We came upon this project in the latest Design Institute of Australia Newsletter. It’s an interesting case study because it raises the question as to why carparks have to be cold, sombre grey boxes? So many parking facilities feel unsafe and very clinical or grimy. Why don’t we treat these spaces as warranting aesthetic design consideration?

There seem to be some safety issues with the visibility of the columns in the showcased project and it is likely to be harder to maintain the painted surfaces, but that is not to say that there can’t be some middle ground between creativity on the scale illustrated here, and the complete absence of humanising features in current car park design. Aside from factors such as access, traffic flow and regulatory compliance, surely appearance rates some mention where there is so much room for improvement? Surely colour, pattern and aesthetic design could be intelligently applied both to enhance safety, visibility and navigation, and to enhance the user experience of parking environments?

This is certainly food for thought.

http://www.design.org.au/index.cfm?id=101&news=1622

THE OFFICE

Ossur (designed by Forward Thinking Design) is the latest office design featured in Interior Fitout Magazine November/ December 2011.

THE ARTICLE

Forward Thinking Design was asked to create an environment at least on par with overseas head offices that would express the youthful enthusiasm of the Ossur team, their cutting edge approach and the success of this expanding company. "We were very fortunate to commission Vanessa and the team from Forward Thinking Design to undertake the design and project management of our new facility," says Harvey Blackney, regional director at Ossur Asia -Pacific.

"The process was efficient, trouble free and the design extremely functional with an edge. Creative, knowledgeable and pragmatic best summarise our experience." A dark and dingy space, almost entirely devoid of natural light had to be converted into a healthy, flexible, uplifting and refreshing workspace supporting collaboration, communication and idea generation at the Ossur office. Glass was used to replace solid walls to open up space and allow flow through and penetration of natural light available. Solid partitions were replaced with semi-transparent walls to the boardroom with integrated branding (silhouettes) applied to afford privacy. A fully operational presentation wall was custom designed to integrate projection, whiteboard, open vision to work areas and/or darkness and privacy as required.

Removal of existing ceiling revealed some low beams in the second meeting room area, requiring the ceiling height to be adjusted by shopfitters on site. Blackney says the finished design has exceeded his expectations from both aesthetic and functional perspectives. "We are tremendously pleased with the outcome and our business has been significantly enhanced as a result."

Forward Thinking Design recently attended the 2011 Western Sydney Awards in Business Excellence where FTD were excited and honoured to receive Business of the Year 2011 and Excellence in Property.

To read scope, click out the link below:

http://www.parramattasun.com.au/news/local/news/general/2011-wsabe-business-of-the-year/2327255.aspx

To view the Parramatta Sun magazine click on the link below:

http://magresources.f2.com.au/pss/2011/pss/

Last year Forward Thinking Design was at the Western Sydney Awards in Business Excellence where they won the Excellence in Customer Service Award.  The Sun Parramatta published this article that featured Forward Thinking Design’s Managing Director, Vanessa Cullen.

The article as follows excerpted from the Sun Parramatta 4^th August 2011:

The 21st Western Sydney Awards in Business Excellence, or WSABE, are open to all businesses in the greater western region, with a judging panel from peak industry bodies, academia and business, 14 industry categories and four high-achievement awards to be claimed. The high-achievement awards include Business Woman of the Year, Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year and the overall winner of Business of the Year.

The theme is Amazing Business Stories. The award’s chairman, Paul Dillon, said there was a multitude of untold amazing business stories in the Greater West. ‘‘We think the person who owns a business or is running an area of a business or project, is anything but average and is entitled to showcase themselves or their team,’’ he said.

The awards have now reached all parts of western Sydney. One of last year’s winners and current  advocate for the awards, Paul Maher, of Loxley on Bellbird, Kurrajong, will host an event at his event centre this month to display the awards to local businesses on a regional scale. “Winning Entrepreneur of the Year in 2010 was amazing and has continued to put our brand out there,’’ Mr Maher said. ‘‘Loxley’s continuous success over the last nine years in these WSABE awards has built our business enormously both regionally and nationally.’’

Vanessa Cullen, the principal and managing director of Forward Thinking Design, a business at Baulkham Hills, is kicking goals in the fit-out design industry. “We’re on track with company plans to recruit larger good-quality clients. The number of referrals and projects coming in is pleasing. We’ve had several projects published within industry magazines this year and are getting our brand out into the market place.’’ said Ms Cullen, a Gen Y entrepreneur.

An enthusiastic supporter of events such as the awards, Forward Thinking Design is an Amazing Business Story having entered and won various awards during the past four years, culminating in winning last year’s Excellence in Customer Service Award. “I was thrilled for Forward Thinking Design to be named as the winner,’’ Ms Cullen said. “The whole evening was a great validation and a fantastic boost for my staff.’’

Interior Fitout Magazine has published Forward Thinking Design’s most recent design, Platinum Blow Dry Bar, Sydney on the front page of the new issue.

This hairdressing space was turned into an elegant blow dry bar with black, white and metallic tones creating a sophisticated and inspiring ambience

 “Vanessa and the Team at Forward Thinking Design through their creativity, ethics and professionalism have brought to life the hair salon of our dreams.  We look forward to working with Vanessa and the team again”. George Cherchian – Owner, Platinum Blow Dry Bar

Read full article in pictures on this page

Great Conversation on Linked In – What are the benefits of using an interior designer/architect as opposed to just going to a contractor for design services?

http://www.linkedin.com/groupItem?view=&gid=63055&type=member&item=18719717&commentID=44370486&report%2Esuccess=8ULbKyXO6NDvmoK7o030UNOYGZKrvdhBhypZ_w8EpQrrQI-BBjkmxwkEOwBjLE28YyDIxcyEO7_TA_giuRN#commentID_44370486

Excerpt from comment by Jeff Polastro, Decorative Painter

 - Nice discussion. I would like to add my two-cents here, since there are a lot of architects and designers answering this question, and not too many contractors. I am a contractor. A decorative painting / artist contractor. I have worked with design/architectural firms such as Robert A.M. Stern, Samuel Botero, The Offices of Thierry Despont, and many others - this is to give you a sound foundation for my clientele. I have also worked directly with clients as a hired contractor and color/design consultant - to bypass designers - in very high-end residential here in New York City.

Firstly, I will just say that I tend to veer away from projects that exclude either designer or architect (one acting as designer, as well), because they are my umbrella, my persuader, and my insurance (not legally speaking - I have my proper insurance - but their professional insurance). Clients need nurturing, reassurance, and a professional diligence that contractors do not definitionally have. Designers and architects have to make themselves available 24/7 for the client by picking up the phone at 11pm on a Saturday or Sunday, attend galleries, go to Rome, go to upholstery shops and carpentry shops, go to artists' studios, then to Cuba, to shoe stores, to printing facilities, watch the dog for the weekend, and pretty much finish it off by relacing the shoes of color-uncordinated client after putting the finishing touches on the newly furnished 4-6 year project from foundation to last sewn seem on the final couch pillow. Then this process starts all over again for the second, third, fourth, fifth...project in different locations around the world for the same client. Their job never ends. It is a lifelong commitment, if the relationship is solid.

Not for me! Period. I have abilities, for sure. But I am not a designer, nor architect, nor do I ever want to assume either position. My work on a given project can last 2 days to 1 year, and that's all I want or need for my company. Contractors, even GCs, should not over-occupy themselves with the kind of relationship that is demanded from a designer/client type.

Finally, aside from all my personal desires and non-desires, on a professional level, it is, again, more difficult for a contractor to communicate with a client on design concepts when the client is unable to see 'the whole picture'. This is a common problem. In this case, I've seen builders destroy and rebuild walls and rooms 2 - 3 times in the absence of a designer or architect. Without an architect, I have seen ventilation gone wrong because there were no proper layouts on the blueprint. I have seen staircases being rebuilt because the scaling wasn't right on the blueprint, etc. etc. Without a designer, I have seen a client purchase 7 chandeliers, only to cry after returning the seventh. I have seen a client choose silk upholstered walls in a hallway that leads to a bathroom/steam room (I'm sure you all know what happens to silk with variations in climate change). These are simple issues. I haven't even begun to get into the issue where clients find themselves millions of dollars (not thousands, millions) over budget and try to screw over the contractors that have redone their work 6 times because of his/her insecurity to make decisions. I, personally, have had to get a lawyer involved with a close client (at least I thought so) for this very reason to finally get paid my contractual balance. Then I lost that client. And did not want to return. This would probably not have happened if she had a designer, and my work would have been completed weeks quicker (giving me a higher profit margin on that project).

All-in-all, designers are a must. So much so, that I usually decline projects that choose to forego them.

"The silver Buckle pendant by Tina Leung looks magnificent in the new Platinum Blow Dry Bar, Sydney by Forward Thinking Design. Reminiscent of Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey”, this new salon is impressive in how it uses the various elements to tie the place together. Hovering in the middle of the space is the large Buckle pendant from Innermost. The pendant light is a perfect match as it captures the light and plays with the reflected distortions" Satelight Lighting

Check out Satelight's website for lighting projects  www.satelight.com.au

Entering the world wide web and the online shopping phenomenon so what happens the retailers and the shopping experience?

Read the article below by Danielle Crisp interviewing Dr Paul Harrison and Mr Steve Ogden-Barnes:

Article from Deakin Magazine issue one 2011

Press by David Mellonie, from the Design Institute of Australia

Quick turnaround the order of the day for Sydney hair salon

The Platinum Blow Dry Bar in Sydney’s CBD has just received a striking new makeover courtesy of DIA member Vanessa Cullen.

The owners of the hair salon approached Vanessa to come up with a mix of practicality and luxury to attract busy customers in need of a quick pampering or ‘pick me up’.

‘The clients came to us with a very clear direction which was easy to achieve,’ said Vanessa.

‘Whilst their budget was tight, they had realistic expectations and were really good to work with.’

Vanessa’s design used flush finishes throughout, a monochromatic colour scheme, fine detailing, graphic walls and massive white chesterfield couches.

Storage areas were completely hidden behind a rounded, wallpapered wall with hidden doors, and the front retail area made best use of an existing column through the installation of cladding and cantilevered glass shelving.

The uncluttered space gives plenty of room for the hair stylists to work in a glamorous and functional setting, and the overall theme exudes a ‘clean, funky mood’.

‘Vanessa and her team have brought to life the hair salon of our dreams,’ enthused the owner.

‘We look forward to working with her again.’

Read review at link below:

http://www.design.org.au/index.cfm?id=101&news=1341

Press Review:

Blue Plate Bar and Grill by Forward Thinking Design, brings a different dining experience to Sydney's Neutral Bay.