Design Dilemmas
life’s little challenges that allow our creative gears to turn, outside the box
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Less than 10% Flammable
Dilemma: 375 window treatments needed to match film intent & be Inherently Flame Retardant (IFR) Code only allowed for 10% of them to be flammable.
Solution: I Researched and found an IFR fiber (Trevira CS) as well as a milll, MYB Textiles to loom custom laces for Universal’s Diagon Alley. Designed graphic patterns and had them printed with outdoor ink on Trevira substrate to act as opaque curtains. .
As a side note: MYB is now a Silver member of the Trevira CS Club and has a booming new line of business.
Citizen Looks -What are they?
Dilemma: Find a way for the team members to look like they are citizens of the land, helping to propel the story of them being individual shop owners and workers; not like they are part of a cooperation.
Solution: I used the patterns and developed them with multiple colorways limiting sizes in each color. As the pattern didn’t change the cost reductions due to volume were maintained and the team members had buy-in because they could choose what to wear, almost like their own closet. Emphasis for this look went towards the top half of the team members as the majority of them stood behind a counter.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) - Film Production Photo
Don’t pop the Balloons
Dilemma: In order to fly the Macy’s hot air balloons down Hollywood Boulevard in Orlando for the Holiday parade, a solution was needed to protect the balloons from the sharp points on the decorative crowns atop the lamp posts that lined the parade route.
Solution: I designed Santa hats and had them made of exterior vinyl & foam. The hat slipped over the pointy crowns allowing a ballon to bounce off if it hit the lamp post.
As a side note: The Santa hats are a staple for this event and have become a decor standard for other events that don’t even have balloons to fly.