Design Inspiration
Tuesday, June 15th, 2010
I just came across David Stark’s installation at Diffa’s Dining By Design in New York on his Facebook Fan Page. He and his team were inspired by the iPhone. What I love about his design is there’s always a message behind it. iPhones have gone beyond pop culture and have become an integral part of our lives. And, as usual, David thought of every detail (take note of the candelabras with iPhone flames).
I think this concept would translate beautifully to a fundraising or corporate event. It would have been nice to see an interactive element to the installation. Allowing viewers to push messages from their iPhones (or for those of you who don’t yet have one – gasp – smart phones) to the television display…or even switch out wallpaper for an interactive projection. B[eye]t also has incredible table projection product that could work really well for this concept.
For those of you who are looking for creative inspiration, I highly recommend turning to Diffa’s events. They incorporate so many fantastic designers and have done a great job of pushing the envelope. I will say that I have been disappointed over the past year and a half as the event seems to have been overtaken by corporate sponsors who design their own spaces. The results has been a bit lack-lustre. I do, however, always look forward to what David and his team have to ‘say’.
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String Gardens has re-imagined floral design by suspending flowers instead of planting them. But it doesn’t stop at there – they also hang trees and shrubs as well. I think this could be a very interesting way to use vertical space and, of course, create the unexpected from expected event decor.
Become a fan of String Garden on Facebook
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1. A luxurious event table is set up in the heart of a bustling Istanbul market via Axel Burla.
2. A slide show of event design from the last 10 years of the mind bending Robin Hood Gala via BizBash New York.
3. Samsung uses a stunning 3D projection on a historic Dutch building.
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While in the Philippines we were invited to visit the über luxurious Shangri la Boracay. It was a jaw dropping property boasting one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen. But I digress. The reason I mention this resort is not because of the stunning rooms or views (I’ll talk about this another day), but instead it’s for their amazing attention to detail. Specifically…what they did with sand.
I stumbled upon two great ideas that would be so easy to steal for an event. The first was a sand-topped table display with a pretty border hand traced into the sand. I thought this would be so beautiful as an inexpensive tabletop idea (but if you’re thinking of also eating off of these tables, you’ll want to add a glass top…to avoid gritty chicken ;).
The second idea sat inconspicuously outside of the hotel elevators. Imprinted in the sand of an ashtray was the resort’s logo. Simple, simple, simple – yet really smart.
The last idea I came across wasn’t from Shangri la. It was something I found on the Ellerslie Four Play blog and shows a standard illuminated table decorated with a sand design. It’s a really creative (and inexpensive) way of converting a basic rental item into something quite extraordinary.
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On Sundays I post an inspirational video or quote to get you started on the right foot for the week ahead. But sometimes I get stuck. And, to get ‘unstuck’, my jolt of inspiration is usually David Stark’s website & blog. Not to get off track here, but my husband can watch a movie or read a book over and over again. He says that every time he does he learns something he didn’t notice the time before. I feel the same way about David Stark’s designs. There’s so much depth to his event storylines that even when looking at old favorites I discover a new gem of an idea.
David has recently launched his new website and there are some great new portfolios to look through. He also recently launched a new book: David Stark Design. If you’re looking for ways to get ‘unstuck’ this week, take a gander and buy the book.
Oh, and check out this Liberty of London for Target pop up installation. It drips inspiration…
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When I started Sunday Spark, I wanted to hone in on insights that really inspire a jolt of action. As with creativity, inspiration is very subjective. I found this presentation by novelist Amy Tam, filmed during Ted 2008, wonderfully inspiring and refreshingly funny. In it, she talks about how creativity is inspired. As with many other speakers on this topic, there is a belief that creativity is sparked by randomness and ‘the universe’. Although most talks on ‘the universe’ are a bit too esoteric for my taste, the point is that preparedness extinguishes creativity. Amy Tam’s take on this topic and much more is uniquely told by winding her points around compelling stories. I highly recommend viewing this one – it will require 18 minutes of your time to view from start to end.
And for those of you who have picked up on the fact that it is now Monday (not Sunday), I apologize for the delay in posting. I’ve been battling a flu for the last few days. Better late than never!
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I recently came across the updated Mark on Call iPhone app…and thought it was too good not to share with my event planner readers. For those planners who want to easily create custom floor plans and be able to transport them anywhere you go, this is the app for you. And at $2.99 it’s a steal. Here are some features that make this app a thumbs up, in my opinion:
- It’s really easy to use – I’ve used a ton of different space planning tools over the years. This one is incredibly simple and well thought out. Simple can some times mean very pared down, but this app still has lots of functions.
- Customizable finishes – Want to show a patterned carpet or a new table linen, just take a photo, scale it to the right proportions and import it into your space plan layout. But not to worry, they have a pretty good selection of pattern and finish pre-sets, so you have a lot to choose from.
- Create shopping lists – You can actually assign items like chairs, tables, pillows, artwork, etc a price and a vendor. These items will now appear in your shopping list (an easy way to ensure you order everything you need).
- Great customer support - Right on the app’s home page is a link to connect with customer support. Super easy to get in touch with someone when you have a question. They also have some very clear ‘how-to’ videos. One of which I’ve included below.
- Tons of tips – Mark on Call is an online resource for space planning and interior design. Their site (which is linked to the app’s home page) is full of great tips and ideas for all things space planning and interior design.
I’m still playing around with it and will be sure to provide constructive insights on what can be improved. If you have any tips or opinions to share, please do so in the comments section!
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