Southampton Solent Collaboration
16/03/2013
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MRA’s Wendy Marshall has collaborated with students at Southampton Solent University to produce a two-metre square art installation that uses ‘curve stitch’ to illustrate the Kano theory of product development and customer satisfaction. Wendy, who holds a position as a guest lecturer on retail space analysis and design, set the students a project brief to investigate the current trends regarding the use of art installation in retail design to create impact, narrative and merchandising opportunities. The innovative installation is a student project which looks into future trends of retail design and consumer behaviour, and how they can boost business profits by creating interactive retail spaces. The MA student group selected the theory of product development and customer satisfaction, developed by Professor Noriaki Kano in the 1980s, as their inspiration. Student Bianca Jutaru is heading up the project as part of her MA Fashion Merchandise Management course says: “MRA presented us with a brief on the curved stitch technique and gave us examples of how it is used in both art and architecture as a point of reference. “The project has really stimulated our creativity and made us push the boundaries of retail design by creating an art work that can be used in a retail environment.” Wendy agrees: “The students have taken a rather dry academic theory and have created something fresh and unique. This is exactly the approach we want them to take into their professional careers.” The art installation was on display at the University’s Re:So store in Marland’s Shopping Centre from 14 January for two weeks, after which it will travel up to the capital to be exhibited during London Fashion Week in February. The cube installation was made possible by kind support from Cheshire Contracts, who constructed the main frame elements. Southampton Solent University offers more than 19,000 students over 200 qualifications ranging from HND to PhD, in subjects such as maritime education and training, fashion and design, media and television, music, sport and leisure, business, IT and technology. www.solent.ac.uk Watch the cube installation in stopmotion here:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unXEkW8of3o