The following news was provided by Mindful Design Consulting.
Based in San Diego, California, but extending its work to other corners of the world, Mindful Design Consulting has always had a different approach to the interior design of dessert shops. Founded by Katerina Knowles, herself a cosmopolitan figure who experienced life, study and work in Asia, Europe, and North America, the company’s projects rely on a very particular type of knowledge. By understanding how to trigger the right emotional responses and influence customer behavior with design elements such as color, light, or sound, its team creates interiors that connect with customers at a subconscious level.
In an effort to capture its principles and experiences in writing, Mindful Design Consulting offers the only book written at this time on creating a brand through interior design, another topic of interest to dessert shop owners. Now, the company is celebrating its 15th year in business with the release of another book, Small Dessert Shop Design Extravaganza, that gives readers a taste of its work. The projects featured in this volume are selected from among the more than 300 completed by Mindful Design Consulting over the years. Most of these designs are for dessert stores, and many are for frozen yogurt shops.
This is not just another portfolio book. While pictures of completed projects generously fill the glossy 200 pages, there is something different about this one. Ekaterina Knowles planned the volume for a larger and more varied audience than just the company’s day-to-day clientele. Therefore, the book not only covers the finalized designs with colorful pictures, but also talks about what happens behind the scenes, the journey from initial idea to final result, and the thought process behind the branding and design choices.
This makes the book relevant to readers such as design students who want to learn about how seasoned designers come up with ideas, and professional designers eager to explore the work of others. The most benefitted of all, however, are owners of dessert stores, and not least froyo shop owners, who are curious to see what is possible to achieve when faced with a store design challenge, and how Mindful Design Consulting goes about achieving it.
The projects are accompanied by working drawings such as floor plan layouts and interior elevations, material and furniture boards, and 3D models of the stores. Mindful Design Consulting is laying it all out, including the fun evolution of the logos that go through several versions before taking their final shape and capturing the ideas behind the brand. Helped by notes and descriptions, the reader can follow the changes made during the design and construction stages, and learn what it takes to create a winning interior for a dessert shop.
It is worth noting that most projects in the book had a limited budget. Restricted by what it could spend, Mindful Design Consulting created value by coming up with creative solutions that gave each interior a distinctive look. The company is not one to be shy about color or daring visual solutions. Large wall graphics, curved layered soffits, and textured walls are also part of its strategy for creating character. There is always something fun, unexpected, or visually striking in each design, which makes them highly suitable to the age of social media and photo sharing.
From a nostalgia-inducing froyo shop with the vibes of a mid-century ice-cream parlor to a Hawaiian-inspired cupcake store whose visual details call to mind ocean waves and sunny days, the projects are charming, colorful, and always surprising. Those interested in knowing how to celebrate coastal, alpine, or urban surroundings through design, how to turn every shortcoming of a space into a feature, how to combine different finishes to create the illusion of a larger area, or (why not?) how to make use of an existing fireplace in a small froyo shop, have only to flip through the pages of this book to find out.
Page after page, the book shows what happens when small spaces and limited resources have a direct encounter with creativity and good design. Mindful Design Consulting proves an excellent strategist when it comes to turning an uninspiring interior into one that is worthy of the pages of a book. Small Dessert Shop Design Extravaganza tells dessert store and froyo shop owners that there is no need to settle for dull interiors, and that even small budgets are entitled to big dreams.
About Mindful Design Consulting
Mindful Design Consulting is a commercial design agency located in beautiful Southern California. The company works with small to medium businesses to create unique interiors that promote positive customer experiences. With extensive knowledge on eco-friendly building materials and methods, as well as the psychological effects of interior design, Mindful Design Consulting strives to make people healthier and happier through every project. The company creates unique, recognizable looks that help in the formation of brand-related memories and encourage customers to come back.
