October 5, 2018

Shea Links: October

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]At Shea, we pride ourselves on staying on top of what’s happening in design news. It helps us keep tabs on what’s fresh, inspiring, and happening in the world—and we make a few headlines of our own, too. Here are some recent articles delving into design, experience, and what’s buzzing in our community:
“Flex-Casual Restaurants Shift Formats by Daypart” – Restaurant Hospitality:
How casual restaurants can adapt their menus and vibes for different dayparts, from the cities to the suburbs
“It’s Hip to be Cheap as Hotels Democratize Design” – New York Times:
How cheap-chic hotel brands (such as Avid, Pod, and Moxy) are embracing thrifty, whimsical design, smaller rooms, shared bathrooms, and variety in offerings to appeal to millennial and budget travelers
“How Tech is Drawing Shoppers Back to Bricks-and-Mortar Stores” – Wall Street Journal:
The ways that stores are incorporating technology to attract today’s savvy consumers, such as showroom-style spaces with lighting and music settings, pre-selecting try-on items, customer tracking, and more
“Why So Many Top Restaurants are Closing for Dinner” – Food & Wine:
The work-life balance many popular restaurants are striving to create for employees by staying open only during the daytime
“Reinforcing Brand Identity” – Design:Retail:
A look at how retailers can engage customers via design to reinforce their brand identity, from material and color palette continuity to partnering with similarly aligned lifestyle brands
“How to Design Workplaces for Humans, Not Generations” – Work Design:
How workplaces can move off the idea of designing for “Millennials” or “Gen Z” and move towards cross-generational design as the workforce expands
“Why It’s a New Era for America’s Classic Sports Bar” – FSR:
The effort sports bars are making to stay relevant, with expanded menus and appealing to wider audiences, revising their narrative to attract more women and families
“Enriching the Workplace with Biophilic Design” – Work Design:
How incorporating plants indoors is becoming the norm in modern offices (going beyond just adding potted plants to make greenery a standout design feature), and what the benefits are for workers
“Lifestyle Brands are Building Hotels Now. Here’s Why That Actually Makes Sense.” – Harvard Business Review:
A look at retail and lifestyle brands (including Shinola, West Elm, and others) and their foray into the hotel world, embracing hospitality in an aesthetic that strengthens their brand
“The Rise of the Restaurant Robot” – Forbes:
A piece discussing the delicate balance between automated labor and personal interaction in hospitality environments[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]