Block week 3

First follow up 

The insight that I learnt today was very helpful. The "cogs" we did was by far the most helpful crit I received going into this block week. I feel it really prepared me for this upcoming crit. It's not the fact that it took me longer than expected to complete it, but it's worth your well because I know everything was basically covered and everything will be covered in crit session because the cogs really helped me to understand this project in a full aspect. I really can't wait to get my head stuck into this project and figure my way around the problems that I might face, but that we soon be taken care of .

Pop-up stores

Pop-up retail, also known as pop-up store (pop-up shop in the UK and Australia) or flash retailing, is a trend of opening short-term sales spaces in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.

History

Vacant  of Los Angeles, CA is the first company to develop the concept of pop-up retail or temporary retail shops. In 1999, company staff wondered whether consumers would line up to purchase limited edition products from niche retailers. Once the products were sold out, usually within a matter of hours, the store would be closed until the owner received more products and would then reopen the store. This led Vacant to think about closing the store permanently after the merchandise has been sold, and  moving it to another targeted destination, since consumers were travelling long distances to the niche retailers to purchase items. They still provide pop-up retailing and brand marketing today.

Concept

A pop-up retail space is a venue that is temporary — the space could be a sample sale one day and host a private cocktail party the next evening. The trend involves “popping-up” one day, then disappearing anywhere from one day to several weeks later. These shops, while small and temporary, can build up interest by consumer exposure. Pop-up retail allows a company to create a unique environment that engages their customers, as well as generates a feeling of relevance and interactivity. They are often used by marketers for seasonal items such as Halloween costumes and decorations, Christmas gifts and Christmas trees, or fireworks.

Second follow up 

Today was very productive. The start of the design process. Completing the cogs was a very good starting point towards our final designs. We made big decisions and we made them fast based on our time being limited and this was all the effects of the cogs. I started late with my designs and tried my best to have everything ready for the crit. I pulled through and got good feedback from the lecturers. My designs were self explained and that helped the crit to go smooth. The strong point of the day was the production and the crit. It really benefited me and will truly help me once I start with the final designs and that will surely be a time saver. 

Third follow up 

Today expectations was to look more into your design concept and try and explore new ways on reforming and developing a new fresh input into your design. This was simply to test your understanding of your design and how well you incorporated new design aspects from those with the same format or style. I worked with more than one person in the class and we had very similar concepts but the way we presented it was way different. From materials choices to different finishes we all tried to work around the problems we faced and many seemed to make it work and this was a good starting point generated from the cogs we did. The cogs was very helpful and made a huge difference and saved many students time of researching and deciding on which materials or concepts they liked most. With many things learned at a daily it's no surprise that I got to my final design in time. With days being limited and time pressing to finish, choices had to be take fast and with the help of the cogs and crits it seemed a bit easier this time around.

Pop up shop on wheels 









Fourth follow up  

Working the entire week on our design concepts and improving, changing and finishing up the last bits before tomorrow is really an exiting experience that I will certainly learn from. My design concept was to keep it simple as possible but exploring ideas on how to explode the simplicity of my design. It stared off as a block and with that as the main idea because of the limited sizes most would of settled for that kind of shape and to be different I had to look into ways that can be exuberant but also limiting that with style and technology.  I decided to trade rooibos tea which included the some of the tea products and everything that contains rooibos, like skin care goods. That in mind I wanted a secondary product that I would be offering to spark entertainment in the store. With arts and craft being a huge offering among the locals I decided to sell that in my store which included different sorts of arts and craft hanging from the stores walls adding that spark that was missing.  Cantering for both left me thinking on the design that was both complementary to both products. Storage was also a troubling one that I had to take in to consideration. With all problems identified I settled for a design that was simple but everything in and outside of the structure had its added value.

Fifth follow up 

Having completed the project in time and achieving over 50 percent is satisfying. The project came with it's own sorts of difficulties and with the help of the lectures really made it easy. The main focus about the project was to see if any improvement was done to your main design concept and if your abilities as a designer/architect is developed enough to produce a well balanced pop up shop which entails the most important aspects of the brief and if possible adding of few extras to have that unique element that makes you stand out from the rest. I really enjoyed this block week and hope the last one will be the same. Everything that was done during the block week was well organised and made designing a bit more easier than before. I look forward to the last block week and wish everyone in class a well deserved break. 

Wuppertal 

Here are a few pictures of the surroundings and landscapes of the area.