Hasta La Ideas

Dezeen Wire: the majority of the British public have “little idea” what architects do, according to a recent survey commissioned by online architect’s forum Inbuilding.org.

The results reveal that 15% of adults are unaware that architects design buildings, while as many as 72% don’t know that architects apply for the planning permission required for construction.

The full results of the survey can be downloaded from www.inbuilding.org.

Here’s the press release:

Survey Reveals Lack of Public Awareness About The Role of an Architect

A survey commissioned by Inbuilding.org, the new online community for architects, has found that the majority of British adults have little idea what architects do.

As part of the survey, which was carried out by YouGov, respondents were asked to select things that they think an architect does from a list of tasks which are allroutinely carried out by architects.

15% did not know that architects design buildings. 22% did not know that they prepare detailed construction drawings for building projects. 48% didn’t know that architects prepare specifications to be used for building projects. Even more surprisingly, 69% didn’t realise architects negotiate planning permission with the local authorities. 72% didn’t know they apply for planning permission in the first place. 74% didn’t know architects can deal with certification for building projects and 79% that they can ensure that the construction site complies with Health & Safety legislation. A staggering 86% were not aware that architects select, negotiate with and manage all the contractors and 91% that they run the financial accounts for building projects.

InBuilding.org Editor Richard Buxton said: “Gabrielle Omar, the architect who starred on the reality TV show The Apprentice was the inspiration for this survey. The results support what she said in an interview with The Architects’ Journal about the public not knowing what architects do, and the profession being in need of a brand overhaul.”
Gabrielle said: “It seems the public knows even less than I first thought about the services architects offer. I think we all need to work together to find creative ways to engage with and educate the public about what architects can do for them.”

Participants were then asked where they would be most likely to look for an architect. Those up to age 34 were most likely to search the Internet (45% of those aged 18-24 and 50% of those aged 25-34), whilst those over 34 would most likely ask a friend (43% of those aged 35-44, rising to 52% of those aged over 55). Notably, very few people in any age group said they would be most likely to refer to a printed directory (7%).

Having revealed where architects would be best advised to spend their marketing budget, the survey then asked respondents which three factors would most influence their decision to use one architect over another. From a list of nine possible answers, by far the most popular was: ‘that the architect is qualified and registered’ (71%). In second place (58%) was: ‘that the architect can provide good references from satisfied clients’. Architect’s fees were the third most important factor (46%). In fourth place were interpersonal skills, with 29% of respondents saying that whether or not they liked the architect and felt they could work with them was important. A ‘professional website which displays a portfolio of the architect’s previous work’ came fifth with 21%

Richard added: “There is an apparent contradiction here between the large number of people who said they would search online for an architect, and the smaller numbers that said they would be influenced by a professional website.
“In fact, there is no contradiction: it seems it is less important what your website looks like; rather more important that you have a high online visibility, of which your website may form only a small part.

“There are some other important lessons from this survey. Although other factors may be more important than your website, it should still shout the range of your services, how competitive your fees are, your qualifications and client endorsements.”

The full results of the survey are now available for download on www.inbuilding.org, where architects can come and discuss its implications in the forum with the survey’s authors, Richard Buxton and Arlo Guthrie, and with Gabrielle.

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the role of the architect appeared first on Dezeen.

Dezeen wire: designer sex toys are enjoying record sales thanks to the success of bestselling erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey by E L James, according to design-led vibrator brand Jimmyjane.

The brand, which recently collaborated with designer Yves Behar on a series of sex toys (above), said it had seen a spike in sales, which it attributes to the novel.

“While conversation around female sexuality and pleasure has rapidly picked up steam over the past decade, the popularity of Fifty Shades has caused an overwhelming societal shift bringing the dialogue to the fore,” says Jimmyjane chief creative Ethan Imboden, who founded the brand in 2004. “These novels are accelerating the progress of vibrators and other accessories into the mainstream, and are igniting imaginations around the world.”

See all our stories about sex toys | See all our stories about sex

Below is a press release from Jimmyjane:

July 18, 2012: Jimmyjane, the design-centric brand and leading innovator in the vibrator market, is part of a trend of pleasure product companies seeing a spike in sales and consumer interest due to the popularity of the adult novel, Fifty Shades of Grey. In addition to record sales – Fab.com recently revealed that their best selling item is a Jimmyjane vibrator – retailers of sex accessories are noticing a substantial shift in consumer attitudes in which customers are emerging seeking top quality, well-designed products.

Jimmyjane has seen a spike in sales across their full product range, and in particular in their best-selling line of FORM Waterproof Rechargeable Vibrators, designed by Yves Behar. Unlike prior generations of sex accessories, FORM Vibrators exceed the high standards of quality, function and aesthetics that these more discerning customers routinely apply to the other products in their daily lives.

“While conversation around female sexuality and pleasure has rapidly picked up steam over the past decade, the popularity of Fifty Shades has caused an overwhelming societal shift bringing the dialogue to the fore. These novels are accelerating the progress of vibrators and other accessories into the mainstream, and are igniting imaginations around the world,” says Ethan Imboden, founder and Chief Creative of Jimmyjane. Imboden has worked to break down the taboo around female sexual pleasure and pleasure products since he launched his brand in 2004.

The three most recent Jimmyjane vibrator launches were a design collaboration between Imboden and Yves Behar, noted industrial designer and founder of Fuseproject. Behar believes “The more that consumers know about the pleasure products that are available to them, the more they’re empowered to make educated choices about design, quality and efficacy. From the numbers we’re seeing, Fifty Shades seems to be providing quite an education.”

At Jimmyjane, the conventional wisdom is that this is just the beginning of the vibrator’s movement into the mainstream dialogue. Recently there has been a wave of exposure, from the film Hysteria (about the invention of the vibrator) and the Tony award-winning play, In the Next Room, to product features on shows such as Mrs. Brown’s Boys and even Oprah. Earlier this year, Channel 4 commissioned Sex Toy Story, a documentary looks behind Britain’s biggest supplier of sex toys, Ann Summers.

About Jimmyjane

Jimmyjane is a design-centric brand founded on the belief that life is better with a sexy twist. We design products and experiences to provide pleasure, strengthen connection, and create provocative possibility. From decadent massage candles and natural massage lotions to luxurious blindfolds and the iconic 24k gold vibrator, if you enjoy being sexy, we have something for you. Jimmyjane has been honored with numerous design awards, and new concepts are continually in development to bring sophisticated sexiness to all. For more information, visit WWW.JIMMYJANE.COM.

ABOUT YVES BEHAR/FUSEPROJECT

Founded in 1999 by Swiss-born visionary Yves Béhar, fuseproject is committed to projects that utilize technological innovation and design to improve people’s day-to-day lives, promote sustainable living, and create positive social change. The fuseproject dream is for all consumers to be aware of the environmental and social impact of materials and packaging, and to buy according to humanitarian, ethical, and environmental loyalties. www.fuseproject.com

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Dezeen Wire: Foster + Partners have been shortlisted to design the Xiqu Chinese Opera Centre, the first in a series of new arts and cultural venues for the West Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong.

Collaborating with local studio O Studio Architects, the firm is one of five in a shortlist that also includes Safdie Architects, Mecanoo Architecten, Wong & Ouyang (HK) Ltd. and Bing Thom Architects.

Foster + Partners won a competition to design the masterplan for the district in 2010, beating entries by OMA and Rocco Design Architects.

See all our stories about Foster + Partners »
See all our stories about the West Kowloon Cultural District »

Read the full press release below:

Leading British architectural firm Foster + Partners shortlisted for arts venue in one of worlds largest cultural infrastructure projects.

Shortlisted design teams announced for the first arts venue in the West Kowloon Cultural District.

(17 July 2012, Hong Kong) The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) announced today a shortlist of five design teams that have been invited to submit proposals for the architectural design of the Xiqu Centre, one of the landmark cultural venues for the West Kowloon Cultural District.

The five shortlisted teams are:

» BTA & RLP Company Limited (Bing Thom Architects, Vancouver, and Ronald Lu and Partners, HK)
» Foster + Partners (UK) with O Studio Architects (HK)
» Mecanoo architecten (the Netherlands) / Leigh & Orange (HK)
» Safdie Architects LLC (US & Israel)
» Wong & Ouyang (HK) Ltd. (in collaboration with Diamond and Schmitt, Canada)

The Xiqu Centre, scheduled for completion at the end of 2015, will be the first of 17 core arts and cultural venues to be opened within the District and one of 15 proposed performing arts venues. The Chinese opera venue will provide a world-class facility for the preservation and development of the art form in Hong Kong and will be designed to host and produce the finest examples of Cantonese and other Chinese opera performances. Occupying a prime site at the eastern edge of the District on the corner of Canton Road and Austin Road West, the centre will provide a gateway of access to the Cultural District. The competition covers the design of a 1,100-seat main theatre, a 400-seat small theatre, a Tea House for performances for audiences up to 280 and ancillary training and education facilities.

The teams were shortlisted by the West Kowloon Cultural Authority Board following the recommendation of an independent Steering Committee set up to oversee the design competition, assisted by an Independent Professional Advisor, and with the participation of the Jury Panel.

Mr Louis Yu, Executive Director, Performing Arts, said:
“There has been a fantastic response to our plans for the Xiqu Centre from design teams from across the world. We are working hard to find the right team to work with to fulfill our ambitions. The shortlisted teams will meet with representatives of the Chinese opera artform, engaging with stakeholders so we can conceive together a world-class building for Hong Kong and for the development and promotion of this important form of Chinese cultural heritage”.

The shortlisted design teams will be invited to submit schematic designs of their concepts before 5 October, 2012. Entries from the shortlisted design teams will be assessed by a Jury Panel made up of prominent leaders in the relevant professional and arts and culture fields from Hong Kong, China and internationally: Mr. Cui Kai, Architect, China; Prof. Odile Decq, Architect/ Urbanist, France; Mr. Jordi Farrando, Architect, Spain; Mr. Lee Shing See GBS, OBE, JP, WKCDA Development Committee member and Chairman of the Steering Committee and Engineer – Hong Kong, China; Mr. Mao Chun Fai, Fredric BBS, Theatre Director, Hong Kong, China; Mr. Pau Shiu Hung SBS, Architect, Hong Kong, China; Mr. Yuen Siu Fai, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong.

Further details on the Design Competition are available on the WKCDA website: http://www.wkcda.hk/en/architectural_competition/xiqucentre

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Hong Kong arts venue appeared first on Dezeen.

Dezeen Wire: The Guardian reports on a campaign to persuade high-street retailers to respect the intellectual property of independent designers following the case of English pattern designer Rachael Taylor, who last week spoke out after finding a product almost identical to her own on sale at Marks & Spencer (above and below; Taylor’s designs are on the right in both photos).

The Commission It, Don’t Copy It campaign was launched in April by Anti-Copying in Design and has so far been supported by retailers John Lewis and Selfridges.

In May, the UK government announced changes to bring rights of designers into line with other creatives following a campaign to protect designers’ copyright initiated by Elle Deco editor Michelle Ogundehin to persuade retailers and industry to commission new products rather than copying existing ones.

See our interview with Michelle Ogundehin | See all our stories about Elle Deco’s anti-copying campaign

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Dezeen Wire: the organisers of the London Festival of Architecture have announced that the summer fair will now take place every year.

This year’s instalment of the formally biennial festival concluded last weekend and featured 16 days of exhibitions, lectures and events that took place in locations across the city.

See more details in the press release below:

The London Festival of Architecture to become an annual summer fixture

The organisers of the London Festival of Architecture, the city-wide celebration of architecture and architectural talent, have announced plans to hold the popular summer showcase on an annual basis beginning in summer 2013.

Previously organised as a biennial event, with the most recent edition concluding last weekend, the Festival is due to return for another three weekend / two week run next year from 22nd June to 7th July 2013.

This year’s event, which saw the adoption of both “The Playful City” theme and the pineapple – a symbol of welcome and hospitality – as the Festival’s official emblem, incorporated hundreds of innovative events and attractions held in various hubs across the capital during an unprecedented summer of cultural and sporting attractions.

Peter Murray, chairman of NLA and Festival Founding Director said:
“The sheer energy and enthusiasm that has been invested in this year’s Festival, by many hard-working organisations and individuals, strongly suggests that an annual event would be well received.

“The London Festival of Architecture receives core funding from the voluntary donations of the 250 Club, but as you’d expect with any ambitious project of this nature, we will need to raise additional funding to ensure we can deliver another Festival of similar ambition and scope in 2013. Needless to say, the will is certainly there to make it happen and we’re already in the early stages of speaking to potential sponsors.”

The annual London Festival of Architecture is curated by The Architecture Foundation, British Council, New London Architecture and RIBA London. This year’s Festival saw a packed programme of events and attractions held in various hubs including the City of London and Southwark, Fitzrovia and Victoria, and King’s Cross and Hoxton.

This year’s many Festival highlights included The Developing City exhibition, which will run at the Walbrook Building until 9th September (New London Architecture); Gibbon’s Rent, the participatory creation of a permanent new pocket park, reclaiming a forgotten cut through in Southwark (The Architecture Foundation); The British Council’s International Architecture and Design Showcase 2012, which will continue to run until 23rd September; and WEATHER – IT’S RAINING OR NOT: Hoxton Square’s playful interactive parasols and a graphic display of “the Weather Yesterday” which will be on display until 9th September (RIBA London).

In addition, to satisfy the enthusiasm and interest that this year’s Festival has generated, additional events are being planned to tie in to some of the key installations over the rest of summer 2012.
This year’s Festival was sponsored by Land Securities and Berkeley Group, and supported by the Mayor of London and through public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

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to go annual appeared first on Dezeen.