Contract - November 2012 - (Page 56)

The Future in Technology and Experiential Interiors By irwin Miller An expert in retail environments examines emerging technologies that will have a direct impact on how we design spaces the technological evolution of recent years has advanced to a point where we can finally see how these innovations are changing the way people interact with and experience interiors. as designers, the implications this will have on our own design decisions—whether about navigating space, managing big data, or creating a seamless user experience—are very exciting and the opportunities are limitless. interaction with environments through technology has been evolving the past few years to the point that we’re now seeing how these innovations are already changing the way we interact with space, and thus how design is impacted. Design challenges have become more complex with 56 these updates, but the following constants remain strong drivers for the success of retail projects: relevance, customer experience, interconnected brands across multiple platforms, and differentiation in the marketplace. Navigating our environment a big milestone in the recent timeline of technology and spatial advances was Google Maps and soon thereafter Street View. By now, most of us have “googled” locations and have been brought to the virtual doorstep of these places through our screens and handheld devices. Last year, Google brought us further inside these facades with Business Photos. Special panoramic cameras were brought inside stores and famous entertainment and cultural attractions around the world so that one can now visually shop the displays and environments by clicking inside of these stores. a few new tools have now greatly expanded the options for how we interact through technology in the built environment. Finnish company indooratlas has developed location technology that uses GPS, physical structures, and earth’s own magnetic field to create highly accurate maps that can help users navigate spaces. While this highly innovative technology is fairly new, it will likely be adopted quickly by large-scale malls, big-box retailers, and even smaller shops in the coming year. With the app loaded onto a smartphone or tablet, one contractdesign.com november 2012 PhotoGraPhy: MichaeL toWNSeND; irWiN MiLLer (oPPoSite, toP aND BottoM) Practice http://www.contractdesign.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Contract - November 2012

Contract - November 2012
Contents
Editorial
Industry News
Product Focus: Getting Crafty
Product Briefs: Seating and Carpet
HyundaiCard Air Lounge
Orla Kiely
Vintry Fine Wines
Louis Vuitton Selfridges
Diptych Leadenhall Market and Bleecker Street
Camper Granada
Practice: The Future in Technology and Experiential Interiors
Designers Select: Tables and Casegoods
Sources
Ad Index
Small Project: A Lighting Installation Emphasizes Decadence in a Brussels

Contract - November 2012