Light as the New Fix For Jet Lag

According to a recent article from the New York Times, “Circadian science, newly embraced by airlines, hotels and airport lounges in the form of light therapy, prescribes bright light for wakefulness and warm light to prepare to rest. Light exposure helps reset the clock, according to the National Sleep Foundation.”1 This new philosophy is spreading as the power of tapping into natural circadian rhythms is uncovered. 

A cottage industry of wake up light alarm clocks has emerged over the past number of years. However most of these products developed to date have tried to simulate natural sunrises and sunsets but the fundamental problem is that it is still just a plain light.

The ideal solution is to combine light with photos that represent the outdoors for greatest effect. This can mean a serene beach sunset or a sunrise in a green forest filled with morning dew.

The ideal answer is Wallumination artboxes that combine the power of imagery and light into a powerful combination. Wallumination artboxes can be controlled with a remote control to vary the intensity of the light for morning and evening.

1https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/21/travel/jet-lag.html

Not Your Parents’ Hotels - Hotel Trends 2020

Today’s hotels are not your parent’s hotels where the goal was simply a clean safe room with little street noise. Hotels of today are focused on far more then simply offering cleanliness with adequate service. Today’s hotel guests expect an experience that reflects their lifestyle and personal values.  These new trends can be summarized into four main themes:

1)      Environmentally Consciousness - hotels now offer a number of services that reduce their environmental footprint from options to skip daily house cleaning to the upcoming removal of small plastic toiletries in many of today’s most popular chains.

2)      Act Global, Think Local - By working with local artists, designers, musicians, and retailers, hotels are using design elements to tell the story of their neighborhood’s physical and social history. Integrating all things local can help a property reduce design costs while giving guests an experience that truly reflects the spirit of their destination.

3)      Blurring the Line Between the Out and Indoors – in an effort to bring tranquility to the experience hotels are focused on features that bring a sense of nature. Indoor waterfalls, luscious green walls, all-season terraces, and innovative day-lighting techniques are all being used to help guests stay connected with the natural environment.

4)      Experiential Social Spaces – hotels are thinking of how to turn the lobby into anything except for… well… a lobby. These traditional spaces are being transformed into unique retail spaces, art galleries, and even co-working spaces to attract non guests to experience the hotel brand.

Artboxes from Wallumination can capture all four of these trends. An Artbox can reflect the local community by featuring creations curated by local artists. Creating a large Artbox with a nature scene promotes that indoor-outdoor tranquility hotels are trying to achieve. Finally, all of Wallumination’s Artboxes are 100% green using water based inks and recycled aluminum.

Project Highlight: Extreme Custom LED Lighting Project - One LED at a Time

Project Creation by Stewart Rodigruez Designs

We asked for a project challenge and Stuart Rodriguez Designs put us to the test. Their client had a building that is very significant for them and part of the boardroom design was highlighting this factor. The design team wanted to try something a little different than your standard lightbox. We were asked if we could just light up the windows so that they looked like the lights were on in the building. We were up to the task. We have some amazing electrical PATIENT engineers. We built individual blockers so the light would not bleed and hand pasted each individual LED.

"The artbox we ordered from Wallumination looks beyond amazing. The client was super happy to see the end result!  I have seen other products like this on the market but their expertise and quality are unmatched.  I really enjoyed collaborating with the brand to create the perfect product that we envisioned.  I look forward to working with Wallumination in future projects.” Fernando Rodriguez, Owner

We are looking forward to supporting our designers in many ways one LED at a time.

To learn more about the forward thinking creativity of Stewart Rodriguez Designs please click here.

Three Key Millennial Residential Buying Trends

Three Key Millennial Home Buying trends that we are picking up on in the market and design:

1)      Going Green – There is no question Millennials are going green in their home buying preferences. According to Forbes “The home buying behavior of Millennials continues to change,” points out DeSimone. “Millennials are environmentally conscious, and are seeking energy conservation, open spaces, walking trails and sustainability in their home choices.”

2)      Use of Space – Millennials are seeking floor plans that are open creating the impression of a space that appears larger than it actually is.  According to www.nickiandkaren.com “No longer is the kitchen divided from the living room or dining room. When rooms flow easily from one to another, homeowners can more effectively entertain guests, which is the reasoning behind this desire that millennial buyers have.”

3)      Indoor - Outdoor Living – Bringing the outside in is very important to Millennials. They highly value the idea of reflecting nature in their home to create a sense of peace and tranquility as a break from their electronic devices.

Wallumination can help in all three of these areas. An artbox contributes to open floor plans and multi-functional rooms by creating a greater sense of space. Creating a large artbox with a nature scene promotes that indoor-outdoor lifestyle millennials desire. And lastly, all of Wallumination’s artboxes are 100% green using water based dyes and recycled aluminum.

Do you Hear What I hear? Please no more felt.

Acoustic Fabrics have come a long way to the point we are going to shout from the rooftops in hopes that some designers will hear us. No more felt. Ok, maybe a little less felt.

Our hope is that in learning more about what is out there for acoustical fabrics we may expand the sound design world’s options when is comes to sound dampening and absorption.

Acoustical Properties

We have two excellent sound absorption fabrics with the following characteristics:

• Indoor, Frontlit, Silicone Edge Graphic SEG, and Custom Structure

• Sound Softening

• Optically White

• 100% Polyester

• Print Width 120

• 100% TCS

• Acoustic Absorption Value a/ class: 0.85/B - 0.90/A

• Washable

Custom Size, Shape and Imagery

Easily interchangeable using the silicone edge graphics (SEG) frames. We can take any digital image, pattern anddye it into the fabric. For workplace dividers, to absorbing the sound in open spaces and lobbies these fabrics are very effective and beautiful.

Acoustical Fabrics and Lighting

The acoustical fabrics are a thicker fabric so they are not backlit directly. We put the acoustical fabric in behind the backlit fabric so the artboxes can absorb sound. The other cool thing about these fabrics is you can front light the fabrics to create effects with the fabric color for an interesting look such as city landscape moving from day to night.

Our Expertise - Not Sound, but we got you covered.

We have partnered with sound experts to help design the concept or spaces. The acoustics realm is a whole area of expertise that we need help with because of its complexity. We are really good at making the concepts a reality.

Please contact us regarding our acoustic fabrics, we would love to HEAR from you.

PS. We do have a sound fabric room at our plant. If you are in the area drop by and you can check it out. It is a little harder to test with just a fabric sample.

Project Highlight: Bring the Outdoors In

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Project Goal: The goal of the artbox was to bring the outside into the space. The client is planning on changing the images throughout the year.

Timeline: 3 weeks from start to finish

Dimensions: Lightbox 1: 188.68in (15,7ft) by 93.75in (7.8ft), Lightbox 2: 47.75in (3.9ft) by 93.75in (7.8ft)

This project was so much fun. The client was creating a spectacular new office with all the latest technology and luxuries for their staff and clients. Every detail down to the speakers in the bathroom were thought of to serve their clients.

It was a treat for us because the space is also located in Toronto. We were brought into the plans from the very beginning. This was such a luxury so we could help with electrical requirements and placement. We then waited until the space was ready for us to build and install. In the meantime, the client selected the imagery. We did a site visit to ensure the exact measurements and then went back and built the lights and frame.

It truly was a team effort to all those that were involved with this project. We had an incredible innnovative and thoughtful client team. We had our amazing graphic designer Stef on this project who helped curate a collection of forest natural images and light and prepare the imagery placement and resolution for the large format. We also had an incredible install partner who ensured the artbox panels were installed correctly.

What Can You Create? ANYTHING!

Something That No One Else Has Ever Seen Before!

That's why we fell in love with our product and you will too -- as the options as endless.

Decide... what size do I want?

Then...what shape do I want?

Then...what do I want on this fabric? Or do I just want the fabric as is?

Then...do I want it lit or not?

Now ...do I want one or more?

And finally ...who is it for and where do I want them?

Now go to our Connect Page and fill out form...or just email us at inquires@wallumination.com

Let's make your dream creations come true!

IDS Show Experience 2019

First thing, we are so happy that Interior Design Show team accepted our application and we were able to attend our first annual IDS Show.  Our IDS team were exemplary and extremely helpful.

IDS Show - Having the party the first night was such a fun way to meet creative passionate people looking at the latest trends, having delicious appetizers and connecting with like minded people. I have never been too hip but it felt very hip and it was fun to see Toronto out in this way. The overhead lights on Thursday's night party were dimmed down which was great for us. It made our lightboxes super standout.

The Exhibitors - I always enjoy meeting new people and learning about new products.  There was a lovely community of entrepreneurs who were incredibly helpful with an extra ladder, friendly face or some good business advice.

The Attendees- we have been to a few other shows and by the end we were pretty drained physically and emotionally.  However, at the IDS show the attendees were very inspiring by their questions, interests and passions.  We loved the diversity, young and old all interested in the latest products for their home. 

The Media - we have had some great free coverage from the sidewalk hustle to an upcoming Cityline Show.  We are hoping we can get some additional press and will continue to work on this. Doing shows like this are so important and really are quite good for helping get the word out.

Our Focus - when you have focus on where you need to head it really helps moving the ball forward.  Interior Designers is our target market this quarter and next.  They have the creativity, vision and perspective how these custom lightboxes would work in their client's home setting.  The IDS show was a perfect show for us.

Our Consistency - a tradeshow forces you to get your ducks in a row from marketing to your website to our social media.  We have been consistent over the last few months and it makes such a difference.  

Our Attitude - Being an entrepreneur and going with the flow when things come up is key to success.  From chopping up signs and floors because the booth was too small to borrowing size 13 hard toe boots from the security team to getting help to pack up booth...were all small decisions that are somewhat stressful at the time but looking back were good ones.

Our Date Night - Very thankful for my dear partner all 4 days helping me with all the details.  It was go go go but a fun way to spend time together and build our dreams.

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