The market and me

What an exciting weekend! I had my first attempt at floral arranging and selling it to the public at the Hazelwood food market in Pretoria. I almost sold everything as the people loved all the designs. The weather was perfect, cloudy and not to warm, thus keeping my flowers very happy. I know now what sells better and what works for the public. I cannot wait until next week, maybe I will sell out and actually make some profit.. I kept the stall clean and simple and the flowers became the main attraction. Here are some photos of my debut.

 

          

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

With every purchase I handed out a hand-made brooch or arm corsage made from net and fabric. The people, especially all the girls, loved it and they wore them immediately. What good advertising.

I also just want to thank my mom for believing in me and a very happy birthday for Tuesday!!! I know you will have a wonderful day!

Now the next challenge is to find a way to keep the flowers cool and  happy on those hot, summer days. Any suggestions?

Love and Passion

I have recently completed another course in floral design. My mom used to be a florist, so it was inevitable that I would have a love and passion for flowers just like she has.  I am opening a little stall at the Hazelwood Food market in Pretoria this week, just to see whether I have got what it takes. The focus will lie on fun, colourful bunches or flowers and individual arrangements.

I will add photos after my debut at the market. Hold thumbs!

Revitalise my city

The following two designs formed part of a Heritage research project that a few students did in 2008 . The research area was in the Northern quadrant of Pretoria's CBD along Paul Kruger street. The objective was to introduce new life into the area and revitalize the old buildings, which are currently underutilized.

Both the Bake 102 and Tourist Information Centre is situated inside the old Panagos building, which is located across the road from the infamous Synagogue, in which the Treason Trials were held. By activating this edge with pedestrian friendly spaces and information center, the area becomes a place to visit rather than a place to avoid.

Both design are situated on the ground floor of the Panagos building. The building is divided up into 4 identical units and the Bake 102 and Tourist Information Center takes up two of these spaces, leaving room for more shops to open on the street edge.

The Panagos buildings and its location in Pretoria's CBD.

Bake 102

This bakery is based on the type of shops that were originally found in the Panagos building. A staircase has been introduced to link the upstairs living unit to the bakery, encouraging the owner to live above his or her store. The walls are tiled in large, white ceramic tiles and the wallpaper is a victorian pattern which runs along the wall. As the shops are very narrow, the height has been used for display of the bread and pastries. The wall-units are made from raw timber and woven baskets clip into these displays, making it easier to replenish the stock.

 

Tourist Information Center

This information center is based on the location of the Panagos building in relation to the city. The route along Paul Kruger street has been mapped out on the floor of the space while red, dotted lines connect the location of a historically significant place along this route to an image of the specific building on the wall. Each image has a short description of the building or space next to it in order to convey the history and herutage of Pretoria.

 

 

An event for an automated Bicycle system 2009

The Just of it...

This dissertation’s theme is based on merging the disciplines of event design and interior architecture to create a temporary installation. An event becomes the act of storytelling, bringing the abstract concept to concrete event design that can be enjoyed through contemplation or experience.


Just like Interior Architecture, event design involves the actualization of intangible ideas to realistic experiences from the brief of event objectives to concept generation.
An event becomes a spatial experience where we put on the air what we would like to say by integrating various factors, such as interior decoration, mechanical installation, audio equipment, performers, posters, invitations and advertising.


The proposed event is based on the idea of promoting an alternative mode of transport in Pretoria by introducing a hop-on-hop-off bicycle system. The concept for the event, which takes on the form of a temporary installation within the Pretoria Station, is to give the viewer a preview of Pretoria’s personality through the use of colour, light and graphics.


“Designing an event is always the creation of a spanking new horizon for you to contemplate and experience” (Victionary, 2007)

 

The dissertation evolves around an event within the Pretoria Train Station for the launch of a hop-on-hop-off bicycle system within the city boundaries of the Pretoria Central District (CBD). The launch of this system is in the form of a temporary designed event, which is based on Pretoria’s tourist routes, as well as the proposed integration of bicycle dispensary stations throughout the city.

 

 

 

Branding is an important design element for in this dissertation as it establishes a meaning and reliability for the Bicycle system. The system user’s makes a link between the brand image and service being offered. The following is important in establishing a successful brand identity: (Aaker, 1996)

1) Brand Language

2) Brand Awareness and Implementation

3) Brand identity and visual concepts and finally,

4) An established relationship between the brand, the service        being offered and  the viewer.

With the event, each designated route has been given an unique colour. Firstly, in order to relate BoBo, as a brand identity, specifically to Pretoria, the cityscape along each physical route has been redrawn and reinterpreted to form a graphic. Each of these graphics therefore corresponds to the 5 major routes.  After the graphic has been finalised, it is then translated into a complete graphic, represented on a series on postcards and in the event installation itself.

The graphics that have been placed on postcards, serve as a reminder of the brand and emphasizes Pretoria’s character. The postcards are perforated which the viewer tears off and takes home. The viewer would have to collect all three in a series to complete the route.

For the installation, each coloured ‘route’ transcends from the floor, up the sides and over and above the viewer, creating continuous lines, which the viewer can visually follow. Each line starts and ends at a docking station, which has been placed at the beginning and end of the event installation.

All of these elements creates brand awareness but also informs the viewer of how the system works at the same time.

To incorporate a Proudly South-African personality to the brand identity, each of the perforated post-card, which is linked to a designated route, has a greeting written in one of the official languages of South-Africa on the back.
Language greetings:
    Afrikaans            ‘Hallo’
    English              ‘Hello’
    Tshivenda            ‘Ndaa’
    IsiNdebele           ‘Lotjhani’
    IsiXhosa             ‘Molo’
    Isizulu              ‘Sawubona’
    IsiSwati             ‘Sawubona’
    Sepedi               ‘Dumela’
    Setswana             ‘Dumela’
    Sotho                ‘Dumela’
Each postcard in a series has a different greeting on the back and graphic on the front. By collecting all of the postcards, one has collected Pretoria’s Cityscape in a tangible form.

The following figures show all of the postcards, which are designated to a specific route and how the vibrant colours are translated into the physical installation for the event.

 

 

 

Looking towards the future

I have finally completed my studies and can officially say that I am a Master in Interior Architecture (MInt Arch). So now the job hunt begins! I have posted some of my thesis work and other favourite University Projects on the blog so that you can look at them and comment.

I have just finished another floral design course and might not only be looking for work in the architectural field but also in event and floral design. Design cannot be defined as being something we merely experience in space but it is also in what we touch, smell and feel. Possibly by combining all of these senses, whether in decor, colour, flowers or structure, one could possibly create not only experience but lasting memories. 
Event design here I come! 

Here is some inspiration from David Stark, floral and event designer. (http://www.davidstarkdesign.com/)