Proof Eyewear
Placemaking Design
An interactive and mobile installation for Proof Eyewear that meets all of their business' needs.
*Not in affiliation with Proof EyewearTimeline: April-May 2024
Role: Environmental Designer, Graphic Designer
Problem
Proof Eyewear is an eyewear brand focused on giving back to communities globally in addition to producing unique eyewear. They need a mobile installation to take to events that highlight at least 4 of the services they provide. The installation should captivate audiences by being interactive and educational.
Solution
In this mobile installation, I created four designated areas within the pop-up shop that educated it’s audience on Proof Eyewear’s sustainable materials, fashionable eyewear, “Do Good" Program, and their reforestation project. The installation is interactive and can be folded into a 10’x10’ cube that can be loaded onto a flatbed truck, making it portable and easy to assemble.
Project Specifications
All text should have a ground clearance of at least 30”
Installation must fit in a 10’x10’ cube
The outside of the folded cube must be branded
The installation must utilize any combination of 5 of the following branding techniques; color, graphic expression, shape, form, typography, technology, texture, or imagery.
The Process
1. Research
2. Ideation
3. Final Design
Research
“Do Good” Program: Proof Eyewear’s “Do Good” program sets out to help communities globally through initiatives that provide health screenings and eye exams to people who typically wouldn’t have access to it. In the spirit of education through interaction as well as helping out the local community, Zone 1 also has an eye exam build into its design and available “Do Good” educators to help people use them. Apart from the eye exams, the wall also holds information about the Do Good program and their accomplishments.
Eyewear: Not only does Proof strive to make a difference in local and global communities alike but they also make unique and striking eyewear. There will be a dedicated section of the installation that allows guests to try on different frames and check them out in the mural mirror wall.
Sustainability: Proof Eyewear strives use as many sustainable materials as possible to help reduce their own carbon footprint as well as utilize resources that would otherwise go to waste. There will be a dedicated area to highlighting and educating guests about these materials and how Proof uses them to create frames.
Reforestation: Proof uses sustainable materials like lumber which is a renewable resource and also pledges to plant 5 trees for every one frame purchased through their Eden Reforestation Project. There will be a dedicated area that educates guests on Proof’s reforestation initiatives as well as the benefits of using renewable resources.
Sketches: Dividing the Zones
During the ideation process, I explored a few ways to incorporate all 4 areas. Some factors I considered were how was each individual structure going to be capable of standing on its own, how could everything successfully collapse down, how could I make the exhibit interesting and interactive, and how could I optimize every side of the installation.
Ideation
My initial proposal retains many of the same features as my final design, from the themes of the areas themselves to execution of each area. The main difference between this initial proposal and the final design lies in how the pieces are arranged and fit together. My goal with my changes to the design were allow every section to feel open and not closed off from any direction.
Zone 1: Do Good Zone
Zones 2 and 3: Sustainable materials and Eyewear
Site plan
The “Do Good” Zone in this proposal is in the center of the installation and features a platform with a graphic of glasses on the floor which also act as place markers for guests to stand for the eye exams. The wall of this area holds 3 spinning boards that have both information about the program and eye exams people can take and interact with from either side of the platform.
The Zones 2 and 3 work together to create a secondary area where people can try on eyewear as well as learn about the sustainable materials they are made of. The center island corresponds with the color coded wall to show the various sustainable materials Proof uses in their products. On the island is a display of each material being used in a frame.
Zone 4: Reforestation
The Reforestation zone features an interactive tablet that allows guests to learn more about the initiative. The 3 walls of this area are screens that display information that is selected and indicated by the user of the tablet.
Final Design
Site Plan
Zone 1: “Do Good” Program
Zone 1 highlights the “Do Good” program within the Proof Eyewear company. The Do Good program sets out to help communities globally through initiatives that provide health screenings and eye exams to people who typically wouldn’t have access to it. In the spirit of education through interaction as well as helping out the local community, Zone 1 also has an eye exam build into its design and available “Do Good” educators to help people use them. Apart from the eye exams, the wall also holds information about the Do Good program and their accomplishments.
Zone 2: Eyewear
Zone 2 holds eyewear for the brand and showcases their designs. This area is indicated with a large model of glasses on the wall that can be seen from far away. The wall is also colored to match the sustainable materials it is made of with the materials on display in Zone 3. The warm brown panel is merchandised with glasses made of sustainably sourced wood, the green with glasses made of biodegradable acetate (an organically derived substance), and the grey with glasses made of recycled aluminum. This zone also has a mirror for guests to try on glasses and see how they look, along with the catchy phrase “Do Good, Look Good, Feel Good”, which is also a nod to their “Do Good” Program.
Zone 3: Sustainable Materials
Zone 3 works in conjunction with Zone 2 in educating people about the sustainable materials the eyewear is made of. The slogan on the front of the island display says “Want proof?” which is a play off of the website’s handle ‘iwantproof.com’ and their company name “Proof Eyewear”. This Materials Island provides information and transparency about the production process and the materials they use, thus offering ‘proof’. The island is color blocked with the same color code system seen in Zone 2; brown being sustainably sourced wood, green being biodegradable acetate, and grey being recycled aluminum. Atop the island are transparent bins with said materials inside as well as a pair of glasses in the respective material displayed above it. The walls provide more information about the origins of each material as well as the company branding that will act as the exterior branding once the installation is condensed into its mobile cube form.
Zone 4: Reforestation
Zone 4 is an interactive educational tool for the brand’s Reforestation initiative. The walls of this zone are electronic screens that immerse the user into 3D experience. Using a tablet on a podium, the users can venture to the different places that Proof has begun to repopulate with trees. They can also use the device to watch educational videos about the process of reforestation.
Reflection
This project was the most well-rounded environmental design projects that I’ve worked on. This project covered graphic design, spacial planning, and 3D modeling. I was really challenged with the task of making the installation interactive so that guests can feel immersed in the experience and get interested in the brand as a whole. I knew that only including infographics wouldn’t be a successful way to get people’s attention and that I was limited in the amount of space I could use. I am happy with the way the project came together and was able to make every zone an interactive experience.
If I were to expand on this case study, I would love to create free branded merchandise for guests to take home with them to further the advertising possibilities, or even create a social media wall for people to get excited and post about.
