Blog Week 6 - Site Specific - LA

 

The holidays are sneaking in at the Irvine Spectrum, where there is “always something new.” The lighting design here seeks to be larger than life, bright, shiny, flashy, and spectacular. They certainly accomplished quite the spectacle as they prep consumers to get ready for Black Friday. The night was packed, proving that the designers successfully attracted droves of people with their sparkly creation, which seems to enhance the marketing theme, it’s “your life, spectrum style.” Below is an image that represents a coinciding theme of clean-cut, stylish, and elegant, which seems to cater to people who can afford to throw their shiny gold around for expensive cookies and fashionable clothes. Although the overall feeling here is too contrived for my taste, their booming business proves the designer's success.

Rocket Fizz is close to creating a 1970s retro theme, which seems popular amongst teenagers and young adults these days. However, studying the lighting theme, I realize that something about it does not quite nail it. The window on the right leans more towards an old-fashioned ‘1950s’ look, whereas the store sign (above, left) feels more like an 80s Marvel comic character. Those are two completely distinct eras with entirely different moods. Though I like both of them, they do clash when put together. From a distance, for a teenager today, it is understandable that these time-frames would blend. Furthermore, the industrial lights on the ceiling do not seem to embody any connection to either theme. They just appear to be there to show you how much candy is in the store. I suppose that is great for the adolescents who frequent the store, but this mama wants a unified nostalgic experience.

Apple has mastered the art of minimalism. This streamlined look is as sleek as its latest laptop. The holiday balls are cleverly colored to reflect a politically correct disposition, accommodating the viewing pleasure of their multi-cultural clientele. Of course, there are lights involved, but they are strategically placed to allow metal surfaces to reflect in a more subtle manner, creating a contrast to the flashy-spectrum style while still blending in with the environment’s elegance.