Week 6- Site Specific-KM

 The overall feeling of this location was cozy and festive. Between the Christmas decorations, the shop windows and the illuminated fountain, the entire area felt inviting and enticing to walk through. I think the designers' goals here were to make shoppers and customers feel comfortable, entertained, and cheerful, in order to encourage them spend more time walking around and ulimately spend more money in stores and restaurants. I think this design was successful because you truly did feel entertained walking through the area and I felt willing to stay longer and walk from place to place. 

Success: 

This image from a Nordstrom window display shows a low warm light, twinkling Christmas lights around the fireplace, and an evening gown half in shadow. I think the designers of this window display were trying to portray the warm cozy feelings of a fireplace with the sleek, sophisticated feeling of an evening Christmas party. I think they were successful because the window display is classy with a touch of nostalgia. 

Not Successful

I feel this image from Free People is unsuccessful because the items in the window are not well lit and the fluorescent lights inside the store are not inviting. I am not sure what the designer's intentions were for this display, it looks there was little to no thought put into how the items in the window were lit or how the store would look at night, but it does not make me want to go into the store. 

week 6- whitney-site specific

 

I visited the Spectrum was definitely hit with stimulation from the lights, people, and the general theme of competition between stores. (this is probably heightened from the pandemic "normal" I am used to) I am not particularly a fan of these kind of environments, but it is always fun to me to have other things to be on the look out for. An outdoor mall is much more attractive to me than a fully indoor mall. To me, the overall feel is to balance the spectrum from coziness to an invigorating "wow" factor. This is done by the way the general areas are lit with warmer lights and there are pops of colored lights, even in random corners. I enjoy how they use the lighting to reveal the plant life, obviously with the palm trees, but also in the smaller potted plants and the fake turf. It felt well lit enough to feel safe and could definitely see people spending hours there even in the darkness. 

This is one of the many stores I feel were temporarily "plopped" into the big retail space. You can see the clothing has warmer tones and attempting that "Southern California casual"aesthetic. Though the store is well light and felt spacious, I thought the lighting is too florescent to create the warm environment that would support the boutique. They painted the wall to create some of those neutral tones in the space, but the overheads just does not feel cohesive in my opinion. Overall, down light was primarily used in all the stores and I'm not sure exactly of what other tactics that would improve this store situation. As with the general area, it did feel safe enough that I would stroll in, but I wouldn't particularly feel comforted or easily see how I would look in a certain garment out in the sun.

I thought this store was very successful in there lighting design. It is a much more nuanced space than the store above, but they highlighted the boards at the back of the store particularly well. This intrigue would definitely pull me into the store and I immediately know the branding of what they are selling, southern California skater clothing and accessories. The smaller directed lights definitely help to highlight certain racks and areas as opposed to big general lights. It felt like a very approachable art gallery or museum. They used the space and lower ceilings well, to make it feel more intimate but everything was a warm white and was cohesive. 

This is another success that I thought I would include. It was a small outdoor stand that really warmly animated the colorful and plush objects evening their small crevices. 

The movie theater uses the reflective floor as huge atmospheric component of creating a cinematic experience. It expands the space and the lights are constantly changing. It reminds me of older movie theater carpet that has all the colors and designs, but this is now done though reflective light. 

Week 6 - Joey N-M. - Staging Luxury (Site Specific)

STORE: Perfumania

This store aims for luxury and desires for the mature customer to feel expensive. I know this to be true because of the subliminal messaging of a woman's headshot overhead, inviting the shopper to assess their own beauty. The designer set the photo around the store, wrapping the space so that no matter where the client is positioned, they see "her" overhead. Pink and black are often used together to highlight feminine and contemporary feel. The designer used mainly white to cover the store but interrupted a cascade of color spread throughout the perfumes. The primary lighting source is fluorescent lighting overhead, giving the shopping atmosphere a cold and almost clinical feeling. Although clean, the store appears and feels cluttered.

 

I chose this store because it had similar concepts as my other pick, but it didn't execute the ideas as best as possible. If the store had played with lower light intensity or perhaps added a tint to the light's color, it wouldn't feel as clinical as I had interpreted. Also, since the lighting is so bright, everything feels exposed. The exposure drew my eye to the amount of stock on the shelves and not the objects themselves.

STORE: Julie Grey

 

 This store also aims for luxury, but comfort is designed for a parent to have an expensive shopping experience for their child. I envision the designer wanting the parent to feel at ease, as I've heard having a child has stressful moments. This store invites the audience to take a breath in its naturalistic and warm color scheme. It's casual, yet it still exudes luxury and high-end material. This store also utilizes a white background of the store. I almost wish they had something in my size! Still, the tint in the warmer color and the natural fibers sprinkled throughout the space make it a place that feels open and uncluttered.

 

This store changed my mood the moment I saw it. It made me feel calm. This store also utilized a broad whitewash. It played with its overhead intensity and added further visibility with the side panels on the walls. Since the lights had a warmer tint (it doesn't fully show on the photo), it immediately gave off a fall season feeling. This is an example of the space being strategically exposed yet offset with the minimal display to make the shopping experience more open and perhaps more enjoyable. You'll notice there were a good amount of people in the photo!

week 6- site specific- AM

 

I went to the Spectrum and took several pictures to capture the essence of the place. I think the designers wanted to create an atmosphere that communicated an exciting, inviting and elevated feeling. I definitely think they accomplished their goal. The lights are detailed, and exciting. The feeling of the place is high-end. I saw some of the same stores I always see but they had a better look in their exterior. The common areas were inviting and made me feel like I wanted to stay longer and come again to shop and explore the mall. It seems like a fun place and because of the lights, decorations and open spaces I feel like I can come and enjoy a coffee or meal without even shopping. I returned two days later with my fiance to show him the lights and watch a movie.

The two stores I'd like to compare are Jeannie n Mini and H&M. When I walked by Jeannie n Mini I thought the store was closed... which is not a great first impression. This is a kids store so its meant to be fun and attractive to children. Although the font of the sign is fun, I think the sign should be better lit, maybe a neon sign that is brighter, instead it creates a shadow under it and just makes it look dull. Inside the lights are generic and just don't highlight the toys. The right side is better lit but the left side (where the toys are) is dark. Very unlikely to attract children and make the parents walk inside. 

H&M is committed to the holidays this year. Their lights look like bright white Christmas lights, they put all their white sweaters in the front of the store to give it this "snowy" feel. The circles and spotlights in the ceiling make it look like there's an inverted tree even though it's just lights. The sign is well-lit and very welcoming. It was hard to resist waling in. It's definitely Christmas season in H&M!

Week 6 - JB - [Site Specific] - Cozy Golden and Harsh Blue

 Week 6 - Cozy Golden and Harsh Blue 

 

I chose to visit Spectrum on Friday, and enjoyed the use of light to evoke a bustling sense of community. There were a few lighting landmarks, including the ferris wheel pictured (along with the giant Christmas tree, the billboards outside the movie theatre, the light up floors, and others), that captured my attention due to the constant changes, quickly shifting between intensely different saturated colors. I believe the designers were trying to accomplish a sense of life and movement in the space, which I think they did achieve. This caused me to stop and watch for a while, waiting until the Christmas tree turned fully blue, which then made my hands cold, which then made me want to buy hot chocolate... Overall, definitely successful, if success is defined by capitalists.

One shop which I thought was unsuccessful was this video game cafe. The severity of the harsh neon blue lights is not captured accurately in this photo, but they were very bright and sharp. They hurt my eyes and started to give me a headache even in the minute I was in the store to take the picture. This might be subjective, though. I personally did not like this lighting, but the cafe was populated by patrons playing various games. This was ironic to me, considering that many gamers invest in blue light glasses to prevent the eye fatigue caused by extensive computer usage. 

On the other hand, a store that I felt was successful was this tea shop. The minimalist font and subtle shadowing by the lights gave a sense of elegance to the store sign. The inside was warm and cozy, which was inviting compared to the darkness of the evening. The soft amber and gold tones felt calming, and I could imagine sitting inside and sipping tea, while watching passersby outside. The soothing lighting of the store definitely appealed to my aesthetic, and although I did not buy anything this time, I see myself returning in the future as a customer, purely due to the energy of the space.

-Jeevika

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.

Blog Week 6 - Site Specific - TA

 I chose to go to the Irvine Spectrum. In general, I thought the place is well lit, inviting atmosphere with enough lighting to see the place, yet the lighting is more on the dimmed side that it gives more of an intimate, cozy feeling. I took a few pictures of the place in general. Mostly of places that I thought can be kids/family friendly and exciting. As well as the way the two areas are lit adds to the fun and excitement of the place. 

I thought for the first two pictures, I loved the floor lights lighting the bottom of the boards, it allows a nice color reflection as well as keeping the area safe for children to play even when its dark.

The ferrace wheel is fun to look at because it changes color and it catches the eye from any visible view.

This area also the lights are in the ground. Whats fun about it is when the haze/mist come out of the ground when the lights turn red. This combination of color and haze can be both exciting for children as well as romantic for adults, especially in the separated sections. The atmosphere is inclusive due to the way its all set up. 

As fore successful and not so successful windows:

Successful 

I am not an apple person. But I am always fascinated with their windows. Minimalism, sleek, open concept and very much inviting. The colored circles reflect light from the outside and allows window to pop rather than be completely naked. Simple yet effective. We had a few discussions about the color white, and I think white works perfect with this concept. Even though it is simple, it still stands out. 

Not very successful,

For a women's clothing store, the lighting of the place is so simple, it makes the store look like a forgotten wear house that was designed as part of a horror movie where once the lights go out the mannequins come alive and start killing each other. Even though this simple lighting can be effective, yet in this case, there is no sense of invitation, the colors inside the store, of the cloths pop, yet there is not emphasis on making the place look exciting. Not to mention, in the window, the 3 colored drapes are lacking more spotlight. There is only one spotlight on the blue yet the rest are forgotten about. It seems like poor planing and management. Wearhouses are fun to shop at if they are offering cheap prices. Might as well shop at Walmart. 

Week 5 - Joey N.M. - A Rococo Sky

I took this when I felt deep stress with the amount of work I had to do. It was a few days back on my drive home to Long Beach. It took my breath away. I was mesmerized by the sky's color and how the sunlight hides underneath the blanket of clouds. It both reminds me of the clear water like in Hawaii, and the atmosphere resembles cotton candy. The overall composition in the pastel colors makes it look like a Roccoco or Late Baroque painting.

Color theory is mind-blowing to me because of its endless possibilities. No matter how many times I look up at the sky, it always surprises me in some way or another. This photo is a great reminder to me to breathe, and when all else fails, try to look up and really see the sky.

Week 5- Christmas in October-KM

 To get a head start on next weeks blog assignment, Ive started being more observant of lighting in stores and restaurants.  When I was walking to dinner Saturday night in Orange Circle I couldn't help but notice this explosion of Christmas in a window display. Because the of the harsh flourescant lighting in the store, the window display gives off a cheap, chintzy, and slightly gaudy impression, instead of the warm, cozy and twinkling feeling we generally associated with Christmas. Also, the way the light source is placed behind the window display draws my eye to the back of the store instead of to the objects in the window. I can't help but think this display would be much more pleasant and effective if the lights within the store were dimmed, or turned off entirely, and there were soft lights focused on the objects in the window itself. In this photo you can clearly see that the light does not help focus or guide the consumers eye, and contributes negatively to the overall atmosphere of the store. 

Week 5 - Amber Morales - Red

This class has helped me appreciate the beauty of one, single color. There is so much that just a single hue of color can say. The red coloring in this photo is suspenseful, haunting, inviting, and mesmerizing. A single color can represent so many emotions and tell so many stories. We often go through life with little appreciation of color and never stop to realize how vibrant our world is. Imagine living in a world where we can only see black and white? As if we jumped out of a photograph from a 1960’s newspaper.

WEEK 5 - Rubí Danielle Morales - Fog Of The Night

This is the first week that fog has been sinking heavy in the night hours. It is interesting how fog changes the way light looks. This is a picture that I took of my dad as he was walking through the night, into the fog. The fog caused all of the light bulbs to look like they had a strong glow around them, it created a smoky effect around all of the lights that are seen in the photo. Lights do not look this way without fog. The lighting and the fog combined. create a spooky effect, that provides heavy emotion in the image above. Often times choreographers want fog in their staged works, as it adds a dramatic element to their choreography. The fog on this night, also added drama to the scene. Before taking this class, I did not take as much notice of how fog impacts lighting. I am growing an appreciation for all the ways lighting is constantly surrounding us, and how it motivates our everyday mood.