Fysh Eyewear :: A Product-Packaging Review

[If you've come to view my portfolio, see the Design Portfolio, Photography and Resume/Bio tabs.]

Way back in October, I needed new glasses.  My prescription had not been updated since 2008; driving had become scary.  I purchased my new glasses from a really cool UK-based company, Fysh.  My glasses are really modern and neat with their blue anodized aluminum frame and partially-frameless lenses, however, being the design nerd that I am, I absolutely raved about my glasses case.

First up, here are some detail shots of the the overall product. The case is lined with in-your-face, bright blue felt with an exterior of a soft, black raincoat-like material. As mentioned above, the frames are made with lightweight aluminum with even lighter plastic temples.  The temple-tips are easily adjustable (wire is visible), and the nose-pads correspond with the brand.

So, just what's so awesome about that case?  The Fysh glasses case can lay completely flat to allow for flat-pack shipment!  Why is this so beneficial?  Think of the wasted space inside that case when they are on their way from manufacturers. Ok, I'll just tell you. When they are not housing eye-wear, 18.75 cubic inches are wasted inside each case.  Now, just think how much money those manufacturers save in shipment simply because they are able to lay the cases one on top of another, packed tightly in a box. Mind-blowing, yeah? Yeah.

The two-dimensional case is made three-dimensional with a series flaps of that same in-your-face, bright blue felt. 

Overall, this packaging solution is really great.  It looks neat and modern, saves the manufacturer money in gas and boxing in shipment, and is just unique in a "Hey, look at my cool glasses case!" kind of way.  As someone who cringes when people don't recycle, my one complaint about the case is that it doesn't seem recyclable. I can't be sure unless I dissect it, but I believe that the felt is glued to the exterior.  If it isn't recyclable, it could be up-cycled for a new use. 

Check out their company website! 

Thanks for reading! 

A

A Cafe Interior

[If you've come to view my portfolio, see the Design Portfolio and Resume/Bio tabs.] 

One day last week, I started to draw the layout of what I hope will one day be an awesome store where I sell my own products, after having manufactured them in my shop out back, after having designed them in my window-walled studio upstairs via a spiral staircase.  A girl can dream, right?

I also plan for this place to have a cafe featuring my BFF's recipes.  For the sake of the blog, and not completely publishing our awesome idea, I decided to do a post concerning only the cafe and hang-out area of the establishment.  The following images are guidelines for the layout, color scheme and overall vibe of the unnamed cafe (to be honest, we've thought of a very cute name, but I'm keeping it under wraps).  

The more I designed, the more I exclaimed loudly in my best Liz Lemon expression, 
"I want to go to there."

Quick Floor Plan

I know that this is usually the job of an Interior Designer, but who doesn't like shopping and piecing together a color palette? I started picking out my furnishings for the cafe, the outdoor patio and the lounge.

Larger View of Floor Plan with Call-outs

Cafe View

There you have it!  Perhaps you've just had a glimpse into what will someday be my cafe + design shop.

By the way, a little explanation on my fixation of manufacturing and selling my own product in-house:  In the field of design, I feel like so much is disposable and wasted these days.  I am really striving to be a part of something that is treasured and lasts for a while, rather than ending up in a junk pile in the garage after a season.  In my dream-job-search, I've narrowed that passion down to two possible dream-positions.  One being to design and sell individually-crafted products, perhaps with a small local firm, or to work at a multidiscipilnary firm alongside Architects, Interior Designers and Graphic Designers to design custom, specialty spaces [this project began to explore that].

Thanks for reading! Check out my resume and work in the above tabs!

List of Furnishings by Space ::
Cafe and Patio ::
Magnus Stained Chair - Restoration Hardware [9 Indoor / 20 Outdoor]
Bertoia Bar Chair - Knoll Studio  [10]
Min Table (Sm) - Design Within Reach [3]
Petal Dining Table - Design Within Reach [5]
Copper Shade Pendant - Tom Dixon at Lumens.com [3]
Clear Globe Pendant - West Elm [6]
Scrapwood Wallpaper - Peit Hein Eeek [Sq. Footage of Floating Wall]
Corian Solid Surface "Designer White" - DuPont [Bar]
Corian Solid Surface "Ethereal Azure" - DePont [Cafe Register/Coffee Counters]
Outdoor patio to be stone laid in radial pattern with moss between cracks 

Lounge ::
10' Lancaster Sofa in Brompton Cocoa Leather - Restoration Hardware [1]
Professor's Chair in Brompton Cocoa Leather - Restoration Hardware [4]
Contemporary Block Coffee Table in White - Furniture Depot [1]
Immer White Wood and Steel End Table - Casual Home Furnishings [2]
96" Boulangerie Extension Dining Table - Restoration Hardware [1]
Copper Shade Pendant - Tom Dixon at Lumens.com [2]
Magnus Stained Chair - Restoration Hardware [10]
Bertoia Bar Chair - Knoll Studio  [9]
Corian Solid Surface "Designer White" - DuPont [Bar Along Window]

Entry / Throughout ::
Bocci Suspension Lamp - Houzz [Entry]
Tobacco Road Acacia Handscraped Wood Flooring - Lumber Liquidators 
Brick Arches painted in an Antique White similar to Magnus Chair Stain

**Again, a girl can dream, right? What's a budget? =p

-A