every year, karim goes to watch a huge parade in the center of his city. as soon as he parks his car and walks out into the street, he is surrounded by people everywhere. the mood is loud and celebratory and exciting, but also very overwhelming. after the parade, he starts walking against the flow to find somewhere to eat lunch. the crowd is so dense that it can feel like he’s pushing against a stampede. his heart starts pounding and he feels overwhelming excitement. he can’t decide whether he wants to leave or stay in a place full of so much energy. this story is a dramatic way of expressing how we humans perceive crowded environments…

i remember a friend who will not eat anything on her plate if the food groups are touching each other. the carrots can’t touch the chicken. there has to be a space between the rice and the beans. it drives me crazy. it all combines during digestion anyway. but every time i roll my eyes, […]

these 5 discussions with your designer can unlock that potential part 1  —  the first encounter » part 2  —  the journey » part 3  —  the dynamics » part 4  —  the essentials of furniture specifications » part 5  —  the great outdoors are you leveraging skyline views, waterfront vistas, sunsets, people watching, and […]

these 5 discussions with your designer can unlock that potential part 1  —  the first encounter » part 2  —  the journey » part 3  —  the dynamics » part 4  —  the essentials of furniture specifications you may not have witnessed a chair break down under the weight of man. but multiple interviews with […]

these 5 discussions with your designer can unlock that potential part 1  —  the first encounter » part 2  —  the journey » part 3  —  the dynamics balancing the trio of social engagement, aesthetics, and efficiency defines the dynamics of the space. the dynamics of the space is often shaped by the type of […]

these 5 discussions with your designer can unlock that potential part 1  —  the first encounter » part 2  —  the journey designing how your guests flow through the space is as important to the dining experience as considering how your staff move about. the flow starts as soon as your guests approach your space. […]

these 5 discussions with your designer can unlock that potential this dining area is designed so that everyone at the table has a clear view to the outside. the backs of the chairs are designed to be very high, enclosing the diners, and creating an intimate feel to the gathering. the light is removed from […]

while planning for the initial meeting with a new client, creatives often make a common mistake. one that pushes clients to commission someone else. the alternative is extremely powerful yet so deceptively simple that it comes across as too simplistic; but it takes patience and humility. read this, try it just once, and i guarantee you’ll see results. the only regret you’ll have is that you didn’t read this sooner.

an uncontrollable cough wakes you in the middle of the night. you look to your side and see your wife coughing too. it takes you a moment to realize that you’re inhaling smoke.

​without thinking twice, you turn on the lights and run to your son’s room. you pick up his limp body and make it to the front door. you turn the door handle and pull. nothing. the smoke is building up. the flames are getting closer. in your panic, you keep turning the door handle repeatedly, harder and harder. you don’t know if your son is unconscious or sleeping. you start violently kicking the door.

if this was any other uneventful morning, you would’ve been relaxed. without thinking, you would’ve already known that you lock the door every evening and keep the key in the door for easy unlocking.

a negative environment can make simple tasks difficult.
a positive one can make difficult tasks easier.

this is called ‘affect’…

naim wakes up to the soft touch of his wife. she whispers in his ear: ‘i love you.’
that’s the 1st of four levels of social interaction. physical and emotional interactions take place in this 1st level: our intimate space. read on to learn about the other 3 levels.