Fraser Design

What do you see?

2011-05-03T14:49:00.000-04:00

Taking the opportunity to snap some images on the way to a meeting at VCU, I thought about what we see. As adults we filter much of what is presented in the visual spectrum- there is just too much competing for attention. I am amazed by how perceptive my children are, picking up the most minute shapes, objects and arrays. We should all look at bit more, I think. These are some of the things I saw on the way. What do you see?

Syracuse University Department of Design

2011-04-20T11:44:00.000-04:00

I took a quick jaunt up to New York this week to visit some friends doing remarkable work shaping a vision for design education at Syracuse University. The facilities afford the tools, environment and culture of creativity and collaboration. The faculty and leadership are relentless creatives committed to the next generation of design leaders and the students are inquisitive, engaging and do some great work.

In my one hour talk- a combination of soapbox manifesto, call to action and invitation to greatness, the 70 or so students sat wide-eyed and engaged. One question to the group- do you consider yourselves leaders- yielded a nearly unanimous hands-up yes! I was beaming- my experience is that design students consider themselves followers rather than the emerging cultural leadership in the world. These guys are already there.

Keep your eyes on this school- with Lucinda, Jen, Ruth and Zeke building a vision, remarkable work will happen.

804um- the future of Richmond

2011-04-04T14:07:00.000-04:00

Last week I was among the presenter at the HYPE Richmond 804um half day conference. The take away for me, the next generation is inspired! The buzz after the event was electric and the conversation clearly centered around a greater vision, both on an individual basis and as a city. I look forward to connecting with this crowd again- as I call them GEN-I or Generation Innovation.

CASE STUDY ONE- VISION

2011-03-04T15:21:00.001-05:00

See Think Make

2011-01-12T14:46:00.002-05:00

Our studio, The Marvin Lang Building is a wellspring of creatives and we have banded together to initiate an educational forum. The 1623 School will provide professional education in vision and brand development, design, photography and leadership. We are seeking to expand and diversify as well, the more the better. Your success is our success- and we want to raise the bar of creative professionals in this great city.

Look us up at www.1623school.com

The most significant architecture in Petersburg

2010-03-21T20:08:00.001-04:00

Went for a trip for the afternoon to visit Battersea last week. We were invited to work in a charrette to help envision the future of this most significant villa. The place is quaint and unassuming- but quite an architectural masterpiece. Empty and in a bit of a deteriorated state, the proportion and elegance are impressive nonetheless.

Battersea has great opportunity- its legacy beginning in 1760, the proximity to Petersburg, the adjacent river and the expanse of land are a foundation for a great experience. I look forward to participating in its future.

A Study in Contrasts

2010-03-04T07:44:00.000-05:00

Wow, what a weekend. Imagine you could experience the cultural spectrum around a single, unified passion. Imagine too, that you shared the passion-to some extent-at each intersection. That was my weekend.

Started with a visit to the Team Natures Path/3Sports criterium at the Richmond International Raceway. A hundred or so riders showed up for an early season race. We watched our friend Dave from Endorphin Fitness keep his break on the pack to win the race and watched the guys from Richmond Pro Cycling take off in the 1,2,3 race.

Moving on, we ventured to the National Handmade Bike Show, where we were seduced by the craft an artistry of the most beautiful and inventive bicycles in the country. Sure these bikes perform, but really we were well into the art of it at the show. Saw our friends from Tektonics, Alan, Engin and lots of builders I have never heard of.

The trifecta was the Cog Magazine/Kazani bikes aftershow party at my studio. With an energetic crowd and more fixies than I have ever seen in Richmond, the place was like a club, the beverage of choice was a few kegs of PBR. Almost everyone arrived on bikes- and you could tell they truly used these bikes in the most literal way- transportation, livelihood, lifestyle.

Richmond has a robust cycling community spanning diverse interests and demographic profile. Its a great part of our city.

A little byzantine inspiration

2010-02-02T21:25:00.001-05:00

The opportunity to create design that is integral to faith is rare, and we have had the great pleasure to work with Father Nicodemos Gayle and the St Seraphim of Sarov Orthodox Church. Taking its architectural roots from Eastern Byzantine influences, the design process was a rigorous learning experience. We were constrained by footprint and budget, but not from the lack of energy and tenacity of our client. We stopped by to check progress, an found the scale and proportion of the spaces, even rendered in OSB really wonderful. We can't wait to see this project completed- with onion dome and some amazing iconography.

Ex Libris, Volume Four- Native Genius in Anonymous Architecture

2009-12-02T12:02:00.000-05:00

This book is a sleeper, unassuming and sits on the shelf almost invisibly. It is a really brilliant perspective on architecture, and speaks to an under publicized perspective of Modernism. Sybil was the wife and partner of Lazlo Moholy-Nagy who ran the New Bauhaus School in Chicago.

The sensitivity to indigenous architecture and classic forms runs counter to many perceptions of Modernism. The fact that the book elevates the work to 'genius' is a testament to the respect of history and the value as design inspiration that Sybil and Lazlo place on the work.

The nature of authenticity, a sense of place and a vernacular approach to design is promoted so well, I recommend this book for any design library.

Ex Libris- Book Three

2009-11-17T09:05:00.005-05:00

The third in the series, this book comes from my personal history. I grew up in Doylestown, it is classic Americana at its best. I was fortunate to live right next to Fonthill, Henry Mercer's revolutionary residence and the Moravian Tile Works . This book was a gift to my parents from Betty Bendiner, the wife of noted Philadelphia artist Alfred Bendiner.

As for the book, I love the craft of construction- feels a bit home made but also charming. The local advertisements reflect a much simpler approach to typography and design- but not without care or regard for composition. The programme is a romantic, inviting outline, I can only imagine such an event today.

Ex Libris- Book Two

2009-11-11T15:57:00.004-05:00

The second book in the series is a somewhat obscure title: Various Dwellings Described in a Comparative Manner. The Author is Richard Saul Wurman and it features drawings by fifteen second year architectural students of the School of Design, North Carolina State of the University of North Carolina in Raleigh.

This is not a book I consult regularly, but the quality of the drawings, simplicity of typography and elegant layout are notable. Like the Tufte books, I use this when considering the communication of ideas, but unlike Tufte, this book displays austerity and frankness and very few words.

Ex Libris Project- Book One

2009-11-05T11:12:00.005-05:00

The first publication featured in my Ex Libris series- Envisioning Information by Edward Tufte. I have four of Tufte's books and they are all excellent. My primary role as a designer is to articulate and communicate vision. Tufte gives many examples from an impossible diversity of sources- if I find myself confounded searching for the best communication vehicle- this is where I go.

This is a must-have book for a creative library that architects, designers, photographers, artists- any creative- can draw inspiration from.

Sometimes Green has a Metallic Edge...

2009-10-15T16:48:00.006-04:00

A visit to Stratton Metals (900 Brook Road, right near I-95 & Chamberlayne) to recycle some old steel leftover from our studio gave me a sharp perspective on sustainability. This business thrives on our refuse and leaves nothing behind. You bring it, they recycle it. Oh, and the 600 lbs of steel yielded $24 in my pocket, leaving me happy to boot.

The notion of relevant sustainability has been on my mind for some time. Businesses, construction, products that are more than green for green's sake. The key to successful environmentalism lies in making it meaningful and useful and fiscally sound.

Stratton doesn't even consider itself 'green' but sites studies showing recycling centers to me among the most green enterprises, and they are proud of the efficiency of their facility.

Outside of being impressed by the facility, I thought the stuff was cool to look at- here are a few photos from the visit.

Marvin Lang Studio Seeking Creatives!

2009-09-22T15:37:00.008-04:00

The Marvin Lang Building, our studio, needs more creative types. We have several desk spaces available. The studio is excellent for professionals that need open, flexible space and seek opportunities for collaboration. Drop me an email- peter@fraserdesignassociates.com if you want to come by.

Introducing The Packmule and why I love bikes

2009-09-18T11:17:00.005-04:00

This is the Packmule, and if you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you see I talk about it a good bit. Cycling to work has become metaphoric for me in a few ways. There is a visceral connection to transportation and a unique awareness of our cultural disposition towards cars that happens when you share the road with automobile commuters. As a cyclist and triathlete, there is an abundant population of competitive and fitness cyclists, but as transportation vehicles- almost nobody out there .

As a designer that embraces paradigm shift and loves to work with change agents, I thought I ought to press this idea a bit. I am not alone in this initiative- certainly the market forces are at work- step into your local shop and see what bikes are competing for your attention in the window. It's rides like the Surly Long Haul Trucker, Specialized Langster or the Electra, not the latest sub 14lb. 12k unidirectional weave carbon masterpiece.

What has The Packmule taught me? (1) Bicycle commuting is pretty easy to arrange, but hard to do every day- I can't dump the car (2) It is physically challenging- 20 miles with 68 lbs makes for tired legs (3) Clients think it's pretty cool (4) Cars on the road, for the most part, do not think it's cool. My commute is on a fast moving route with no shoulder and crosses two interstate interchanges, so it's not an easy bike/car environment. I have been pleasantly surprised by the room given by FedEx trucks and most commuters, but I have also been run off the road and sworn at a few times. (5) I have concern for safety, but feel confident enough to keep it up- though the darkness of winter is intimidating.

Now, why I love bikes. This is easy, because I love design. Purpose, Craft, Engineering and Aesthetics in one elegant machine. The Packmule is oldschool steel-is-real construction, but I love the lugwork and details. My mountain bike is a marvel of suspension engineering and the craft of my tri bike and the design to efficiently convert force from my legs into momentum is remarkable. The great part is that it is very accessible and everyone benefits from the design exercise of building a better bike.

Look for me and The Packmule on the road, or the mountain bike on the trail, or the road bike with fellow enthusiasts and I hope you enjoy the opportunity to ride and much as I do.

Trash or treasure?

2009-08-18T16:05:00.005-04:00

In the process of submitting the Part 2, Part 2 amendment and Part 3 of the state and federal tax credits for the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, we were printing images of the studio before and after construction. The gloss photo paper did not agree with our printer (much delay and frustration), but we ended up with some great effects in the prints. here are a few. Wish us luck in the tax credit submittal.

Guest blogger: Rachel the intern

2009-08-06T14:09:00.007-04:00

Hey, my names Rachel. I've been interning with my uncle Peter of Fraser Design for the past week. Although only a week is not enough time to learn every thing about graphic and interior design that needs to be learned, I still learned more than I thought I would've. It takes a lot of skill, imagination, creativity, and time. But it's so much fun. While I was here I learned about vision, identity, brand, and environment, and learned how to put those towards design. I was also taught about typography, how to draw it, the history of it, and the different types. I also got the chance to take some photography and design logos for a website. I've learned so much from this experience and I know I'll use this knowledge in the future.

A Brief History- three generations of creative disposition

2009-07-31T09:51:00.008-04:00

I was looking through the studio the other day, thinking about our Q209 newsletter. I was taken by the presence of my personal history evident in the studio, and also in my work. The tangible evidence- sketches, drawings, paintings and sculpture all manifest themselves in my own creative disposition. So we pulled together a little book- Fraser Design, a Brief History and dropped it here into Issue.com . We will be printing a limited number of copies, too. Here are some of the images in the booklet-

A patent application drawing by my great, great uncle(ink on linen), and a sheet from an architectural set drawn by my grandfather

A study for a sculpture drawn by my father and a porch sketch study drawn by me (back in the days of drafting)

A color study I did for the Charles Luck Stone Center

A little press from Design*Sponge

2009-07-14T16:34:00.004-04:00

CITY, GUIDES

July 14th, 2009

richmond, virginia guide!

Design Sponge is a really sharp blog; somehow they cover a myriad of design topics everyone can marvel at and use. Their attentive crew recently featured a city guide of Richmond and picked up a few of our favorite destinations. Well, our favorite part was the mention of Fraser Design and our work at the Charles Luck Stone Center, but they also highlighted some gems we have in this town.

Just a few (go to their blog for the exhaustive list)

Philip Johnson's WRVA building is a modern icon in historic Church Hill

SB Cox is the salvage yard of all salvage yards

The National- bringing entertainment back to the city

Metro modern, Ecologic and Chop Suey Books for some speciality shopping

Black Sheep, Millies, Comfort and Kuba Kuba, some of our favorite restaurants

Reading through, I realize we have great resources that serve diverse interests and endeavors. We feel fortunate to contribute to that inventory.

Thing: Belle Chandelier #2

2009-06-23T14:23:00.007-04:00

Our second custom made "belle chandelier" now has a DC address. We installed it last week in the DC condo of Mark Kuller, owner of Proof restaurant in central DC. He happened to see the first one we made in the Mountain Lumber showroom and promply placed an order for one of his own. This gets us one step closer to the launch of our custom furnishings line, Joseph Isabel. You can check out a preview at our beta site HERE. Stay tuned for the full line launch soon.

People: Lloyd Young, the newest addition to FDA

2009-06-22T10:00:00.013-04:00

We have a new intern!! HER name is Lloyd Young, and she joined us at the end of May to start concept building for the future of the Charles Luck Studio. We're looking at ways to brand and market the studio to larger markets. So far Lloyd has interviewed the employees at the studio and put together presentations addressing some of the pros and cons of the current space. This week we will present her ideas to the big cats at Luck Stone. Wish us luck and we'll keep you posted . . .

Ideas: High Speed Rail to Richmond

2009-05-28T14:35:00.005-04:00

Not a classic design exercise, but certainly an idea worth note. Today I heard the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce's sponsored speaker, Joe Boardman, Amtrak CEO, present the idea of high speed rail to our city. Leading with a short bit on his ongoing mission to ride all of Amtrak's routes ( 9000 miles and counting) I was inspired from the outset by the clarity with which he presented this challenging vision. A few salient points from my perspective-

We are not a culture that uses trains. Among other factors, the success of rail service in Asia and Europe is due to a cultural disposition. This will have to shift as part of a successful vision.

Joe followed John Lewis' presentation of the emerging strategy of GRTC, and picked up on an excellent cue. Coordinated Effort. CSX and Union Pacific have significant interest in the shared railroad system and what works for passengers must work for freight. It must work with automotive, air and bus transportation. To silo the interests of each is a deal killer.

The vision is expensive, in the billions, many billions. But as intensity of travel increases in the Northeast corridor, investment is inevitable and the cost of rail service generating competitive trip time results is on par with auto and air.

Rail service is environmentally sound. Resources- existing track systems are generations old and still sound and modifiable. Locomotives and rail cars are rebuildable and last a long time. Railway footprint compared to interstates, significantly smaller. Fuel- much more efficient than cars or air.

Managing expectations. We have fast trains but do we have places for them to go fast? Not always, not easily. The best way to go fast is to not go slow. i.e. increasing speeds in areas that are currently running 10-20 mph to 50mph yields better results that bumping from 90mph to 100mph and is more effective and safer. Also, speed is great, but so are frequency and reliability.

Europe built infrastructure on war ravaged ruins, with our help. Their pallette was clearer than ours. China out-funds our rail development by a factor of 10. If your house , town or any obstruction is in the way, well too bad. We are carefully knitting into a tight fabric, with meager funds. This means time, patience and diligence.

We can do this. Joe spoke of working in and among the people and leveraging the assets available. His people know how to run and grow a rail system. We have the technology, professionals and need. Success of this great idea will come through leadership. Joe is the man.

Event: Visual Strategy #2: A Creative Workshop

2009-05-21T20:46:00.005-04:00

Building on the success of our initial workshop, we held our second session in collaboration with Floricane and Ansel Olson. Working with a group of key influencers from the city, we presented the same premis- think differently and we offered a few tools to facilitate that work. Over a few hours we engaged the group with these tools to expand on the subject of Richmond’s assets.

As always, we were intrigued by the results. Pushing through the convenient and facile solutions, the group expanded to some visionary territory.

The notion of Richmond as an incubator and generator of business and creativity as well as a place that reveres and creates history are not necessarily new. The narrative we found the around the character of the environment was an exciting revelation- the physical composition of the city was revealed in a dynamic way.

We will continue our investigation and share the work. The results- well, we don’t know yet. What we do see is inspiration and that is a great path to follow.

Inspiration: Sketch Book

2009-05-13T11:13:00.007-04:00

I was revisiting some old sketchbooks the other day and realized the power of previous explorations. Our projects afford us unique opportunities to saturate our minds with the things that have impact. It's why we build the blog around people, places, things and ideas that inspire us. These transformational components make good things great, everyday magical and improve our world. Revisiting the sketchbook was refreshing- it brought me right to a place of transformation and I realized this little block of paper is my archive, the way I remember and communicate experience.

I encourage everyone to tap into a vehicle like this. Some like photography or writing, others music or stories- they are all great. Take a few moments to savor the qualities of experience, I bet you will find yourself looking a little deeper each time.

Ideas: Hospitality & Design

2009-05-07T17:07:00.007-04:00

We were invited by NEWH to present our case study- Revolution not Evolution to a group of professionals in the hospitality industry. The event was hosted by the Charles Luck Stone Center and was held at their studio location. We challenged the group by suggesting this premise- I bet you are not in the business you think you are- and challenged them to imagine the way hospitality and design professionals can capitalize on their expertise in this shifting emerging economy and culture.

Hospitality has long understood the nature of a brand promise and delivering on this promise consistently in every facet of your business or organization. We were thrilled by the response. This attentive group embraced both the big concept as well as the specifics. We feel rewarded when presenting to such an audience, feeling confident that thinking differently and elevating the quality of design and experience will ultimately improve all our lives.

Check us out in R.Home this month!

2009-05-05T09:54:00.010-04:00

The blog is our platform for sharing people, places, things and ideas we find inspiring, but today we will take exception and engage a little unabashed self promotion. We were thrilled to be recognized by R Home magazine on their ‘hot list’ of innovators in the area. We have been fortunate to work with some excellent clients allowing us to develop this unique position as Design Strategists. Design is our vehicle to communicate and articulate our client’s brand, and an integral part of a comprehensive strategy. We really enjoy our work and the creative disposition our clients rely on us for. We look forward to continuing to build on our vision- we love design, we are relentlessly creative and we think design matters.

People: VCU MFA Student Exhibition

2009-04-27T15:18:00.012-04:00

Dropped by the opening of the MFA student exhibition last week. We are inspired by emerging designers and creatives and love to see new work. The show show featured painting, photography, film and interior environments. We captured a few shots, especially of the process work and studies. Congrats to our good friend Chris Arias, who looks forward to completing his studies this semester!

Event: Visual Strategy: A Creative Workshop

2009-04-23T15:47:00.003-04:00

Yesterday morning we kicked off our first creative work session in collaboration with Floricane and Ansel Olson.

The simple premise- think differently. About our communities, businesses and our city. We decided to pull together a group and see what it might yield.

Bringing together 20 really sharp people, we worked to navigate around the subject of our city. Richmond is a city of many treasures and intangible assets. The history, character, culture and diverse interests betray the size of the city.

We were thrilled by the work of the group. From simple notions of engagement and reflection, the character of the places in between and the ownership of the truth and history, the group articulated Richmond as a vehicle- a metaphor of many stories, interests and a rich history.

We look forward to continuing to build on this idea of thinking differently with Ansel and John. It’s the inspiration of change, growth and vision that is relevant to Richmond, but also our businesses and communities.

People: VCU Interior Design Students

2009-04-21T16:09:00.009-04:00

The emerging role of designers and creative thinkers. 40 students filled the Charles Luck Stone Center yesterday and after an excellent tour from Brooke, Jamie and Shannon they got some pizza and a chance to learn about the design process.

The project serves as an excellent example of the complexity in design and the success that a strong Owner/Design Team relationship can have.

Charles Luck has been an inspiration to our "Revolution not Evolution" speaking series for a variety of reasons. The first message to us- we want to revolutionize the stone industry. Second- we want the design team to make us uncomfortable, push our boundries. Clients like this are rare, indeed

Three years later, the studio is a tangible articulation of this directive and an excellent place to speak about the value creative thinkers bring to companies and organizations. We left the group inspired, the parting message- do what you love, do it well and make it meaningful and relevant.

Place: Mountain Lumber Photography

2009-04-16T16:18:00.012-04:00

Here are some of Ansel's awesome shots from the Mountain Lumber Studio shoot...

People: Photographing the Photographer

2009-04-15T10:08:00.004-04:00

I went to the completed Mountain Lumber showroom yesterday with collaborator Ansel Olson for a photo shoot yesterday. He is an excellent photographer and while my SLR setup does well for process and inspiration, its clear that Ansel is much better suited for final documentation. He has a great facility with the equipment and an excellent eye for composition. Can't wait to see the final shots!

Things- Easter Eggs

2009-04-13T15:15:00.010-04:00

Such a simple palette, yet so complex a surface. These gems are creations of my family- the patterns, colors and design are so inspiring I had to capture them. A true sign of spring, Easter is one of my favorite times.

Inspiration: Visual Strategy: A Creative Workshop

2009-04-09T12:59:00.005-04:00

On April 22, we will partner with Floricane and Ansel Olson to deliver a public workshop focused on new strategies and tools to guide organizations through the frenetic landscape of our modern economy and culture.

We will be investigating a path to revolutionary change in organizations and the Richmond region. The workshop is a dry run for a series of community events we hope to offer on an ongoing basis. This will be a highly interactive session focused on using our tools of Visual Strategy, Vision Articulation and Strategic Design to help imagine possibilities and think dynamically. We are thrilled by the possibilities.

Place: Charles Luck Stone Center- Charlotte

2009-04-06T15:05:00.014-04:00

The culmination of many efforts resulted in the opening of the newest Charles Luck Stone Center in Charlotte, North Carolina this past week. This is the third location, and opening of each is equally eventful. The final week had everyone in high gear with the continuous rain, but somehow it all pulled together, and the studio looks great!

We had the great fortune to work with some excellent collaborators on this project..

Chase Architectural Metals worked with us on the custom studio stools

Sicis provided the mosaic hearth created from our drawing

Karn Custom Woodwork made the conference table and walnut credenza's

Specialty Drapery fabricated the drapery of fabric from Maharam
The Millwork Specialist made the hutches at the end of the studio tables and against the studio walls

Place: Mountain Lumber Install

2009-03-31T14:44:00.011-04:00

We made it up to Charlottesville yesterday to install the chandelier, artwork and emeco furniture in the new Mountain Lumber Studio. Everything is coming together quite nicely. The large curving backlit heart pine wall is very impressive and a great contrast to the dark herringbone patterned floor. The long crystal chandelier gives just the right 'zing' to the space and is perfectly set over the stunning "Bamboo" marble table top. We got many passing curious looks while installing these items. Some even poked their heads in with questions about who was moving in and we even got some compliments on the chandelier already. We have really had a lot of fun pushing ideas around that challenge conventional thoughts around reclaimed lumber.

Willie, the founder of the company, came to us with this almost translucent heart pine material, and got us very excited about creating some inventive way to use it. We quickly got to sketching around some wacky ideas and landed on the big curving wall. The material is actually heart pine thats has too much resin in it to use for lumber, so it would normally be waste. We designed the wall with thinly sliced sheets of it that are backed with plexy and slide into a frame made from the same material and then finally backlit.

We hope the studio succeeds as a catalyst for a new brand identity for Mountain Lumber and introduces more national presence in the design community.

see more pics on our flickr site.

Place: Building Anticipation

2009-03-30T21:30:00.005-04:00

The excitement for the opening of the Charlotte location of The Charles Luck Stone Center could not be dampened last week although literally, everything was damp. Sometimes wet, sometimes thoroughly soaked.

The last few days had an army working on the the studio and they yielded amazing results. We had to depart before the cleaning crew arrived, but I hear they did an amazing job. This is one of the best parts of a project- the point where all the design work is realized and comes together as a whole and it gets turned over to build on the vision.

We captured a few shots but look forward to better ones of the finished work.

Design (Process): Crystal Chandelier

2009-03-25T15:16:00.006-04:00

We are drawing closer to the install date for the Mountain Lumber showroom.

Today was final fabrication of the crystal chandelier. The contemporary fixture is in good company with the rest of the design. We worked the design of this small space to utilize material in unusual, inventive ways.

As always, we love the process of design and in this case extended that into fabrication, not to mention taking the time to photograph a bit. Can't wait to see the results. We will be in Charlotte for a couple of days for the install of the Charles Luck Stone Center, but then its up to Charlottesville with Mountain Lumber.

Inspiration: Richmond Pro Cycling

2009-03-23T14:41:00.005-04:00

We spent the evening at a Fundraiser for Richmond Pro Cycling. The event was excellent with a great group attending. We continue to draw inspiration from RPC leader Craig Dodson- he is building a vision that challenges the classic perceptions of professional cyclists and the role of a team. He has carefully assembled a dynamic group of excellent athletes and hardworking stewards of their mission.

The Faison School, RPC partner and sponsor, has long been an inspiration to us. The challenges of educating and advocating the autistic community is underpinned by hardworking, passionate people.

The RPC/Faison School partnership will do great work. We are proud to be a party to the growing vision and look forward to chronicling the path over the coming year.

Vision, Identity, Brand, Environment. A case study of The Charles Luck Stone Center

2009-03-19T17:01:00.005-04:00

This morning we gave a presentation for the Creative Change Center Breakfast Club.

We began the (very early) morning by giving the talk some context- our presentation is relevant to the current economic challenges we all face. The best strategy right now is to think creatively, to embrace a strong vision, develop tactical and strategic paths to both manage through the current climate and to prepare to emerge in recovery. If businesses are not in some dimension of reinvention, they will fail.

It is fair to say 'recovery' will have us all working in many different ways. There is significant cultural change afoot and to some extent for all of us, the nature of our product or service business will change.

The Charles Luck study is a great example of Vision, Creativity and a Distinctive approach.

In the beginning, there was a clear and audacious vision- Charles Luck will redefine the nature of commerce in the stone industry. This was the message from Mark Fernandes, the company president. This is What he wanted to do. The Where, Why and How were yet to be determined.

We mapped the process- word, sketches, connectivity diagrams, touchpoints. All of the contributing components of articulating a vision. This point is crucial- we conducted a charrette that engages the owners and their representatives- from executives to front line. We create and objective forum that facilitates the creation of a design language- authored primarily by the owners.

The Conceptual Master Plan- Defining the Brand Environment- We work in the cross section of Architectural and Brand 'Master Planning' because it is the careful integration of these perspectives that makes strong work. The resulting Master Plan becomes a tool for the Design Team, Owner and other consultants to refer back to during the entire project

To wrap it up we displayed a wall of touchpoints- all the ways you might encounter the brand

Like a our communication diagram we posted a while back- these points are interconnected, and there is no clear hierarchy. With a strong base in your vision and strategy, the path to defining these touchpoints will be clear(er).

To bring it full circle- we encourage everyone to assess their unique irreducible assets- something you own and own alone. Consider your marketplace- how can you redefine the paradigms in your industry to expand and grow your work in ways previously considered impossible. It's this kind of activity that will keep your business relevant and positioned for future success.

C3 Event

2009-03-18T11:43:00.006-04:00

In collaboration with the Richmond Creative Change Center (C3) we will be presenting a case study of the Charles Luck Stone Center. The case study will be particularly relevant given our current economic situation. For those of us thinking strategically to both manage though the lean economy and position ourselves for recovery, this presentation outlines a good approach, regardless of your business size or type.

Hope we see you all tomorrow morning for this exciting event!

Also, coming up with will be giving a similar talk with NEWH . Stay tuned for details.

Crystals Crystals Crystals!!!

2009-03-16T14:15:00.009-04:00

We got the crystals in this morning that we ordered to make a custom chandelier for the Mountain Lumber project. Very sparkly and exciting! Ansel Olson, who we share our studio with, and I snapped some shots of the laid out inventory this morning.

Metalwork Progress

2009-03-05T16:16:00.011-05:00

We made it over to Robert Chase's workshop today to pick up a chandelier frame and some rounded corner raw steel frames for artwork he built for the Mountain Lumber project. The stainless chandelier frame he built and wired for us and we will purchase and hang the crystals for it. We also got a chance to see the Charles Luck stools in production. They had all the steel pieces cut and in a pile ready to be welded together. Their sweet, scraggly shop cat was wondering around the pieces as we were taking shots :)

SNOW DAY!

2009-03-02T18:45:00.008-05:00

Richmond hasn't seen this much snow in 5 years. Today was a great snow day.

Hollywood Cemetery

Sledding by the River

Snowy Trees

Communication

2009-02-25T17:12:00.009-05:00

In preparation for a client meeting we started to map our communication vehicles. We quickly discovered a few things..

- that the notion of a clear hierarchy is fading
- the sheer number of outlets surprised even us.
- you can no longer approach communication in a linear fashion.
- the constant is change

The process of the analysis was rewarding for us providing evidence of a position that we espouse to our clients- Classic paradigms are becoming obsolete.

We owe credit to Edward Tufte, who gives us inspiration through his poetic books on information and communication.

The Perfect Storm

2009-02-24T14:15:00.006-05:00

Last week was a perfect storm of inspiration. It starts, sadly, with the news of the passing of a friend and mentor, John Partridge. I include him in ‘inspiration’ because of his noteworthy inspiration to so many designers, elevation of good design and a true desire to improve our environment.

The news of his passing came during an all day session with our client envisioning 2015. The subjects we touched included the inevitable recovery of the economy and how our culture will shift focus. A new definition of luxury and relevance. A trend in urbanization, sustainability, smart life and personal wellness and meaning. We are emerging as a community in a way we have not seen in recent history. I believe we have just come out of the age of envy and are entering the age of purpose.

The third part of the perfect storm involved a fallen pine tree and four pampas grass plants. With a little youthful inspiration and help from the kids, we constructed a massive yurt like lean-to. Rather than cut up the tree and trim the grass, we laid the large branches and carefully wove together a network of purlins. From there we coated the entire mass with pampas grass to make it weatherproof. We have promised to spend the night there in spring.

I reflected on the these things as I layered the pampas grass with my exuberant kids and considered its relevance as it related to my vocation. Our mantra- we love design, we are relentlessly creative, because it matters- was further defined this weekend.

We love design the way John did and share that passion with our clients much like he taught me.

We are relentlessly creative, because our emerging world demands creativity on all fronts. Recovery will come from questioning the status quo in all we do.

It matters because we have a responsibility to a generation and we need to preserve their creativity, ingenuity and inspired perspective.

Here's to you John, man of inspiration.

Charles Luck Stone Center Workshop

2009-02-17T10:09:00.010-05:00

We stopped by the Charles Luck Stone Center Workshop recently to see how the stone work for their new Charlotte location is progressing. While we missed the onyx wall panels- they are on site for installation, we did see some incredible work.

They had the onyx tops for our furniture ready. The seams feature rotated stone bands to expose the material on edge. Fantastic material.

The Soapstone vanities are made from Alberene material quarried in Virgina, near Charlottesville. They have a hand and sheen like no other stone we have seen.

The 6cm Carrarra marble in the Hospitality suite has a honed perimeter and polished center, separated by the butcher inspired 'blood groove.' Coupled with the flat chamfer edge this classic material shows a little edgy design. We also saw the very stylish Carrarra pedestal- all curvesin these intersecting planes.

The Workshop is amazing in their craft and attention to detail. Without craftsmen like this, our mantra- We Love Design- would be much harder to realize.

Next up- we look at everyday objects that embrace design, and why we are inspired.

(Nearly) Finished

2009-02-12T13:32:00.008-05:00

We paid a visit to Karn Custom Woodwork to see our furniture prototypes. The Walnut endgrain coffee table has a fantastic luster from the hand rubbed varnish/oil finish. We love how carefully they oriented the grain.

The super clean stainless steel frame of the meeting table really makes a nice line with the walnut top. The darker strips are endgrain bands and we used the varnish/oil finish on this piece too for that soft, flat sheen.

Coming soon- a credenza with center matched walnut veneer face and onyx stone top. It was in the last stages of finishing. We are also working on a little sideboard of quartersawn ancient Chinese Elm. It will feature exposed dovetail joints and unique metal features.

Chase Architectural Metals Visit

2009-02-06T16:12:00.010-05:00

Continuing the topic of furniture..yesterday afternoon we made it over to see Robert Chase at his workshop to check out a prototype of a new stool design for the Charles Luck Studios. Chase is also building the beacon structure for the Charlotte studio. Its always cool to see our designs in the production phase.

Furniture

2009-01-30T13:53:00.009-05:00

We have been designing furniture for our clients for years and now are developing our own line of furnishings for 2009. We have pieces in production and are developing more prototypes.

We are material and craft fanatics. The wood we use is from Mountain Lumber and includes 600 year old Chinese Elm, and reclaimed Oak from Guinness fermenting barrels. We have partnered with Charles Luck Stone Centers to find the most distinctive stone available-some of the most phenomenal colors and patterns we have ever seen. Metalwork comes via the craftsmanship of Robert Chase. When he is not building Lemans race cars, he does some fantastic metal and carbon work. Consistent with our collaborative mission, our role in the design is a part of the whole. Material and craft elevate the product, making each piece unique.

Purpose Form and Craft. Our pieces are hand built individually. They are distinctive, signature elements. Signed and numbered, each has its own story and place in time.

FDA Newsletter Q109

2009-01-23T17:28:00.002-05:00

Charles Luck Stone Center- Charlotte, North Carolina

2009-01-22T15:08:00.007-05:00

Process

The Charles Luck Stone Center is under construction in Charlotte, North Carolina. With an early spring opening date, construction is moving quickly. We were onsite recently review the stonework and rough-ins. It was cold and wet, but these guys were getting it done.

Charlotte is the third location of the Charles Luck Stone Center. Locations in Richmond and Sterling Virginia opened to great enthusiasm from the design community.

www.charlesluck.com

Check us out on flickr!

2009-01-22T11:29:00.002-05:00

ML Mock Up Wall, originally uploaded by Fraser Design.

HERE!

Entering the blogosphere

2009-01-22T06:47:00.000-05:00

Fraser Design is starting a Blog. We will initially focus on our work, but will highlight people, places and things we find inspiring. Stay tuned.