20/20 Features Vision Source Texarkana!

Our design for Dr. Allen and Moser's new Vision Source Texarkana office building was featured in last month's issue of 20/20. The results achieved by this design have exceeded everyone's expectations, even my own!

Check out the whole story here

Solstice Sunglasses NYC

On a recent New York visit I carved out some time to see one of the newest upscale shopping centers at Columbus Circle (59th St.)

The Columbus Circle Center is not as large as those you find in Los Angeles, but it boasts two optical shops. Solstice is strictly sunglasses with mid-range priced styles displayed on the wall and higher-priced styles in locked table top showcases. Brand names are displayed neatly above each row of frames. I was impressed that the check out counter was kept relatively free of clutter.

The back-lit photos are dramatic and eye-catching. Even when the store is full of shoppers you can see these photos from a distance because they are above head-height. The all-glass storefront is a luxury that most optometric offices don't have, but the take-away lesson from this photo is that simple wall displays can be very effective. This designer wisely spent the construction budget on good lighting, graphics and elegant showcases.

Vertical frosted glass panels with a single small shelf on each panel make an eye-catching window display at Solstice. Only one brand name designer is featured at a time with a matching graphic above. This is a good example of how an utterly simple concept makes for great merchandising.

Design Blunders: Display Background Color

Optical design and theatrical design have much in common. Both have a stage (background)
upon which the star (merchandise) is presented. Both rely on strong lighting to bring the audience’s attention to the star.

To make your frames into star performers, show them on a white or very light-colored background with the best lighting you can afford. Frames displayed against a dark background or mirrored surface are not seen as well because the background absorbs the lighting. There is too little contrast between eyewear and background.

Light backgrounds make the light bounce and reflect off the delicate details and subtle colors of the frames. It’s easier to bring out the jewel-like qualities of the frames on a light background.

Fortunately this can be an easy problem to fix. If your frame backgrounds are dark, simply paint them white. If your frame backgrounds are mirrored have a contractor install white panels over most of the mirrors, leaving an adequate amount of try-on mirror space exposed.

Best of Paris

These two photos show one of the best optical shops I found in Paris. It couldn't be more than 10 or 12 feet wide, but the curving walls and soffit above help to distract the eye from the long narrow shape. The window display on the left is small but very eye-catching. I often use these type of cubicle displays in my designs because they work so well for upscale eyewear.

The use of light maple and dark cherry wood for the interior is nothing new, but balanced very nicely. Using dark wood at the back wall makes that wall seem closer than it really is. A bevy of halogen lights in the ceiling give the whole place a warm inviting feel. I'm sure this place is a magnet for shoppers looking for high fashion frames.

French But Funky

You'll rarely see the words French and funky in the same sentence, but when you combine antique style chairs with in-your-face color and top it off with pop art, what else can you call it? This place has a hip, fun point of view that's bound to attract a hip, fun clientele.

The front window, though, is a disaster zone. The pink miniature couch is cute and colorful but there's just too much "stuff" in this display. Mon Dieu, mon ami! Less is more!

Photos: Vision Source of Texarkana

This office was completed in November, 2006. Dr. Mark Allen reported a 21% increase in average revenue per exam within their first 3 weeks in the new facility.

Dr. Allen was very concerned about how to display and sell more high end frames without losing patients who were looking for more moderate priced frames. The solution was to create a high fashion boutique within the optical defined with a barrel-vaulted uplit ceiling and columns. The see-through showcases divide the reception counter from the optical.

The high end frames are shown off in cubicles that are individually lit with halogen strip lights. The moderate priced frames are presented on frame bars and glass shelves built in to the wall.



We'll have more photos of this office up on our new website soon.

New Office Photo - Couple of Eyes

Just received this photo of a new office that I designed right here in my home town, Portland, OR. The practice is called "Couple of Eyes," owned by husband and wife optometrists. When they first came to me they were thinking of leasing 2,000 square feet for their very first practice, opening cold. I advised them to scale down to 1,500 square feet or less to keep their initial construction costs and overhead down.

They wanted a very contemporary interior with a minimalist style and colors that would reflect their Asian heritage. I had to do a bit of searching to find just the perfect shade of brick red for the back wall. The reception counter is faced with metal laminate. Natural slate flooring in the entry provides rich texture and color.

Although the look is very "hip" we did not want patients to think all the frames are higher priced. Simple locking frame bars signal that the optical has moderate priced frames as well as high fashion frames. The contractor, Norwest General Contractors, did a great job and actually finished on time. That doesn't happen every day!

Barbara Wright Design Photo Gallery

If you would like to see photos of some of the optometric offices I have designed you can jump to the photo gallery at the Barbara Wright Design website.