Sunday's signpost

A very clever take on the "thermometer" capital campaign sign at The Computer History Museum. Progress is shown by adding more CDs to the stack.

Museum bathroom quiz

If you've been reading this blog for any length of time, you know I have a thing about good bathrooms: as extensions of great experiences, as extensions of brand, for visitor comfort, etc.

So here is a quiz. Which of these two bathrooms belongs to the Getty Center, a world-renowned museum in Los Angeles?
A)

or B) ?

Hint: One has fresh flowers, artistic sinks, beautiful colors and finishes, and even a Dyson hand dryer.
I'll leave this open to comments for a while before answering.

Sunday's signpost

Spotted at E & O Trading Company Restaurant last week in San Francisco. This long wall is downstairs, on your way to the restrooms. Instead of being a blank space, they've created a beautiful map. Guests are often found pointing out locations from their travels or home countries. Can you enliven a dull space with a colorful teaching tool like this?

Client spotlight: Elfin Forest Interpretive Center

This project—a joint collaboration between The Escondido Creek Conservancy and the Olivenhain Municipal Water District—began with us creating an interpretive master plan. The building was designed by Hubbell and Hubbell Architects, and features a living roof, native plants, passive heating and cooling, solar panels, and artwork integrated into the building. Our master plan, which was written in phases, will extend the creative art pieces out into the Reserve and inspire people to focus on the natural world.

Metal sculptor Jennifer Coburn created the upper part of the identity sign from a design by James Hubbell. One of the very skilled carpenters from the TECC Board, Tim Costanzo, actually built the sign. Now that's a hands-on client!

We were very excited to install the photography show in time for the opening celebration. Tanya and George Bredehoft of Artefact Design created the artwork from images shot by local photographers in the Reserve. The artwork was dry-mounted onto rigid foam panels with box frames behind it, beautifully executed by Giant Photo.

A detail of the four-seasons ceiling mural by artist Beth Clevenstine.

TECC Board member Jeff Swenerton showing off their spiffy docent polo shirts, with logo created (from the Hubbell artwork) by Tanya Bredehoft.

Tanya and I after finishing up the photo installation. Note the cool inset tile mural beneath our feet, another part of the artistic design.

Stay tuned for more updates as they raise money and we are able to build from our interpretive plan. I loved working on this project as it's outside the box creatively, the people are inspiring, and it's a green project, something very close to my heart.

Leo at South Park Dog Wash

I've mentioned South Park Dog Wash several times before in my blog and in my book... here is why it continues to be such a successful experience-based business:

Happy birthday to Leo, Buddy Girl's friend.