March 21, 2013
Office design goes to the movies. Part 1 – Zoolander
Zoolander may not be a great film but it has its moments and does come alive every time the Mugatu character arrives to eat up the scenery. Of course, as an unreconstructed deskhead, I am always tempted to  look over the shoulders of the characters in a film to see what they are sitting on. Mugatu sits on an Arne Jacobsen Egg chair. It’s over 50 years old but screams DESIGNER, hence its place under his backside. It provides an easy shorthand and so is widely recognised, but its ubiquity including as a way for places like McDonald’s to flag up a new approach to their interiors with a mixture of fakes and originals means it can feel overused.
March 22, 2013 @ 12:43 pm
I cannot let this go.
You are of course right about design. it is often underestimated, but the ambiance of a given environment may sometimes even outweigh the practical considerations.
I know that our serviced office space feels very different after the refurb in 201/11 than it did before. I also know it has helped us attract new clients, because of the feedback I get.
I also know, however, that it does not please everyone and that it can feel different on different days, depending on the amount of foot traffic, noise and even the mood of staff, clients and visitors.
But ‘design’ can be overused and lose its’ status as icon if familiarity changes its’ image and meaning. We did not go heavily into any particular style, for precisely this reason, opting instead for smart but neutral (if that isn’t a contradiction in terms).
All this is incontrovertible.
But Zoolander?
Not a great film?
I can’t believe it has been said. I almost didn’t read the rest of the article.
March 22, 2013 @ 1:00 pm
Hi Barry. I’ve got another ten of these lined up. Look out Mark Kermode.