Table of contents for INDESIGN #78 - Consumer Experience in INDESIGN

We can all attest to the fact that Australia has a lot of design events – we’re incredibly lucky! However, to date, there has not been a commercial design event that has allowed us to openly and collaboratively address the increasingly fragmented specification chain within Australia’s design, development and construction industries. Nor the design products that offer highly technical features tailored to unique needs. FRONT changes all that. It’s a two-day event that puts the emphasis on bringing people from all areas of specification together in one dedicated location. FRONT is where you can meet designers, architects, suppliers, property developers, consultants and end-users to share your ideas and experience, and build purposeful, connective relationships geared towards mutual growth and outcome. FRONT also presents the very latest in high-performing fit-for-purpose products…

For most people, Vitra is the last brand brought to mind by the term family business. Yet that’s exactly what the Swiss design powerhouse is: since its founding by Willi and Erika Fehlbaum in 1950 Vitra has been led by three successive generations of Fehlbaums, all of whom have helped the brand evolve from niche retailer into one of the most globally respected names in furniture. In 2016 Nora Fehlbaum became the latest member to continue the family legacy, taking over the reins from her uncle Rolf Fehlbaum and assuming the role of CEO. On a warm afternoon in Sydney, in town to launch the new Unifor Vitra showroom, Fehlbaum candidly discusses the inextricability of her family history from the company and the fact that her leadership wasn’t always on…

Cave Of Light Working within Jean Nouvel’s National Museum of Qatar, Koichi Takada has helped transform the desert close to Qatar’s new airport into an international destination. The museum explores the country’spast, present and future ambitions. “We wanted to create something genuinely Qatari. Also we wanted to tell the story. Because it is a museum, narrative is very important.” A recent success story of Australian architecture has been the rapid rise of Koichi Takada Architects (KTA), headed up by Japanese-born and trained Koichi Takada. Unlike many practices, KTA made a relatively quick transition from individual residentials to large-scale projects. That they negotiated the steep learning curve was no doubt due in large measure to Takada’s relentless work ethic, instilled in him by his rigorous, and sometimes brutal, Japanese training. The…

Hands-On Architecture Architect Barrie Marshall prefers the old-fashioned approach when it comes to design. While the DCM staff are focused on their computers, Marshall is more likely to be found with a pencil in his hand, perched over his drawing board. “We haven’t changed our approach since we started, except for the short time that we experimented with the Memphis scene in the early 1980s, as did many other architects.” Denton Corker Marshall (DCM) is well-known on the Melbourne and international architecture scene. Melbourne’s ‘gateway’ (sometimes referred to as the ‘sticks’), the Exhibition Centre, and the Melbourne Museum – all designed by DCM – are now ingrained in the city’s landscape. However, producing these great projects requires the right creative workspace and after decades of operating from five levels in…

Set within the bustling CBD of Australia’s largest city, BoPo is redefining the meaning of ‘meeting place’. Through its carefully curated environment, BoPo addresses the growing demand for socially-oriented spaces to engage and accommodate reflective, contemplative and collaborative activities. Haworth engaged Gensler to develop the brand creation and experience of BoPo, briefing Gensler to create a sensory and playful space that erred on the side of abstract installation. The result reflects the strong sense of partnership and passion for design shared by Haworth (The Porter), Gensler and parent venue, Bowery Lane. BoPo manifests as a multisensory experience where hospitality-meets-showcase settings, filled with abstract installations and offering a playful, dynamic sanctuary away from more traditional working environments. Available for an array of exclusive small functions and meetings, this fusion concept continuously…

We’ve all had that experience – the user guide that doesn’t answer your questions, no one available to sort your problem, finding the product to match your need. At the end of the day, these failures to match organisational capability with customer needs are a failure of design. According to Steve Baty, co-founder with Iain Barker and Janna DeVylder of Sydney-based MELD, this is not what contemporary design practice is about. MELD is a specialist in the design of customer-centric services for large-scale organisations. According to Baty, it’s about “understanding not just the object of design itself, but the system within which that object exists and operates, and the human technical systems around that thing.” As its name suggests MELD brings things together – in more ways than one. MELD,…

Embedded Process A bold, unusual and thought provoking interior sets the scene for a kaiseki dining experience at Ishizuka, in Melbourne. Russell & George was involved throughout the process, from location selection right through to final design. Byron George and Ryan Russell believe retail and hospitality are merging into a similar genre. “The things that are transforming retail are actually transforming hospitality too,” says George, co-founder of award-winning studio Russell & George. Purchasing automation, social media and blurring gender boundaries are all contributing to what is becoming a brave new world in retail and hospitality design. “There are no golden rules,” says George. “Every project is different and it comes down to the research phase and understanding what the client is doing.” Core to Russell & George’s process is a…

5 for 4 Subscribe to Indesign and receive 5 issues for the price of 4, AUS$55. indesignlive.com/subscribe Indesign is for creative professionals – aspiring and established, who are hungry to continue the ideas and thought leadership that inform the best projects, products and practices in the Indo-Pacific region. Indesign looks for the point and purpose of everything in design, exploring what we do, how we do it and why. It is the only place you’ll find clever, provocative and insightful conversations with the design industry.…

“We see ourselves as custodians of our built environment, and aim for well-mannered and dignified outcomes.”Adrian Spence The first thing that strikes you about Brisbane is the atmosphere. Here, sunny optimism meanders into laid-back languor, all in the space of a day. The sonorous sound of crickets after a lush rainstorm clings to the imagination like honey. For Ingrid Richards and Adrian Spence, the pair behind Brisbane-based architecture practice Richards & Spence, the influence is a potent one. “Climate is the single most defining factor to our character and sense of place,” says Richards. Indeed, in a region in which weather has shaped an entire architectural vernacular – the heritage Queenslander home – Richards’ sentiment has historical resonance. But with the rise of homogenous skyscrapers that tower over the banks…

INDESIGN Luminary Diane Jones is softly spoken, considered in everything she says without ever sounding pedantic or guarded, and reveals a frame of reference well beyond the field of architecture. Although she carries the title of executive director at PTW Architects (formerly Peddle Thorpe Walker) in Sydney, she insists she is just one member of the leadership team. This highlights the priorities of this remarkably successful architect, but also how important integrity and ethics are to her. It was instilled into her during her time working with the legendary John Andrews at his famous ‘shed’ on the water at Newport, on Sydney’s northern beaches in the late 1980s prior to joining PTW. “He had a very high sense of integrity,” she says, “what was right and wrong, and keeping to…

The World Is A Stage This hotel provides a whimsical ‘installation’ where guests radiate at the centre of an art story. It’s a “conceptual experience for the curious, creative-minded traveller… somewhere that really speaks to the values that you hold is a new level of luxury,” says Woods Bagot’s Eva Sue. “Ovolo is an agile brand, unconstrained by traditional standards; each hotel very much has its own personality and style.” Iconic late artist David Bowie once said: “I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.” Bowie may have enjoyed a trip to Ovolo The Valley. The boutique hotel opened in November 2018 and radiates with glorious personality. With multi-layered, sensory interiors designed by Woods Bagot, Ovolo The Valley warmly welcomes guests offering them a…

When a small interior architecture team lands the job of creating a major new headquarters for Microsoft, it’s a good day at the office. “To say we were ecstatic is an understatement!” says Jade Nottage, director at Sydney-based studio Tom Mark Henry. “They’re a huge client for a studio of our size.” The complex brief called for three floors of multifunctional space over 1650 square metres. Most of its tech-savvy, mobile staff would use the space to hotdesk, so the office needed to be an adaptable, attractive destination for people who could choose to work anywhere. Overall, it should appeal to a wide demographic range – from school groups who might be toured through the space, through to visiting CEOs. “Microsoft had a clear impression of what they thought the…

National Museum of Qatar Gift Shop and Children’s Gift Shop Interiors Koichi Takada Architects Architect Atelier Jean Nouvel Project Manager ASTAD Project Management Builder Devoto Design Operator/End-User IN-Q Enterprises WLL (subsidiary of Qatar Museums) Main Contractor IMAR Trading & Contracting Sub-Contractor (Joinery) Devoto Design Sub-Contractor (MEP) Sogelec Duration 16 months Koichi Takada Architects koichitakada.com Atelier Jean Nouvel jeannouvel.com Lighting Koichi Takada-designed ceiling LED, ERCO. Koichi Takada-designed linear LED, IBL Lighting. Finishes Solid European oak timber finishes, Piarottolegno SpA. Timber cladding and joinery execution, Devoto Design. Oil timber coating and FR primer, Rubio Monocoat. Spectrum Abyss leather upholstery, Pelle Leathers. Epoxi Terraro, Existing Floor. Fixed & Fitted Ironmongery, drawer runner, electronic lock mechanisms and accessories, Häfele, Blum. Custom stainless merchandising accessories, local supplier/manufacturer. Ovolo The Valley, Brisbane Design Practice Woods Bagot…

It was 5pm in London as I alighted from the tube. New Year confetti congealed to gutters. The high street was frantic with windfall Christmas cash. Hundreds of fellow passengers swaddled themselves against the cold, makeshift carapaces of the day’s Evening Standard under one arm, the other embowered with excesses of bags – Balenciaga, H&M, Fortnum & Mason, Sainsbury’s. It’s all quite fatiguing … and very po-mo. In each copy of the Standard, column inches mourned the fate of British retailing while the European Union Withdrawal Act consumed parliamentary agenda. Sterling had become shaky and the dollar an in-joke. And yet, quite literally in the other hand, cargo-loads of purchased goods were in transit, acquired by my fellow passengers from more than 5.7 million square-metres (and counting) of London retail…

“Customers continue to become more educated and socially aware. We’ve started developing a conscience about things such as the sustainable sourcing of coffee beans; this is now extending to other areas such as interiors and we believe it will continue to do so over the next few years. There is an appreciation amongst discerning patrons who recognise not only good design but also put a value on where the furniture has been sourced. As disposable fashion resulting in unnecessary landfill continues to be a growing problem, there is a gradual change in customers’ mindsets. People now appreciate good workmanship, local manufacturing and design longevity. The chair they sit on, the table they eat upon – are all customer touch-points that either enhance or detract from their overall experience. Designers are…

Food is regularly criticised on everything from television shows through to the print media. There is an endless number of food guides that rate restaurants, from five stars to zero. Everything from a waiter’s attitude to the food served on the plate (even the type of crockery is sometimes singled out) – all this is literally ‘served’ up to the public for critical consumption. In theatre, the same could be said, as with dance performances and art exhibitions. But when it comes to architecture and design everything is supposed to be amazing! How can this be? Let’s face it, if every project you read about in print or see on television is considered amazing, each one would receive top accolades. And this is certainly not the case in the current…

Inspired by integrity, authenticity and simplistic beauty, the Wickens at the Royal Mail Hotel, located in Victoria, is a celebration of food, people and place. Renowned for its thoughtful food philosophy and extensive wine list, Byrne Architects has created an experience that is designed to impress and engage the community. The design concept focuses on the creation of a dining space layout that puts executive chef, Robin Wickens, centre-stage where the guests on each table have a view of the kitchen. Boasting a floor-to-ceiling glass front, the open and bright kitchen blurs the boundary between chef and guest – building a relationship through food and process. Located inside the kitchen, one can book the Chef’s Table – putting the guest in the front row. Wickens’ preparation routine is an intensive…

Mostly any Melburnian, probably dressed head-to-toe in black, would attest to their hometown being the nation’s true fashion capital. The city’s sartorial cred’ boomed late last year, when historically fashion-forward retailer David Jones farewelled its Sydney offices to join Country Road Group in a new shared working environment, developed by Gray Puksand. “For us it was really quite an exciting opportunity to create a new culture for six brands that needed to come together and cohabit, as well as take a fresh look at what a contemporary Australian retail headquarters might be,” says Heidi Smith, partner and national interior design lead at Gray Puksand in Melbourne. As part of their project research, the design team went abroad, gaining valuable insight on world-class fashion houses across Europe. Of particular note were…

As competition for consumer spending continues to intensify, the emphasis being placed on customer experience is increasing. And there’s possibly no place where this resonates more strongly than the suburban shopping centre. Within this heady environment of bright lights and seemingly limitless opportunity, brands are in danger of being overlooked and that’s not a good thing. However, retailers have been quick to realise they need to offer memorable retail experiences that not only attract customers, but keep them coming back. They understand good design can add value to their business and consequently, the newest Australian retail fit-outs are highly evocative, next-level interiors that exhibit an astute branding awareness. For Akin Atelier, a detailed approach and uncomplicated philosophy around creating engaging customer experiences has informed all of its retail designs to…

Milliken-Ontera has more than 20 years’ experience in the design and manufacture of unique carpet tile systems. The company is part of the Milliken family, and has been manufacturing in Northmead, Sydney, servicing Australian and New Zealand markets. Bringing both creativity and a pioneering spirit to flooring design, it has been at the forefront of a growing demand for carpet tiles as a flexible flooring solution that can positively impact everything from design vision right through to user wellbeing. In the 21st century, innovation and rapid shifts in consumer demand often define new directions in design. Milliken-Ontera brings all these influences and opportunities into play, using its fully customisable carpet design manufacturing system to produce bespoke solutions that address complex project requirements and changing user needs. The system empowers both…

Restoring The Lost Palace Alexander & Co’s Jeremy Bull and his team conceived of the Imperial Hotel and its rich history as a ‘lost palace’ whose restoration and reinstatement in the consciousness of a new generation was “long overdue”. Design is a potent storytelling medium. This is particularly true when it comes to stories of the past: architectural relics are vestiges of bygone eras, flaking frescoes paint ghostly images of ancestral lore, and unearthed objects provide glimpses into what daily life was once like. But what of the present? How can design reflect the concerns of today, including the push toward greater inclusivity in the stories we tell and the ways they are told? Ironically, addressing concerns of the present may entail looking toward the past. Such was the approach…

It’s no exaggeration to say the world’s biggest design fair attracts crowds like none other and while the content is invariably good, the cues can be less than well received. Last year, the co-founders of design agency, Studiopepe, Arianna Lelli Mami and Chiara Di Pinto presented Club Unseen, a secret dance club in retaliation against the hectic crowds, cues and utter chaos of Fuori Salone. The design intent was to represent the quiet that gives space to creativity. This year, they worked with brands like Areti, Ceramica Bardelli and Tacchini on an installation/exhibition space entitled Les Arcanistes: The Future is Un/Written. Housed in a large industrial space formally used in the 1900s for manufacturing gold, the manifesto project was an investigation into the interplay between matter and divination. The name…

“In the past, the public rarely saw female architects in the media,” says Suzie Hunt, Western Australian immediate past president, and a board member of the Australian Institute of Architects. “Thankfully, this is changing.” As a judge on Australia By Design’s architecture TV series, Hunt is among the many females in the architectural world who are making a sizeable and noticeable impact. Whilst the gender disparity in architect numbers in Australia is still apparent, it is an evolving process and through its scope of content and broader industry engagement, Australia By Design exemplifies this. Joining Hunt as a judge and presenter on Australia By Design is Jill Garner, Victoria’s government architect. Garner expresses that the audience for Australian By Design is a more public one that she is used to.…

Versatility in design isn’t simply a market advantage, it’s a necessity. A hotel lobby now doubles as a workspace, as do airport lounges, cafés, restaurants and even the planes themselves. Event spaces and clubs rival CBD restaurants as a place to network and build business relationships. The lines between the home and office continue to blur as a traditional workforce seeks to feel more at home, and freelancers and contractors pursue a home office to replicate a more corporate environment. Furniture designers and suppliers can immediately identify a successful interior fit-out in the flexibility it offers – and so too can the intended patrons. Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu, founders of Shanghai-based inter-disciplinary architectural design practice, Neri&Hu, run their studio using research as a design tool, so it follows that…