Purpose
This project is a design for URBN inc. subsidiary: ANTHROPOLOGIE.
The product is new and innovative but still harmonious with the identity of the company.
00. Mood Board
01.
To get my inspiration flowing, I used an art school classic - "the letterform exercise".
This practice involves using the 26 letters of the alphabet as a basis for the physical archetype of an object. It gives designers 26 unique jumping off points to then abstract from in order to create a plethora of interesting, somewhat recognizable forms.
Next, I took the letterform ideas/structures I liked the most and let them pave the way for my next round of ideas. I moved away from having the product act as a plant holder and towards it resembling the silhouette of a leaf as that felt more in line with Anthropologie's current brand.
As hard as it is to restrain my inclinations, I found that in order to best produce a mirror that belongs on the shelf of Anthropologie, I would need to simplify my ideas and focus on creating a stunning pattern that elicit's the same vibrancy as my more complex ideas.
The thought to use the eloquent Mexican palm leaf, featuring a brilliant radiating pattern, then took the forefront of my mind and influenced the design from this point on.
The work done to create a beautiful mirror frame could either be amplified or ruined by the stand it rests on. I started by creating a plethora of different ideas in order to give a sense of eclecticism and in order to leave no stone unturned. The object to ground relationship must be bridged in both a way that fits the theme but also does not distract from the mirror. I really struggled to find something that seemed perfect in my mind so I continued along a few different avenues and further mocked up several different designs.
Pulling on the radiant nature of the Mexican Fan Palm, I developed a cordate mirror shape that gives the illusion of layered leaves while remaining flat.
Early renders were made to refine the shape, scale, and flesh out early ideas. This base in particular was inspired by classic Art Deco architecture.
The previous base, while stylistically in line with the long delicate patterns of the Art Deco movement, proved incredibly unstable for the weight distribution of the mirror. A wide water droplet inspired base proved to be much more sturdy.
The striations crossing through the middle of the mirror proved to be too bold a design choice for a more elegant, restrained, company like Anthropologie.
After a major redesign, a new form emerged that features higher visibility and retains it's ornate, botanical, aura.
1.
2.
3.
4.
02.
