Example Reflection – Visualization

Challenge and Selection

Coming from a visual merchandising and design retail background, I have realised that presenting a  merchandise in an appealing manner to the customer can be a difficult task. This is because a  window display should not just be eye-catchy but should also be complement the displayed  merchandise.

I along with my teammates were supposed to design a window display for our final jury project. We  took a brand of our choice, and kept in mind the design philosophy and target customer of that  brand. The brand that we chose is an Indian home furnishing brand called Fabindia. We decided to  use visualization tool after watching Angela Myer’s visualization video in week 1. We did so to  understand the brand’s design philosophy as well as to generate, conceptualize and implement the  ideas in the best way possible.

Application

We started the process of designing this window display by visiting Fabindia’s stores and experience  centre. We also took pictures of the merchandise, in-store displays and set up. We collected home  furnishing brochures, and later collated all the pictures and brochures together to understand the  design philosophy of the brand.

After understanding the design philosophy, we started generating our ideas. We created colour and  mood boards that could help us generate new concepts which were inspired from the ideas collated  by us through first-hand research.

Story telling was another design thinking tool that we used here.  We wanted to attract the  customers, not only through an appealing window, but also through the story behind the  merchandise – ‘Couple Connect at Nature’s Abode’.

This concept construe to give an earthy window display  which has sustainable, artisanal and environmental- friendly merchandise. It also hints at a cosy corner for  couples and brings them close to the nature inside  their home.

After creating the base (one of the most important  parts of this project) we used visualization tool to  represent ideas for the final window display set up.               We sketched an empty window and started filling it up  with the merchandise that we could show there. This  was concluded by creating a final sketch of how we  wanted our window to appear.

Insight

By applying this design thinking tool, we could already  visualise how our final window would look like,  keeping in mind all the elements and colours we  wanted to use. By creating the mood board and colour  bord, sourcing of raw materials and merchandise as  well as formulation of a clear idea of the final design of  the window display became easy and more  comprehensible. This design thinking tool was a  learning tool for all of us. It was a non-verbal way of  presenting our ideas more clearly; that can be used not  only in this industry but anywhere.

Approach

We used two design thinking tools here (visualization  and story-telling) because selling an idea is as  important as selling the story. Merging two different  stories along with the display was a tough task here  because we did not want our concepts to clash. At the  same time, we wanted our jury to be intrigued by our  window and the story behind it.  Since story-telling and  visualization are two important aspects in almost every  field, the next time we approach these design thinking  tools, we do realise that wrapping a story around the  concepts can be worked upon.

Final window display


Example Reflection – Visualization Challenge and Selection Coming from a visual merchandising and design retail background , I have realised that presenting a merchandise in an appealing manner to the customer can be a difficult task . This is because a window display should not just be eye - catchy but should also be complement the displayed merchandise . I along with my teammates were supposed to design a window display for our final jury project . We took a brand of our choice , and kept in mind the design philosophy and target customer of that brand . The brand that we chose is an Indian home furnishing brand called Fabindia . We decided to use visualization tool after watching Angela Myer ’s visualization video in week 1 . We did so to understand the brand ’s design philosophy as well as to generate , conceptualize and implement the ideas in the best way possible . Application We started the process of designing this window display by visiting Fabindia ’s stores and experience centre . We also took pictures of the merchandise , in - store displays and set up . We collected home furnishing brochures , and later collated all the pictures and brochures together to understand the design philosophy of the brand . After understanding the design philosophy , we started generating our ideas . We created colour and mood boards that could help us generate new concepts which were inspired from the ideas collated by us through first - hand research . Story telling was another design thinking tool that we used here . We wanted to attract the customers , not only through an appealing window , but also through the story behind the merchandise – ‘ Couple Connect at Nature ’s Abode ’ . This concept construe to give an earthy window display which has sustainable , artisanal and environmental- friendly merchandise . It also hints at a cosy corner for couples and brings them close to the nature inside their home . After creating the base ( one of the most important parts of this project ) we used visualization tool to represent ideas for the final window display set up . We sketched an empty window and started filling it up with the merchandise that we could show there . This was concluded by creating a final sketch of how we wanted our window to appear . Insight By applying this design thinking tool , we could already visualise how our final window would look like , keeping in mind all the elements and colours we wanted to use . By creating the mood board and colour bord , sourcing of raw materials and merchandise as well as formulation of a clear idea of the final design of the window display became easy and more comprehensible . This design thinking tool was a learning tool for all of us . It was a non - verbal way of presenting our ideas more clearly ; that can be used not only in this industry but anywhere . Approach We used two design thinking tools here ( visualization and story - telling ) because selling an idea is as important as selling the story . Merging two different stories along with the display was a tough task here because we did not want our concepts to clash . At the same time , we wanted our jury to be intrigued by our window and the story behind it . Since story - telling and visualization are two important aspects in almost every field , the next time we approach these design thinking tools , we do realise that wrapping a story around the concepts can be worked upon . Final window display