it easy to control quality and costs throughout production.

Projects will benefit from Matthew Link's western design perspective, and he continues to be intimately involved at every stage of the process. “This is a creative partnership where we all contribute equally, and bring our broad range of expertise and experience to the task. It's a multiskilled international design team, which really works to the benefit of all our clients, no matter where they are.”

For UK clients wanting to break into lucrative Asian markets, uk:chinalink has developed Design for Export - a cross-cultural design service, which helps maximise a product's success overseas by adjusting or redesigning it to appeal to the foreign audience.

As well as the product design and manufacture service, uk:chinalink also now welcomes Beijing Rapid Prototyping to the partnership. Matthew Link will handle all its UK business, targeting OEMs, designers, engineers, architects and even students, who will benefit from the affordability of this new service.

Matthew Link - T: +44 (0)1565 650031
E:mjl@matthewlink.co.uk
W:www.matthewlink.co.uk

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EXCALIBUR – GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS - JHP TO DESIGN NEW STORE CONCEPT

JHP has been appointed by Arvind Brands, one of the world’s largest manufacturer of denim, to design a new store concept for its lifestyle fashion store Excalibur.

India’s equivalent to Jude Law, the supermodel turned actor Milind Soman who is the Excalibur brand ambassador turned up at the recent opening of the store in Bangalore, India. Opening in a blaze of publicity, the Excalibur brand has been re-evaluated to reflect the growing consumerism of India’s service workforce.



J Suresh, Arvind Brands Chief Operating Office stated ”Our products are styled to suit the attitudes of our customers - being progressive, yet rooted in values and tradition. The ambitious nature of young executives now in India means that they want to look as good as they feel. We aim to provide them with smart, high quality range of cotton shirts at affordable pricing”.

The product range, which revolves around the brand’s essence of “Live, work and play”, includes shirts, trousers, jackets, belts and ties. The collection has been categorised into ‘Business Hours’, ‘After Hours’ ‘Vogue’ ‘Royale’ and ‘Vitals’, with the new store design supporting it’s positioning as a lifestyle brand offering complete wardrobe solutions for young working men.

JHP joint Managing Director Raj Wilkinson commented on the project: “It has been a great pleasure to work with Arvind Brands on this project. Their energy and drive to establish retail originality will place them at the forefront of the ever growing Indian marketplace”

Excalibur, which leverages owner’s Arvind Mills’ competencies in cotton fabric, will roll the concept out across India in 2007.

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BRIGGS HILLIER DESIGN CREATE IDENTITY, INTERIOR AND GRAPHICS FOR ‘FUEL’

Brand and retail design consultancy Briggs Hillier Design has created the branding, interior and graphic identity for a new coffee bar and chill-out lounge located within a Leicestershire institute of higher education.

Briggs Hillier was appointed with a brief to create an inspiring and stimulating environment with dedicated areas for socialising, games and a café, together with areas of soft seating and flexible seating.

The resulting design, inspired by urban music and city architecture, consists of three functional zones: socialise, meet and eat, linked together using a continuous graphic ribbon applied to the perimeter wall.



Finishes and materials further help to define the three separate zones; walkways are defined on the floor layout to help customer effectively navigate through the area.

Key features are incorporated into the design, including a stepped seating area reminiscent of an urban landscape, a congregation area, and quick stop ‘pods’ which incorporate bus stop style seating for customers that want to ‘eat and go’. The games zone is partitioned using a large glass screen, forming a centrepiece whilst creating a sense of space.

The environment is injected with ‘attitude’ through a contemporary colour palette of green and pink, which has been used to finish features and help build an exciting and engaging social space.

The resulting environment creates an inviting space which successfully fulfils the functional requirements of the original brief.

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