Hans Murman and Ulla Alberts

...from Dwell magazine



perhaps instead of the juniper trees; the screen could appear as a brownstone facade typical of the Back Bay architecture.

from PRINT magazine: 50% of the world's population will own a mobile phone by 2012, recent mobile phone innovations include bank less banking and paying for mass transit (already in place in Japan)

the research continues...

concrete blocks that emit light:

this weeks' doodles...

APPLE store

I have been looking into the form of the store having an exterior screen with a brownstone facade. When the store is illuminated the shadows of people and computers will be filtered towards the street in an interactive shopping display. These are the ideas I will be addressing for the next couple of days.

Reference dwell magazine September article: on house in Sweden that blends in the trees

and Print magazine an article I will blog on later this weekend...

subway station details

Thank you Amr!

These will be a great help tonight and over the weekend.

Boston Studio Work

What if a place could communicate with you...how would it be done?

-would it talk to you through the things you own?



If you are a technological giant such as Apple, Inc. would I feel welcome

when I approach your store? Would I get gifts for being a loyal customer?

How can YOU make ME?



This is just the beginning...

in the pursuit of happiness.

Copley square train station now...

as I see it...

sketch modeling...

The Apple store will reach the public above and below ground.

Apple will redefine your city.

Presentation_

iPodcity

This began as visual documentation of the experience in purchasing my iPod.
I ventured to the Apple store during my lunch hour. There are three major roadways that extend toward the Apple store, located at Northpark Mall, in Dallas. It was an unusual experience in which the web browser at the store was down due to a press conference? I state this with a question because the employees themselves were puzzled by the situation. So unable to buy my iPod, I traveled back up highway 75 to my office tower.
After work, I made my way back to the Apple store where more technical problems ensued. The pre-approved credit line I was offered had difficulties processing. The clerk phoned the credit company, I verified I was who I claimed to be, discussions began between the clerk, the manager, the credit representative all on how to get the purchase to process.
After this comical situation I set out the door with that all important bag, wielding and watching the wonder in the eyes of those I passed. With my apple store bag in hand I soon realized I was part of the Apple customer base again. I am creative, smart, and I feel successful (with this purchase at least). I am part of the innovative; we will listen to our iPods on our way to work in the subway or with a nifty cable in our cars. To select AUX on my Scion stereo for the first time and hear my music; it was a glorious day I, even with the current heat, had to share with others by rolling my windows down. And then someone with better speakers came by to drown out my experience with their tunes.
This poster is a commentary on how the city changes in response to our technological culture; it is becoming a part of our actual landscape. I round out this dialogue with a post script; the next morning I stopped in my buildings’ starbucks before work, the baristas were talking about a coworkers’ iPod, ooo-ing and ahh-ing over the iPod.; with a smile I took my coffee and walked out, my iPod was waiting in the car.

SketchUp iPod

sketch

Examined

This graphic maps my user experience with my new iPod in relation to the emotional experience of purchasing the product.

As a new owner I have noticed that the size and the versatility of the iPod is a factor for my increasing reliance upon the product. I appreciate the ability to store files temporarily on the drive.

The graphic also displays the whimsical quality of engaging for the first time with the iPod. The compartmentalized packaging is well thought out. Each movement in the removal of the the exterior packaging creates a sense of excitement.

I was not in the market for a new iPod but so far I am quite pleased by the purchase. It is reassuring that there are so many uses.

Sudio Final: Research and Exploration

This mapping research helped me to visualize Apple stores across the nation.

You tell me where the distinction occurs between these areas.

Alright, the Aspen Apple store did look like it was in a ski village or could it have been a shop at a Disney park?

Apple is not alone in the branding of place; there is Ikea, Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, and the less glamorous brands of Wal-Mart and Targets. Recognition is the key; if I was traveling in a foreign land and needed to run to the Apple store I would recognize one immediately regardless of the language barrier that may be present. Apple has taken on the logo and uses the logo for signage. The symbol of the Apple is even more universal than many of our traffic or safety symbols.Does such a universal appeal rob the public of truly experiencing place?

Above from left to right:

Fifth Ave. New York store, Ginza Japan store, Cambridge Massachusetts store, &

Chandler Arizona store.

i Buy

Step 1: Research
http://www.apple.com/

Step 2:

Move your cursor to the Store and shop. When determining the product you would like to purchase it is an excellent idea to read the customer reviews.

Step 3:

Decide if you want to purchase through the online store or if you would prefer to purchase at your local Apple retailer.

Step 3a:

If you purchase your Apple product online, you will choose the Add to cart button and from there you will be advised on the additional products that Customers also bought. If you are ready, select the Check out now button, then you will be sent to a Sign In screen.

Step 3a:

Once you have created or signed in to an existing account the purchase will continue to the Billing & Shipping, next Payment, and a Verify/Edit section where your purchase is finalized. Next you wait for your product to arrive.

Step 3b:

If you have decided to purchase your Apple product at a local retailer you can find one near you by selecting the visit an Apple Retail Store prompt at the bottom of the Apple home page.

Step 4:

Once you arrive at the Apple retail store, the next task is to join the sales queue. You will need to seek some one's assistance because the sales associates are accustomed to people just browsing. The retail store is not as easy to navigate as the online version. The layout creates a perimeter for product display with a center area for showcasing the newest Apple products.

Step 5:

When you have a sales associate to help you with your purchase, this is your moment to ask all the questions that the online store did not answer. Once you have determined what you are buying, the next step is to determine the method of payment. If you want to use the Apple credit, now Juniper Visa, you will need to fill out the application on one of the store computers on the sales floor, and print the approval receipt. Unfortunately, this application must be filled out in store in order to use the credit for your purchase. If you are approved outside of the store you will need to wait for the card to arrive in order to make a purchase.

Step 6:

Now make your way toward the rear of the store where the registers are located. The sales associate will retrieve your product and finalize the sale.

You can now leave the store carrying your Apple bag with, in my case, a new iPod.