CONCEPT BRIEF 

QUESTION - SPOTS V’S STRIPES? HOW CAN THEY POSSIBLY SIT TOGTHER…?

CONTRAST,  CALM, CHAOS,  SPOTS,  STRIPES, STRAIGHT LINES, CIRCLES… IT MAKES NO SENSE - UNLESS, WHEN PROPOSED UNDER THE HARMONY OF MONOCHROMATIC STATE OF MIND. 

THEN IT JUST SIMPLY WORKS ! 

THIS WAS THE BEAUTY OF THE VALENTINO PRE-FALL AW18 COLLECTION AND THEN HOW TO TRANSLATE THIS INTO THE JOSEPH FLAGSHIP SPACE, WE DID THIS BY CREATING A COMPLETE BLACK AND WHITE ENVIRONMENT. 

THE BOLD 2D GRAPHIC BACKDROP SET THE SCENE AND THE 3D ELEMENTS THEN PERFECTLY FRAMED EACH MANNEQUIN / LOOK TO CREATE A BALANCE BETWEEN EACH PROP AND THE FOCUS AROUND THE PRODUCT.

CONCEPT BRIEF

FOR THIS SCHEME WE SHOWCASED THE BALENCIAGA AUTUMN WINTER 2018 COLLECTION BY RECREATING THE RUNWAY SHOW SET, THE CREATIVE IDEA WAS INSPIRED BY URBAN DECAYED SKATEPARKS. 

THE PROP WAS CONSTRUCTED IN A TIMBER, CHICKEN WIRE, FOAM AND FIBERGLASS STRUCTURE AND THEN SPRAYED BY A LONDON GRAFFITI ARTIST. 

THE LOOKS WERE HEAVILY STYLED WITH A MULTITUDE OF DESIGNERS WITH THE SAME ATTITUDE / AESTHETIC AND PRESENTED ON REPEAT WALKER MANNEQUIN POSES FROM THE ATREZZO ‘FLASH’ COLLECTION.

CONCEPT BRIEF

THE WINDOW CONCEPT WAS INSPIRED FROM TWO MAIN SOURCES, FIRSTLY THE CHRISTOPHER KANE SS16 CATWALK SHOW WHICH STEMS FROM A SLIGHTLY CHAOTIC STATE OF MIND FULL OF IMAGES OF CAR-WRECKS, FRACTURED SHAPES, JAGGED CUT-OUTS AND SPRAY-PAINTING THAT FILTERED INTO HIS DRESSES AND TAILORING.

ANOTHER SIDEWAYS LEAP MADE KANE THINK ABOUT MENTAL INSTITUTIONS AND MEDICAL SCIENCE, HENCE THE WOMAN IN THE BLUE SHIRT, BANDED WITH WIPE-CLEAN PLASTIC CUFFS AND A STRICT SKIRT: “LIKE A NURSE WHO’S GOING TO GIVE YOU A LETHAL INJECTION!

THERE WERE JOLTS OF THAT SORT OF CURRENT RUNNING THROUGH THE DETAILS—NARROW PLASTIC “RESTRAINT” TAGS ON BLACK SILK DRESSES, WORN AS CHOKERS AND DECORATING BAGS.

THE SECOND SOURCE OF INSPIRATION WAS BASED ON WORK BY THE ARTIST “DEIBEDO FRANCIS KERE” WHO WAS PART OF THE RECENT “SENSING SPACES” EXHIBITION @ THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS.

KÉRÉ ARCHITECTURE SOUGHT TO DISRUPT THE PERCEIVED BARRIER BETWEEN ART DISPLAY AND VIEWER BY CREATING AN INTERACTIVE ENVIRONMENT. IT WAS ALSO IMPORTANT FOR THIS MICRO ENVIRONMENT TO REFLECT THE MODERN AND INDUSTRIALIZED NATURE OF THE CITY THROUGH THE USE OF A WIDELY RECOGNIZABLE MATERIAL, PLASTIC.

WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE TEXTURED WALLS MADE OF OVER 120’000 COLOURED CABLE TIES, VISITORS WILL INTERACT & PARTICIPATE IN THE INSTALLATION WHICH HARMONISES WITH THE ENVIRONMENTE BY ADDING TO IT AND CHANGING IT.

THROUGH THIS SIMPLE YET DIRECT MANIPULATION OF SPACE, THE COMPLEX CORRELATION BETWEEN AESTHETICS AND COMMUNITY ARE HEIGHTENED.

2016 VM & DISPLAY AWARDS WINNER / RETAIL FOCUS - READERS CHOICE AWARD - BEST WINDOW

CONCEPT BRIEF

THE WINDOW CREATIVE DIRECTION WAS INSPIRED BY THE WORK OF THE ARTIST JEPPE HEIN AND SPECIFICALLY THE SERIES OF INSTALLATIONS TITLED ‘FOLLOW ME’. THE IDEA WAS THEN TO CREATE A FEELING OF A SUMMER GARDEN PARTY MAYBE AT THE SERPENTINE PAVILION WITH THE GUESTS STYLED IN BEAUTIFUL EVENING GOWNS WITH AN EDITED CURATION OF MULTI-BRAND COLLECTIONS FROM JOSEPH 77 SUCH AS GIAMBATTISTA VALLI, ROCHAS, ALAIA AND CELINE.

THE BACKGROUND FLOOR WAS TREATED IN A DEEP ARTIFICIAL GRASS WHICH WILL ACT AS AN ORGANIC AND TEXTURED CONTRAST AGAINST THE STARK ARCHITECTURAL LINES OF THE MIRRORED COLUMNS THAT WERE POSITIONED IN A MAZE FORMAT WITHIN THE WINDOW SPACE.

THE MULTIFACETED REFLECTION THEREFORE PRODUCES A FRAGMENTED VIEW OF THE SPACE, SURROUNDING THE VIEWER WITH AN UNFAMILIAR AND DISORIENTING ENVIRONMENT SIMILAR TO THAT OF A LABYRINTH. 

Once again we collaborated with our friends @ NEOUS, this time it was for the Launch of their New Handbag Collection. They asked us to design and produce their Pop-Up Installation @ Selfridges Designer Accessories Hall on Monday 7th September.

The brief was to treat an existing Table with a creative envelope that translated the systematic arrangement of a repeated shape. Curvature and repetition in design was a key principal in the pleated construction of the Handbag collection and we wanted to incorporate this through the organic fluid lines of the installation which contrasted against the surrounding rectilineal environment - all straight lines and squared angles, the curves soften the installation’s impact and act’s a creative juxtaposition to it’s location.

We also designed the beautiful Handbag stands which were inspired by the beauty of nature and the efficiency of a simple curve and the minimal design language of the Core aesthetic’s of Neous's Brand’s DNA.

The construction of the build was crafted from sustainable materials in line with Selfridges Project Earth initiative which marks a new chapter in Selfridges’ history – the start of a challenging yet essential journey to completely change the way we shop and put sustainability at the heart of everything we do.

The Pop-Up will be live for one month in Selfridges Oxford St / Accessories Hall which is located on the East side / Gnd Floor.

When conceptualising the idea for the latest Drakes Window, It all starts with details…

I believe you should always start with the ‘Product’, in this case - it was a quite simply a ‘Tropical Palm print Silk Tie’. The Idea was born!

We then had to realise how to amplify this idea into the window environment? It had to Big & Bold to stand out and message to their community that after month’s of Lockdown due to the pandemic restrictions - they had finally re-opened their Savile Row store in the heart of London Mayfair district

So we couldn’t just keep within the constraints of 2d print or be confined by the internal window space, we need to literally think outside the Box! We sourced large scale artificial Palm Leaves and sprayed them to colour match the Japanese Linen Chore jackets in Powder Blue, Saffron Yellow and Tangerine Orange within the Drakes SS Collection.

Then we created a external canopy of abundant foliage that framed the entire window and brought the creative scheme outside to fully engage the customers that passed by the store and entice them inside.

The window was then styled with the collection and the mannequins were restyled for the next launch of product.

Creative Concept - The Invisible Man

Mannequin Styling - Nathan Hicks

CONCEPT BRIEF

INSPIRED BY THE EXHIBITION AT THE V&A MUSEUM - ‘PLYWOOD : MATERIAL OF THE MODERN WORLD’

PLYWOOD IS A SIMPLE, HONEST MATERIAL THAT HAS BEEN USED SINCE THE 1800’S WHICH HAS HELPED SHAPE THE MODERN WORLD.

IT HAS BOTH MASCULINE AND FEMININE QUALITIES AND HAS BEEN USED MOST FAMOUSLY BY DESIGNERS SUCH AS ‘CHARLES & RAY EAMES’ AND FINNISH ARCHITECT ‘ALVAR AALTO’ IN THEIR ICONIC FURNITURE DESIGNS.

THE IDEA WAS TO UTILISE THIS SINGULAR MATERIAL TO CREATE AN INSTALLATION CONSTRUCTED ENTIRELY OF PLYWOOD, IT NEEDED TO BE AN ORGANIC SHAPE FORMED OF SIMPLE REPEAT PIECES THAT WE COULD PRODUCE INEXPENSIVELY ENMASSE TO CREATE A SCULPTURAL PIECE THAT REFLECTS THE SEASONAL CHANGE FROM SPRING SUMMER WITH AN ABSTRACT FORM THAT REALISES THE ARRIVAL OF THE AUTUMN SEASON.

2018 VM & DISPLAY AWARDS WINNER / RETAIL FOCUS - READERS CHOICE AWARD - BEST WINDOW

Watch the video of the installation / Link Below;

https://vimeo.com/230022391

CONCEPT BRIEF

THE SIMPLE CLEAN LINES OF THE ALAIA AESTHETIC WERE VERY MUCH CONSIDERED IN THIS SCHEME. THE MAIN IDEA WAS TO TRANSLATE THE ENTIRE BACKDROP WITH LASER CUT FRETWORK WHICH IS A SIGNATURE DETAIL FROM THE MAIN RTW COLLECTION AND BEAUTIFUL LEATHER ACCESSORY PIECES, THIS WAS THEN ALSO BACKLIT TO ADD A LUXURY FEELING. 

EACH DRESS WAS PRESENTED ON ROTATING BUSTFORM MANNEQUINS WHICH WERE SUSPENDED OVER A CIRCULAR BASE WHICH THEN FOCUSED YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SHOE COLLECTION.

Presenting Tikiman and Clocktopia – part of the electrifying window display and fashion collaboration between Joseph Fashion and Mary Katrantzou. We filled the flagship store window on 77 Fulham Street with a sea of bright colours and beautiful props. The large constructions hanging casually in the display coupled with the bespoke mannequin masks and oversized cookie cutters make for a playful installation.

CONCEPT BRIEF

THE IDEA FOR THIS WINDOW DERIVES FROM THE JOSEPH SS/COLLECTION “ORGANZA LACE”.

WE TRANSLATED THIS MESSAGE CREATIVELY THROUGH A SERIES OF A LASER CUT PANELS THAT FORM A LACE TUNNEL THAT DISSECTS ACROSS THE FULL WIDTH OF THE WINDOW ENVIRONMENT.

FOR THE 1ST TIME THE WINDOW WAS INTERACTIVE SO THE CUSTOMER CAN JOURNEY THROUGH THE INSTALLATION TO ENHANCE THEIR VISUAL EXPERIENCE.

VM & DISPLAY AWARDS WINNER / ‘BEST WINDOW IN A MULTIPLE’

CONCEPT BRIEF

THE WINDOW CONCEPT WAS INSPIRED DIRECTLY FROM THE JIL SANDER SS17 SHOW, SPECIFICALLY THE BEAUTIFUL PLEATED PIECES IN SOFT BLUSH PINK TONES THAT REFLECT THE COLOURS & TEXTURES OF THE ANTELOPE NAVAJO CANYON IN THE ARIZONA DESERT WHERE THE WATER & SAND CARVE FLOWING SHAPES INTO THE ROCKS OF THE NARROW PASSAGEWAYS OF THIS AMAZING NATURAL LANDSCAPE.

THE IDEA WAS TO TRANSLATE THE FULHAM RD WINDOW SPACE INTO A CONTEMPORARY DESERT CANYON WITH A 3D TEXTURED HAND CARVED BACK-WALL & FREE STANDING ORGANIC SHAPES WHICH ARE DISSECTED BY AN ARTIFICIAL ACRYLIC PINK COLOURED STREAM RUNNING THROUGH IT. THE VARIOUS SHADES OF THE PINK TONES REFLECT THE FEELING SHOWN IN THE BEAUTIFUL PLEATS AND TEXTURES OF THE COLLECTION.

THE USE OF THE COLOUR ‘PINK’ IS VERY PREVALENT IN THE TRENDS OF THE SS17 COLLECTIONS AND ADD A STRONG ELEMENT OF FEMININITY TO THE WINDOW ENVIRONMENT  AND GAVE A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE TO THIS CREATIVE COLLABORATION. 

CONCEPT BRIEF

WE COLLABORATED WITH THOM BROWNE FOR THE PRESENTATION AND LAUNCH OF THOM’S NEW BOOK ‘ AND ALL THE SISTERS FOLLOWED’…  

LOCATED AT THE JOSEPH FULHAM RD LONDON FLAGSHIP, THE GUESTS THEN ENTERED INTO THE PRESENTATION SPACE WHERE THE THOM BROWNE SS15 COLLECTION WAS SHOWCASED IN A POP UP SPACE TO REFLECT THE AESTHETIC OF THE RUNWAY SHOW WHICH WE THEN ALSO RECREATED INTO THE MAIN WINDOW ENVIRONMENT. 

WE ALSO REPRODUCED THE BEAUTIFUL HAND DRAWN ILLUSTRATIONS THAT WERE FEATURED IN THE BOOK ACROSS THE INTERNAL SPACE TO ACT AS A PHOTO OPPORTUNITY FOR GUESTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVITY.

We were thrilled to be asked to produce and install this Amazing concept for Kate Henderson who was commissioned by ‘Royal Academy of Arts’ for the launch of the ‘Picasso and Paper’ exhibition. The brief was to treat the main entrance and Vestibule room which links the Exhibition space and the RA retail store.

The creative concept was all about paper on a Large Scale which involved both 2D graphics and 3D elements. The Graphics were translated beautifully across the Grand staircase to make them feel like repeat stacks of paper and the architectural walls of the Vestibule were treated with Collaged layers of digital print wallpaper. The 3D elements were both stunning and functional, as they were realised in low benches for customers to sit and pause and the large scale bench functioned as a Display table for the Exhibitions product ranges and books.

The resulting simplicity of the scheme really enhances the artistry of the great artist and takes the customer on a journey before and after they enter this stunning exhibition.

‘Picasso and Paper’ @ the Royal Academy of Arts runs until the 13th April 2020

Creative Concept - Kate Henderson

Production and installation - The Invisible Man / Creative

theinvisibleman.co.uk

@the.invisible.man_creative

With Special thanks to;

Neil Morgan for the Production of the 3D Elements

The Graphical Tree for the 2D Graphic elements

& also G.F Smith Papers for the supply of the Beautiful Paper

#royalacademyofarts #royalacademy #ra #picassoandpaper #exhibition #installation #paper #white #picasso #designagency #theinvisibleman #creativeconsultant #creativedirection #setdesign #windowproduction #experientialdesign #immersiveretail #visualstorytelling #think #disrupt #create #install #freelance

CONCEPT

The inspiration was taken from a few sources, firstly the ‘Fashioned by Nature’ exhibition at the V&A, which presented fashionable dress alongside natural history specimens, innovative new fabrics and dyeing processes, inviting visitors to think about the materials used within the fashion industry and their sources.

From this, I also took inspiration from the ‘London Craft week’ event that was happening across the capital at the same time and also the SS18 Runway collections such as Loewe and Celine which had a beautiful, handcrafted & Artisan aesthetic. 

The idea for this scheme was then to transform the window into a field of overgrown tall Corn planting that is contained into rigid grids of maze like hedges boxed in metal mesh. The paths created will lead you to several central timber framed gallery cases where the mannequins will be showcased on raised concrete plinths and I also introduced timber frame / concrete topped plinths to display accessories in the front focal points of the window.

We were thrilled to collaborate once again with our friends at NICOLI Shoes for the launch of their Latest Window installation.

The window concept was inspired by the intricate Heel shapes and details that run through their current shoe collection. We wanted to focus on the exquisite jewel shapes and amplify these elements into full scale 3D shapes that have a sculptural form and femineity. These were designed to both free-stand and suspend throughout the window environment and act as props to elevate the Product displays.

The question was how to produce them in a sustainable way and rather than manufacturing in the usual manner using Metal or Plastic fabrication methods, we collaborated with the team at Universal Display who have in-house 3D printing production facilities and produced each sculptural Totem to our exacting specification using the lowest environmental impact solution.

The installation took over 6 weeks to produce from Concept through to installation with the design team crafting the various elements, making sure the finish was produced to the high standards of the brands luxury aesthetic.

Credits:

Creative Concept, Design & Installation: Nathan Hicks @ THE INVISIBLE MAN | CREATIVE

Prop Production: Universaldisplay.co.uk (*Thanks Jonathan & Shaun)

Location: NICOLI Shoes / 118 New Bond St. W1

We were thrilled to collaborate with NEOUS for the launch of their PRE-AW/19 Women’s Shoe Collection. They asked us to design and produce their Pop-Up Installation @ Selfridges Designer Shoe Galleries on Monday 8th July.

The brief was to treat an existing Shoe Table with a creative envelope that translated the Core aesthetic’s of the Neous Brand’s DNA, with a Sculptural piece that wrapped and cocooned the installation with a fluid / feminine texture that invites the consumer to engage with the bold yet minimal design.

We commissioned and crafted over 130 individual custom made panels that were all uniquely cut sections that naturally undulated across the full 3.6m length of the installation. We then created 5 x bespoke sculptural forms that acted as shoe risers to elevate the product, these were hand-crafted from timber and treated with a natural stone paint effect and then finished with a Marble surface.

The Pop-Up will be live for one month in Selfridges Oxford St / Designer Shoe Galleries which is located on the Women’s / 2nd floor / Shoe Dept.

A Huge Thanks to Neil and his team @ RDD_Creative / RDDProjects.co.uk for all their hardwork on this Project!

Watch this space for further images of the Installation, now it has gone live...

Credits:

Creative Concept: Nathan Hicks @ THE INVISIBLE MAN | CREATIVE

Production & Installation: RDD_Creative | Neil Morgan

Location : Selfridges Oxford St / Designer Shoe Galleries

Website / Instagram links:

neous.co.uk | @neous

rddprojects.co.uk | @rdd_creative

Revisit the future by taking a psychedelic trip into Joseph ‘Acid Lounge’ where the space presents itself as an organic fantasy landscape, characterised by fluid curved shapes that create a fluid design with multiple layers of dynamic block coloured dioramas that warp across the space.

The installation discards all traditional notions of Architecture: the floors, walls, ceilings seem to be created from a single cast.. It feels cold from the front view with the various shades of blues and then as you delve deeper it transforms into warmer hue’s of yellow, reds and oranges that make it feel like it’s glowing from within a living cave.

We were thrilled to collaborate again with NEOUS for the launch of their AW/19 Women’s Shoe Collection. They asked us to design and produce their Pop-Up Installation @ Harrods Designer Shoe Heaven.

The brief was to treat an existing Shoe Table with a creative envelope that translated the Core aesthetic’s of the Neous Brand’s DNA, we constructed a wooden base structure of high density MDF to allow us to then carve and smooth out all edges and surfaces to form an undulating fluid / soft shape with stone-like effect texture.

We then crafted several individual sculptural pieces which were a harmony of ‘Craft & Technology’ by using both hand carved and 3D printed techniques.

The Pop-Up will be live for one month in Harrods Knightsbridge / Designer Shoe Heaven which is located on the Women’s / 5th floor / Shoe Dept.

A Huge Thanks to Neil and his team @neilmorgancreative and @h3rd_3d_print_farm for all their hardwork on this Project!

Credits:

Creative Concept & Design : THE INVISIBLE MAN

Production & Installation: Neil Morgan | Creativeservices.Ltd.

Shoe stands and props 3D printed by #h3rd_3dprint _farm
Location : Harrods Knightsbridge / Designer Shoe Heaven

Website / Instagram links:

theinvisibleman.co.uk | @the.invisible.man_creative | @hicks7o
neous.co.uk | @neous
neilmorgancreative.co.uk | @neilmorgancreative

CONCEPT BRIEF

THE IDEA WAS TO FOCUS ON THE GRAPHICAL ELEMENTS FROM THE FENDI SS17 COLLECTION AND TRANSLATE THEM INTO A SINGULAR SCULPTURAL PIECE THAT WILL FORM THE CENTRE PIECE OF THE WINDOW.

THE OTHER SOURCE OF INSPIRATION IS THE WORK OF ARTIST JULIO LE PARC AND SPECIFICALLY HIS PIECE ‘ROUGE SPHERE’. THE USE OF ONE BOLD COLOUR ‘RED’ AND THE BALANCE OF WEIGHT / LIGHTNESS WITH THE MOVEMENT AND THE WAY THE COMPOSITION OF MULTI-FACATED SHAPES REFLECT ‘LIGHT AND SHADOW’. 

WE ALSO THEN CLOSED THE ENTRANCES TO THE WINDOW WITH SEMI-TRANSPARENT ACRYLIC FRAMES. 

THE SURROUNDING SPACE WAS THEN A SIMPLE WHITE BOX THAT ACTED AS A STARK CONTRAST AGAINST THE STRONG ACCENT OF BOLD COLOUR.

CREATIVE CONCEPT

2017 WAS THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF SOCIAL PHENOMENON KNOWN AS THE ‘SUMMER OF LOVE’ THAT OCCURRED IN THE SUMMER OF 1967.

THE WINDOW TAKES INSPIRATION FROM THE HIPPIE CULTURAL MOVEMENT THAT ORIGINATED FROM THOSE ECLECTIC TIMES AND STILL LIVES ON IN ANNUAL GATHERINGS AND FESTIVALS SUCH AS THE ‘BURNING MAN’.

2017 RETAIL FOCUS AWARDS WINNER / BEST VM SCHEME

Concept

Question - How do we make Chistmas cool? One answer in three simple words  “One - Single - Prop”

This scheme was all about the use of 1 material / 1 prop, completely simple but executed with complete authority… 

I.e. How do we take a simple inexpensive ‘Glitter curtain’ that you can find anywhere! But use it in such a way that it transforms into something spectacular that would fill the entire window with an ‘Avalanche’ of Tinsel to create an amazing Festive window.

So we had to go about sourcing hundreds and hundreds of the uniformed red glitter curtains that could be delivered in time and on Budget. Then create a concealed structure bespoke to the organic shape of the window that the mannequins could be positioned in such a way that they felt like they were being completely covered from head to toe.

The final effect was truly magical and showcased how to utilise the simplist of props in the right way, you can create an intensely visually impactful scheme that can’t help but grab customers attention.

Take a glimpse inside the all new Issue Twelve PopUp store in the heart of Marylebone village.

Completely refurbished by The Invisible Man, we designed and fitted out the space with a mixture of clean lines, simple black metal Rails and luxurious fabrics.

The bold black metal Fixtures contrast against the Mid-Century found furniture pieces that are both masculine & feminine and truly reflect the Brands Luxury Aesthetic.

It was our absolute pleasure to work with the very Talented @leahchapman in bringing the ‘Issue Twelve’ brand to life in their first Stand-alone Physical space.

The Pop-Up runs until the 22nd Dec in New Cavendish Street W1, please pop by and check out the space and their exclusive pieces launched for the Pop-Up.

Creative @theinvisibleman_creative

Production @theinvisibleman_creative

The window concept was born simply from the Joseph SS Show collection which was inspired by the ease of urban sportswear; masculine and over-sized contrasted by the purity and precision of Japanese origami, its patterns and its shapes.

Geisha references are the emblem of serenity and exactitude, with wrapped silhouettes grounded in ethereal simplicity. In contrast an urban sportswear uniform takes on an air of luxury, without straying from its street roots: slouchy, masculine, nonchalant.

We collaborated with London based artist Yasemen Hussein who created & sculpted the beautiful Geisha inspired headpieces that were hand crafted from copper wire and then perfectly balanced above each suspended mannequin and softly rotated within the Japanese Zen like garden which was filled with precision raked black sand and oversized rocks that evoke the feeling of calm within this tranquil environment.

We set these against a natural bamboo backdrop to create an additional layer of depth and formed a contrast between restriction and ease.

Creative Concept & production - THE INVISIBLE MAN

Geisha Sculptures - yasemenhussein.com

Suspended Mannequins - atrezzomannequins.com

CONCEPT BRIEF

THE JOSEPH CHRISTMAS WINDOW CONCEPT WAS BORN FROM THE SIMPLE IDEA OF TRANSLATING THE TRIANGLE SECTION OF THE ORGANZA DETAILING IN THE FLUID VISCOSE PIECES OF THE PRE-SS15 COLLECTION.

WE WANTED TO PLAY ON THIS IDEA AND RECREATE THE TRIANGULAR SHAPE INTO A PIECE THAT REFERENCED THE FESTIVE SEASON. THEY WERE THEN REPEATED THROUGH THE WINDOW ENVIRONMENT AND SCALED UP TO FILL THE ENTIRE SPACE WITH REAL AUTHORITY.

THE SHAPES WERE A MIX OF MULTIPLE FREE-STANDING FORMS AND CEILING SUSPENDED STALACTITES AND MIXED BOTH 3D FORMS WITH A STRONG ELEMENT OF LIGHT TO CREATE LAYERS OF DEPTH AND TEXTURE.

The Joseph store concept plays naturally on the Brands DNA with signature design details and contrasted personality — Anglo-Franco, Black and White, Masculine and Feminine.

The design intentionally focusses on these opposites while also drawing upon cultural references to the individual store locations. The new concept was designed by International renowned Architects ‘SYBARITE’ 

In Miami, designing on a much bigger scale, the concept drew upon the city’s Art Deco and grand architectural gestures to inform the 260 square- metre space, where all the architecture goes to that point of being straight and orthogonal.

Also studied were a series of spiral staircases that were adopted in the 40s and 50s and created what we call the “Joseph corkscrew”, a huge, black, giant spiral staircase, where you don’t see any white from the outside, and then as soon as you enter the staircase, you’ve got this beautiful white stone on the inside. There is a set palette for all Joseph stores but each one has its own unique charm. 

In London, the space was a classical Savile Row traditional townhouse which had a Georgian interior. It was then painted black with a giant rubber ball door handle. This simple design approach framed each collection story with a black rail and displayed the clothes on a white rail within - a play on opposites. This bespoke display system allows collections to be framed in surprising juxtapositions against a neutral colour palette that unites all the stores. 

We were thrilled to collaborate with our friends at Nicoli for the launch of their LFW Window concept. They asked us to design and produce their Window Installation @ their UK Flagship / 118 New Bond St W1.

The window concept was inspired by the crackled egg pattern that forms part of their brands core DNA, we wanted to translate the pattern into multiple 3D sculptural layers that would draw your eye through to the centre where the product is presented within the windows dioramas. We constructed the frame from CNC cut Dibond sheets which were covered by hand with 18Ct Gold leaf sheets.

To add an additional 3D element, we looked at their latest Handbag collection for inspiration and focused on a key design detail of jewelled flowers which adorn their Clutch bags - we scaled up this intricate detail, which were reproduced with layers of foamex petals and Swarovski jewelled encrusted centres.

We also expanded the creative language to the stores facade and translated the crackled Egg pattern across the entire run of the upper floor windows in Navy & Gold Graphic Vinyl.

The in-store environment was also completely re-merchandised and we cleaned up the visual displays to focus on new key lines within the collection and ultimately drive sales.

The installation took over a week to produce with the design team crafting the various elements all by hand to make sure the finish was produced to the high standards of the brands luxury aesthetic.

Watch this space for further images of the Installation, now it has gone live...

Credits:

Creative Concept & Design: Nathan Hicks @ THE INVISIBLE MAN | CREATIVE

Window Production & Installation: Harlequin-design.com

Graphic Installation to Upper floor Windows: dkreativ.com

Location : Nicoli Shoes / 118 New Bond St. W1

This concept was inspired by the Tribal theme which we have seen trending across a range of Summer designer collections.

The Masai tribes people have inhabited the arid plains of the Serengeti for over 4 centuries and the colours and fantastically intricate details that they adorn themselves with represent their wonderful qualities; Beauty, strength and tradition.

Using the characteristics of the tribes dress codes, we explored and developed these details further and looked at the strong sculptural shapes of their necklaces, head masks and carved African Art and how this then influenced 20th century Modern Art movements in Sculpture and Architectural forms.

Commissioning sculptural pieces in aged Bronze and stone and applying an organic thatched backdrop.

We worked with Drakes Menswear to launch their first Collection release of the year – ‘Collection One’, 2021 – which is a medley of must-have menswear which takes its cues from vintage Americana, militaria, traditional tailoring and classic British countryside clothing. The result is a patchwork of colour, texture, and influences.

Styled By THE INVISIBLE MAN

Photography by James Harvey-Kelly.