Indiewalls的动态

Take your cues from Thomas Consolo this week as he shares his #CultureFIX picks for the week ahead. Movers & Makers Magazine

Should make for some interesting statues.

What does it mean when social interactions are increasingly shaped by consumer expectations? Spaces like the Freezer Theater and CBGB offered communities the freedom to define themselves, without the constraints of brand identity. I had the unique experience of being part of these venues. The Freezer was the starting point for Detroit’s hardcore scene, which evolved into industrial music and eventually into Detroit Techno. CBGB, initially conceived as a country and bluegrass venue, transformed into the birthplace of New York’s punk and new wave movements. What made these spaces special was their ambiguity—an open-endedness that was essential to fostering creative movements and meaningful rites of passage. Today’s commercial venues subtly dictate how people socialize, tying interactions to consumer behavior. As designers and urban planners, we should be asking if this trend is stifling creativity. How do we create spaces that encourage genuine human connection, not mediated by commercial interests? What happens when our cultural identities are formed within environments that prioritize consumption over expression? In the past, spaces like the Freezer were accessible to all. They were low-cost, inclusive, and encouraged anyone with a desire to explore and create. But today’s third spaces—curated parks, branded pop-up events, and commercial gathering spots—often require a financial buy-in, pushing away those who can’t afford to participate. This trend risks making cities more exclusive, where only those with disposable income can engage in the social life of the urban landscape. Should urban planners be thinking more critically about accessibility? What kinds of spaces can we design that foster diversity and inclusivity without the weight of commercial expectation? We also need to consider the impact of this shift on how culture is produced. In unprogrammed spaces, culture emerges organically, shaped by the people who inhabit it. The Freezer was a catalyst for Detroit’s industrial scene because it allowed for risk-taking and boundary-pushing. In a world where social spaces are increasingly brand-oriented, are we losing the environments that allow new cultural movements to form? Are we creating cities where creativity is constrained by the limits of consumer brands and programming? As urban planners and designers, it’s time to rethink what third spaces can be in the modern city. Instead of relying on the commercial model that has come to dominate, we should be exploring ways to create environments that encourage spontaneity, diversity, and true community-building. Can we find a way to design urban environments that foster the raw, unfiltered energy that once made these spaces possible? The answers to these questions will shape the future of our cities and determine whether they remain places where creativity can thrive.

We are walking into a new era of design for sport arenas and stadiums. There's a shift to a more fan focused design, with venues catering to the "fan experience." The "fan experience" speaks to how fans interact and engage within the space outside of sports game itself. A fan focused design tailors the environment to encourage human socialization and a group-watching experience. Larger screens, charging stations (phone and car), and more social spaces will get fans to come early and stay late which increases profits and desirability. People, generally, want to be surrounded by "good vibes", designing for the "fan experience" will keep sports fans and non-sport fans engaged. Check out these new stadium projects under construction in North America that are incorporating a fan focused design, a practice we will utilize for future projects. https://lnkd.in/e-ZwkQ8p

There’s a lot to see in Knoxville, and especially on the University of Tennessee campus: the Sunsphere, the Hill, Circle Park, the Smokey statues - and the graffiti. It’s hard to imagine a city without it, let alone a college campus. Central to going to college is the concept of legacy: alum, legacy admissions, fraternities and sororities, etc. Graffiti is no different. Through it, one can see years in the past, sometimes decades, and nowhere is that more true than in Knoxville. Through the placement of the art, the time, and the direction it faces, one can glean oodles of information about the who, what, when, where, and why of a specific piece. The why, of course, is the all-important question at hand. Why did they place this piece here? Artists like Limer BW and Fusion enjoy artistic freedom in their work, making their city feel more at home via their art. Others, like UT’s Progressive Student Alliance and Turning Point USA, use it to enact political messaging, while others like WOZO Radio use graffiti to advertise their station. This all requires the graffiti to not be cleaned up - something few are keen to let happen, bar the actual street artists. One custodian spoke about her more than 30 years working in UT’s residence halls and her take on student street art, and her perspective was shocking- you can see the interview here on YouTube. https://lnkd.in/e4YFvyav

What’s the scoop on Chicago? ? It’s a city where sports and culture collide. ? The local fashion landscape is on the rise, driven by trendsetting designers and shops. ? But, at the heart of Chicago’s essence lies its deep-rooted sports tradition, from the classic games to unique recreational activities around the city. ? Chicago’s harsh climate has forged a community of resilience, united and thrilled by sports, whether rallying behind the Blackhawks, Bulls, or Fire FC. ? The city’s narrative is about tradition colliding with innovation, where sports aren’t just a form of entertainment but a pivotal element that knits the city together. ? #comncollective?#chicago?#marketresearch?#chicagoillinois?#chicagofitness?#chicagofashion?#chicagosports?#sportsperformance?#fieldresearch

Industry Jargon of the Day! Gobo: An etched metal or glass disc that can project patterns when installed on a light source. Coming out of covid, there have been a lot of new people working in the trade show industry mostly on the exhibitor side that could benefit from this. This is from an article in Exhibitor "Your Passport to Industry Jargon: An Inexhaustive Glossary Guide" written by Danelle Dodds Side note: This is not a new technology by any means. Lighting and theater professionals have been using them for decades. Special event planners and trade show exhibits have been using them for years. I introduced this 30 years ago in 1994 for the NHL All Star Game Fan Exhibit here in NY. We needed fill in some blank spaces on the floor and walls but we were not allowed to mount anything to those surfaces, so I recommend projecting logos with Gobos and knew it was also cost effective to do so. Dig deeper:?https://lnkd.in/g6bw83n5

Uncover the key insights and tips in this buyer's guide to bring home your dream Pontiac Firebird from 1970-81 on Hagerty Media. #MuscleCarGuide #FirebirdOwnership #ClassicCarTips #AutoAppraisalNetwork

New logo and brand identity for George Mason University! ???? Interesting to see such a great example of the importance of #brand and #visual identity in #highereducation so close to home. I am taken back to my HEA class, "Organization and Administration in Higher Education," with David L. Parkyn. As we learned in his class, the way in which a university presents itself to the "general public" is a demonstration on the importance of "public perception" in higher education. With the later increasingly on the decline, and the public (rightfully) questioning the value of higher education more often, I wonder if we are going to see more #rebranding in the near future ... as a way for institutions to demonstrate they can #evolve in an increasingly challenging landscape (one usually known for its slow change). Oftentimes, I find, cross-campus offices and departments struggle to keep "in-brand" due to a lack of #awareness or access (#bureaucratic red tape). Will universities begin to "crack down" on brand more? I wonder what my #GeorgeMason colleagues think! (Rebecca Durant, M.Ed., Elizabeth Henderson (MPS) would love to hear your thoughts!) #Brand #Logo #VisualIdentity #Adminstration

This week, I attended the Art & Science of Sports Venue Development session for the Tennessee Titans Sports Venue Real Estate Development Bridge Program Powered By Project Destined. We were joined by Burke Nihill (President and CEO at Tennessee Titans) who described the team’s rationale for building a new stadium including the benefits to the team, local community and the city. He also provided an overview of the project timeline and the process of building the team to lead stadium design and construction. During this session, I learned that developing sports venues can enhance communities, leading to infrastructure improvements. They can also foster economic growth by creating jobs and attracting visitors to events. Some key takeaways: How developing a sports venue can catalyze positive outcomes. Constructing and designing a stadium takes many teams to develop such a big project. Hearing from Burke Nihill was an enriching opportunity.