Wakefield Up In Flames

Wakefield's time to shine

It was our turn to shine earlier today as the torch passed right through the heart of the city, to a mass of spectators and well-wishers. In true Yorkshire style they did not disappoint, as the torch was met with rapturous applause and cheer. 


It really is amazing how such a diverse community as Wakefield can all get together really share in the experience. Designed to be a homage to athleticism and community spirit the torch bearers are all chosen for being true ambassadors to their area. 

Gayna Goalby (left) is a teacher at Westborough high school and has done amazing work for disabled and underprivelaged children in the area. She was charged with carrying the flame over the stunning (triumph to architecture) Hepworth Gallery footbridge, where it was met by Karen Townsend. Karen is a plastic surgery nurse who helped many of the survivors of the Bradford City Staduim fire in 1985.

Although this is the third time that London has hosted the Olympics, the fact is that we would be very lucky to see it again in our lifetimes. With so many up and coming developing countries, we could see future games held in some very interesting places indeed. With any luck, The Big Orchard will have a hand in supplying the Legacy Companies for those too!


The whole experience seemed to be over in a flash, with carnival style buses preceding the bearers themselves. To catch a glimpse of the torch, if only for a moment, really brings it home - we are all a part of these Games even if the focus will mainly be on London. I can't wait for the games to get under way - shame about the football, but what a summer for England.

Combining design with design constraints

The winning formula for retail design

I was wondering only last week if there was actually a winning formula for retail design. A visually appealing and versatile retail space which does the best selling job on your products. Is there a recipe?

• 1 heaped tablespoon of layout algorithms
• 5 oz. of artistic flair
• 1 pinch of current modern trend

Mix it all together is some fancy water front design studio in central London, et voila.

The key clearly lies in getting the right architect and designer who can really communicate and inspire over your brand image, but that's not the end of it.

Countless studies into people flow, what makes an appealing store front and how to take your customers on a visual journey across your threshold, all contribute to the final design. You can't decide you need more shelves, put some up (that you got cheap from a repossession auction) then think, "I know, some blue lights under these shelves would look great". Creating what I like to call Frankenstein's monster - the complete lack of a comprehensive design plan.

Clearly, it is not practical for every retailer to invest thousands in brand image and shop fitting, especially in the current economic climate. You have to make the most of what you spend in terms of versatility and longevity and quite often you end up going with the 'safe bet' multi-purpose shelving and plastic lean back sign holders. But that doesn't have to be bland if you you keep these rules in the back of your mind:

1. Keep it simple but bold

If you are going to put a sign somewhere, make sure your customers see it, read it and appreciate the relevance. You can do very effectively with acrylic display blocks which provide versatile, modern and clean displays. They are double sided and can be used in portrait or landscape.

2. Don't play all your cards at once

Maintain some mystery about what's in your shop, especially from the outside. With their screens all aligned so they're not facing outside, it makes passers by wonder 'what are they looking at?' which draws people inside. You can apply the same logic by not overcrowding your shop window and giving hints as to the more interesting things inside. 

3. High contrast

Interior contrast refers to much more than just colour and shade. Large or small, smooth or sharp, flat or textured, messy (organic) or refined. All these things can bring a shop to life. 

Remember, you only get a small window of opportunity to wow your customers so there's no point making your shop look the same from every direction. This actually can be a god send in terms of making your shop look amazing as well as being a practical environment to showcase your products (which, lets be honest, is the whole point). 

You can get away with having a 'bland' wall full of square, uniform shelving if you contrast it with something organic and curved - a stand out centerpiece which draws customers in. If you've ever been in Hollister shop, you'll know what I mean: Light and dark, hard minimal shelving against soft colourful clothes, not to mention the amazing fragrance of their aftershaves which fills the air inside.

4. Serious about your brand

Even if you don't want your customers to think you take yourself too seriously that doesn't mean you can't be serious about your brand. A good approach is to always try to punch above your weight. Spend money on things that don't cost the earth but that are associated with larger companies. Voice-overs on your shop radio, Italian display stands and branded notice holders are a good way increase perception of your brand which can have a huge impact on repeat business.

The Future of Drawing Equipment

When I get chatting to someone in a Pub and the question of "What do you do for a living?" crops up, there is always a set sequence of events.

Firstly I tell them I work for a drawing board manufacturer. They either say "What? Pieces of wood?" or, if they are a little more worldly-wise "Drawing Boards? I didn't think people still used drawing boards?". I then proceed to tell them that both students and professional designers / architects all do indeed still use drawing boards and even though computers undoubtedly have their place, you still can't beat pencil and paper for getting ideas down.

So I was in the Cross Keys in Leeds last Wednesday night (Burns night) and there was a young lad working on his laptop at the bar. I couldn't see what was on his screen, but as I was ordering drinks I couldn't help notice his sketch book as he drew exotic and fancy profiles of buildings and interior layouts.

I couldn't help myself. "What are you working on?" at which point I noticed that sleep probably hadn't been on his agenda for quite some time. He was a third year architectural student called Tom studying in Leeds and was glad to show me his project; a rather striking building he was designing for his current assignment. He showed me his recent portfolio of sketches in his book - hundreds of lovingly drawn ideas from the basic to the sublime. Sketched, re-sketched, coloured and crossed out, this book represented the inner workings of his mind over the last year. On his screen was the half finished model with every detail from his sketch faithfully reproduced in wire frame.

"And what is it you do for a living?" he asked, sipping from his extra, extra black coffee.
"Ever heard of 'Orchard'?" I asked with a wry smile. He looked puzzled for a moment then suddenly remembering the name "we use Orchard drawing tables at Uni".
"That's us. We make them only a few miles away" I told him.
"No way? You actually make that stuff?"

It turns out his entire department is kitted out with Orchard drawing equipment and he uses it every day. What's more he loves using it and finds something very 'romantic' about drawing on paper. The cold hard machine that was his laptop was just a tool to him, a way of saving his ideas in 1's and 0's. His real love, his creativity, could only be released through paper and pencil and that was the reason he loved architecture.

Three years in to a seven year course he admitted that it is a long hard slog, but well worth the rewards at the end of it. To find yourself designing something which will actually get built. Knowing that you are in a position to create a visual impact on millions who see, live and work inside your creations for years to come.

He told me about the responsibility ahead of him. Medicine takes 5 years but you can only ever kill one person at once. Architecture takes so much longer because one mistake could have catastrophic consequences. I could see he was keen to get back to his work so with that I wished him well and left him to it.

I have to admit. Although I am a creative, I don't really know how to get the most out of a drawing board. Not like how Tom could at any rate. We make them, sell them then make some more knowing that the product is perfect for the job but not being able to do the 'job' ourselves.

We are organic beings, as much as we claim to know and understand computers they will always stifle basic creativity to some extent and so I see a bright future for the humble drawing board as the trusty companion for architects like Tom, designers and artists the world over.