Film Branding | Luc Besson
"I did. I do what I do because I want to do it, because I want to explore, go looking for things." ~Luc Besson A directorial style, branded, explorations of cinéma du look. I met Luc Besson in Paris, a number of years back, when I was working in Paris. And it was in...
Burj Al Arab | Luxury, storytelling, design in place-making
The string, in storyline and experience: Jack Larsen, Pat & Dale Keller and Khuan Chew Interesting, the networks. And how, in connecting, the listening, the community -- it reaches out and reaches in. One meeting, means another, if you're paying attention. Just...
The new Starbucks store prototype: Heritage @ 1st & Pike | Seattle
A return to the spirit of store one. I've worked in the Seattle coffee brewing experience for several decades. And all the while, I've been a lover of coffee -- and the coffee sensate experience. There are two favorites for me. One, coffee made, "cowboy style", in...
Water rations: boxes are better?
Boxed and cartoned water, newly watered solutions? What freight, now? When I was working in Paris, I came in contact, as a consultant, with an intriguing group: Suez. Interestingly enough, this group was founded on the building of the Suez Canal -- this 19th century...
Art Wolfe | Exploring a human brand of curiosity, discovery, love
Art Wolfe | Wikipedia imagery file The brand that is a living, loving being. Art Wolfe and I go way back -- decades; but my personal relationship with him goes back further -- into the recesses of my younger years, being in the ramshackle melange otherwise known as...
Neil Fiske | Eddie Bauer and seeking the heart of brand story
Several years ago, at a WWD | CEO Summit, in Miami, I met Leslie Wexner, the fabled CEO of The Limited Brands. Actually, he was waiting to speak at the event, and I went to him, to ask some questions. One questions burned in my mind. Simple, but compellingly powerful...
H.E. Mohammed Bin Ali Al Abbar | The vision(s) of the Burj Dubai
Exploring the concept of the place, made in the mystery of building, the poetry of the world around it. I've been looking at, and exploring building design for decades. And, being in the neighborhood of architects, also for decades, I've learned to look at them...
Apple Retail Design Photographs | Retail oriflamme: Apple Store+Story | NYC
I found this story, and thought I'd post it. It's from a couple of years ago, but it is still layered with details about how I see this store. I offer this grouping of images, shot at Apple's new store in NYC on 5th and Central Park South, as a kind of oriflamme to...
New brand, new city, new place
The concept of the personal brand, in place - what makes a city's identity? Spending time traveling, as I have now, for the last three weeks straight, I'm now coming to the positioning of questioning my own identity, in the whirring of place. Where am I -- what city,...
Exploring the Spa Brand: Story, fire, passion and place.
A presentation in London | Professional Spa Conference + Beauty Summit. I've been thinking about the concept of wellness shared -- and the communing offering of spa well-making and health generation. Generation, is that the right word -- to generate health fullness?...