Greg O'Neal

Designers on Design: best things, concepts, places of 2007-Greg O'Neal

It is so very hard for me to label anything "the best", just because, "the best" either get: 1) better, or 2) knocked off. So I would like to call the following my "best admirations"

DESIGNER: Ian Schrager, Gramercy Park Hotel. Why? Not because of the Hip-factor or the Hype-factor, but because of Schrager himself. He has been part of a design "establishment" for so long and a designer who has built-in design"expectation" from critics and consumers,yet, he had the guts to buck his own design system. The Gramercy Park Hotel project is amazing... but what is most inspiring for me as a designer, is that Schrager was obviously brave enough to break the mold of his own successful business model in order to satisfy his design instict, thus his re-birth. Brave & Beautiful!

DESIGN CONCEPT: Modern Mass Appeal Who would've ever guessed that "MOD" as in mid-century mod, danish mod and just plain modern mod (is that a word?) would be main stream enough in America? Big box retailers have not only bought into modern and clean design, but continue to increase the size of the catagory on their floors. It is definitely not your grandmother's big box retailer anymore. Trust me, I am someone who finds little to be inspired about in regards to the "big boxes", but I love seeing America's acceptance to the modern design concept. Cheers to:  Thomas O'Brien for Target, Todd Oldham for La Z Boy and West Elm, for getting the heartbeat of america a tiny bit out of their "every-day" box. 

DESIGNED ITEM: Koziol Products & Fixtures This German-based plastic manufaturer continues to produce the most inspiring and thought provoking products that i have ever seen, and best yet, 100% of the collection is produced out of plastic (so it's SUPER affordable). I install the Koziol product in every HIP restaurant, retail store or event project that comes my way. Each wall panel or object purchased in mass allows the installer to create their own masterpiece. Regarding this product, MORE really is MORE! So check it out!!!  

Posted by Greg O'Neal on November 16, 2007 | Comments (0)