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The original meaning of 'browsing' ...
Posted by Dave Bull on July 9, 2014 [Permalink]
Thank you everybody! What a wonderful response to the previous post - about the price labels - with plenty of interesting suggestions about how we should proceed!
I'm not so perfectly happy that nobody seems to like my idea for displaying the price breakdown - not as it stands, anyway - but this is what you get when you ask for feedback ... Anyway, I'll get 'back to the drawing board', and will sit and think about this for a while, coming back a bit later with Mark II ...
In the meantime, there are plenty of other parts of our planning that are also moving forward slowly bit by bit. Among these is the design/layout for the core part of the shop, the area where people will browse our selection of prints. We're struggling a bit with this, again for the same reason - trying to turn the vague 'cloudy' idea inside my head into something that can actually be built and put together.
Here's a rough sketch of the browsing corner of the proposed shop:
A few notes:
- We don't have a vast catalogue to offer, so this will definitely not be one of those 'old' print shops crammed from floor to ceiling with racks and shelves of books and prints.
- We're going to try to keep it as clean and non-dusty as possible.
- Why a computer?
- Short term plan: simply this will be used to show things like videos of the carving/printing process, etc. etc.
- Long term plan: pickup a print from the rack, hold it in front of the computer camera. The camera reads the barcode, and automatically starts a video cued to that particular print - perhaps scenes of the print itself being carved, perhaps a little video snippet from Dave explaining why he selected that particular design, etc. etc.
- You see an angled 'stand' in the center of the cabinet; the idea is that people will pull a print package out of the bins, lay it on this stand, and enjoy it under raking light (from a light source hidden under the computer stand ...)
So this is the plan for the 'left side' of the shop space as you come up the stairs from street level. The 'right side' will be completely different ... I'll post the sketches for that a bit later, and you can 'pull up a chair' to see them. Following that, we'll take a peek at the printer's workshop space, and perhaps also the 'PP' room ...
Added by: bill on July 9, 2014, 4:57 am
Hi Dave
These drawings all look so modern, how about some ambiance. Since you are working to revive a age old process how would your store look a hundred years ago or more, with some of the modern fixtures. I would think your customers might like the experience along with the history.
Thanks Bill
Added by: bettbull on July 10, 2014, 1:11 am
bill is right step through the door and you are a hundred years in the past
Added by: Julian on July 10, 2014, 3:08 am
Hi Dave,
I was in favor of your detailed labels ;)
I like the sketches and would disagree with the previous writers. I think making an Edô-style interior would be not so authentic. After all we live in the 21st century, and your work doesn't seem to me as something preserving. I think the prints are made with hundreds year old techniques but for today's people and their taste. That's why I like those sketches so much, as they combine a modern bright design with the Japanese sense. Imagining those ochre walls being a bit roughened like the walls of tea houses and the shelves made out of cedar wood or alike I would really like it there :)
Cheers from Germany
Julian
Added by: Dave on July 10, 2014, 9:25 am
[Original drawings removed from the post] The young lady whom I asked to do some roughs for our planning is upset that I changed one line on one of her drawings, so I removed them and put my own scribble in place. It seems as though I have to do this myself from now on ... (Can anybody recommend a person who can do good quick 'marker rendering' work, based on my descriptions?)
Added by: bill on July 11, 2014, 5:17 am
Hi Dave
I thought I would add some more thoughts on your display system. I see from your idea that you have a music store background, reminds me of when I used to look for records. I think perceived value of what you are selling would be more important, how these prints are presented should be important. If you have bins only one person at a time can flip thru them , they, blocking access to the bins close by. Because these are art prints and not posters, these, meaning each one should be treated special and give the customer the feeling that they are special. Perhaps a carousal display nicely crafted would allow more customers to view and not give the feeling that they are being riffled thru as in a bin.
Bill
Added by: bill on July 11, 2014, 5:43 am
Hi Dave
Just some thoughts, I think the bins are rather limiting for access to multiple customers browsing and rather remind me of the old record bins and poster bins, Your prints should be treated special and the customers should perceive that they are special, not something that could be riffled thru in a bin. perhaps a some "nicely" crafted carousels that could display them at a slight angle with down lighting from the ceiling above. Then more people could view them at one time without having to handle them. I tried to post this before but it didn't work if you are screening I'm sorry for posting twice on the same subject
Bill
Added by: Lam on July 13, 2014, 1:58 am
I tend to agree that an art-bin takes away from the customer experience.
Instead, I'd organize the display by collection. Have a featured piece up front and out of it's packaging. Encourage people to touch it. People can feel the quality of paper, texture and the amount of work that goes in to each. Behind the featured print, display all the prints in that particular collection in a tiered format, so you can peek at the tops of each print. Or maybe a hanging carousel as if the prints were drying.
Since the vast majority of people will frame these prints, I'd even have displays demonstrating the many ways you could present the art.
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