TEKSERVE: We Know Service

In the latest window for Tekserve, we got to flex our scenic muscle!  We were asked to illustrate (3-dimensionally) various types of damage to computers; gravity, water, fire, and the need for upgrades (hence Apple's spinning wheel of "doom"). Each "scene" was placed upon an underlit plexi plinth, with vinyl signage throughout.

Sunglass Hut: Hello Sunshine

Hello Sunshine!  Here's a look at a recent  'splashy' installation we did in Macy's on 34th for Sunglass Hut, celebrating the unbreakable connection between Sunglasses and Summer. Large clear spheres were retrofitted with stands and holders for the sunglasses and placed among custom made high-gloss beach balls. Custom dimensional hanging signage and large graphics round out the display.

Tekserve - We Know Storage

For Tekserve's latest announcement touting their expertise in yet another important aspect of technology,  namely: storage. We were asked to help design and install this display of their 5 best storage options for professionals, amatuers and aesthetes alike. Each storage option is displayed upon an underlit plinth, each describing the distinct virtues of that option. Behind the plinths is a large frosted plexi sign boldy declaring WE KNOW STORAGE.

Many Armani

Always a study in the precise and geometrical, this Armani installation is no exception.  Using Ombré-d printed plexi-glass, each row of shingles were meticulously cut-out by computer and applied to the face of a large light-box fading from dark turquoise to a lighter shade at the bottom.  Because of the angle at which the shingles are placed, light glows from in between the rows. And because of the highly reflective surface of the plexi glass lights from many other sources reflect in the shingles and create a sparkling effect as you walk by.

Throwback: World Financial Center

Back in the early 90's Geoff was commissioned to create installation art in 20 empty storefront that were basically advertisement for other shops within the WFC mall. The common thread in each window was Geoff's signature illustrative and whimsical painting style.

For Barney's Geoff's took the store logo and illustrated the name using depictions of men's fashion and haberdashery.

The WFC flagship restaurant, the Hudson Grille, specialized in the bounty of the Hudson River Valley and so Geoff created a more rustic and 'farm-like' window overflowing with the harvest.

For this luxury stationer, Geoff created an 'over-the-top' desk laden with pens, pencils and handmade paper and envelopes. The paper scrolls in the foreground help to further underscore their specialty.

Geoff chose the highlights a shop's winter fashion by creating a birch forest vignette, surrounded by a twig and leaf themed frame.

To make a connection between a music store and the World Financial Center, Geoff came up with the clever idea of using a piggy bank being filled up with Compact-disc (in the days before digital music) coins. A sound investment, Oink!!

To add a flair of Roman grandeur for a shop featuring Italian leather goods, Geoff set the merch atop hand painted Roman columns, revealed by tied back draperies.

Lantern Fractal

To celebrate the season of light, NY's fabled 5th avenue, Armani, took the zeitgeist of multi-colored Christmas lights and expanded the notion into a larger format for their 5th Avenue location. From closeup at sidewalk level, a wall of light was created with the neat stacking of inner-lit cubes of various colors. As you enter the store and look up into the atrium, the wall of cubes starts to rise and twist into a more lantern-like configuration. More than 270 custom made cubes were created for this installation. It should be noted that this project was a collaboration between Armani's design team, the metal manufacturer of the frames, the company that hung all the lanterns inside the 3-storey atrium and Geoff Howell Studio who electrified and colorized all of the lanterns and installed the sidewalk level portions.

Lantern Fractal part 2

Emporio Armani, like the 5th Avenue Armani, also bedecked their windows with a flourish of multi-colored lanterns.

A 'rivet'ing Christmas!

For holiday 2012, the inspiration for the John Varvatos windows was "'your own front door' like the line from the song "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas." This window had 2 iconic NYC front doors and 2 iconic 'country' front doors, all with a very 19th century industrial twist, made to look like everything in the John Varvatos holiday world was covered in sheet metal, held together by rivets. Even the wreaths and the stack of firewood by the door were painted to look like metal. Working with the visual team at Varvatos, incorporating Geoff's knowledge and love of historic architecture, the GHS team produced all the backdrops using layers of MDF in intricate patterns to create the feeling of carved wood, stone and brick and scenic painted to look like antique steel. The pieces were made as flats that could be shipped in small er pieces and assembled on site to locations such as  here in New York, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and 2 locations in Los Angeles. 

Sunglass Hut: The Look of Attraction

As Sunglass Hut introduces a new line of Sunglasses by Georgia May Jagger, GHS was asked to produce and install graphics, props, lightboxes and signage for their 5th avenue store. Sinuous forms in yellow and aqua tie the story of 'Metal meets Plastic' together.

A closer look at the swirling juxtapostion of color!