Ideas about a runway that takes the model from a smaller picture to gradually seeing the bigger picture, and enlarging their "frame" of mind.Once alone, ending up together.

Ideas about a runway that takes the model from a smaller picture to gradually seeing the bigger picture, and enlarging their "frame" of mind. Once alone, ending up together.

A beach chair that turns
into a runway.

Tall fabric curtains that simulate splitting the ocean and walking through.

Jumbled Studio Photo Seating Reference

Concept: Make the runway audience sit on a jumbled mess of different height speaker boxes to simulate the feel of West African photo studios like that of Malick Sidibei's.

Ideas about a runway that takes the model from a smaller picture to gradually seeing the bigger picture, and enlarging their "frame" of mind. Once alone, ending up together.

Wales Bonner In store display

Speaker box stack

Malick Sidibei's boxes of films

Malick Sidibei's rows of cameras

This runway works by covering the whole inside area with 589nm yellow light. This makes everything look black and white, referencing Sanle Sory's photos. By having a white light follow the model, this puts a focus on the clothes and makes a nice backdrop.

Yellow light makes everything look black and white

View of runway from outside, small holes for people to peep in

A option for a window, seems like a moving black and white photograph,
or could be translucent and see moving shadows

Shape that goes from narrow to wide.

Side view of people peeking in during runway show

Explorations of possible flooring and ceiling lighting options.

Repurposed wooden planks of teak, mahogany, or padauk

A white light that tracks the model and illuminates
the audience when he/she gets near

A model in full color with a backdrop of black and white

Faso dan fani patterns printed on wooden planks.
References origin of collection.

Roof openings

Narrow strip of skylight surrounded
by yellow light overhangs

Sun comes in from the top. Show done at noon.

Views from the outside, windows reference old photo sizes that could be bought, each window has a different view of a set.

Shoreline set

The street set

Speaker set

Guy with his camera

Sets on
the inside

At the end of the runway is a sculpture/ set design
piece where the cameras go by yellow light overhangs

This runway concept explores the nightlife lifestyle that people in Burkina Faso during the 70s participated in & seeks to have a transportive feel. The runway emulates the a typical night out.Pictures at the studio first, then life on the street, then the dance area in a loop.

A runway from studio, to street life, to dance area with festivity in between.

Studio to street life, to dance area

Explorations of audience arrangement and backdrops

Street backdrop with speaker
seats and sheet metal roof

DJ table connected to speaker seating

Seasonal colors and a speaker wall

Top down view with model pathing

Arranged in 3 stages: set, street, dance area

Explorations of backdrop and dance area

A elevated dance area that imitates the ones in 70s Burkina Faso

Elevated square dance area

Light shining from inside studio
casting fabric pattern

Fabric that spills out of the studio

Fabric that spills out of the studio

Iterations of runway concept with different textured fabrics placements.

Condensed runway: Uncovered
speakers, reclaimed wood walls

Condensed runway: A smaller texture rich
runway with reclaimed wood dance area

Condensed runway:Instead of opaque walls, they could
be translucent with shadows of people dancing behind them

Condensed runway: Uncovered speaker boxes

Condensed runway: A richly textured fabric floor that spills out from the photo studio doors

Condensed runway: one large
dance area with tall fabric walls

This runway concept is inspired by the fabrics that inspire the collection and the street and dance areas of Burkina Faso's outdoor nightlife.

Front view of runway, large prints hide speakers controlled by audience seats inside

Oversize printed fabric unravels at bottom,
turning into a patterned floor referencing photo studio.
Meaning: models clothes have distilled culture

Side section view of runway.
Double height prints.

Dance area has oversize prints on fabric lining walls, when audience hits their seats the speakers behind the prints shake the print, making it come to life

Vibrant backdrop fabrics spill out from
the studio into the street forming a path

Oversize prints of Burkina Faso partiers hide speaker drums connected to and controlled by audience seats.

Values:
• Appreciation of history (repurposed materials)
• Transportive qualities
• “Wales Bonner is a brand that appreciates culture & moves the needle”
• Expands Black storytelling experiences (Amplifier)
• Values connections between cultures ( similarities)
• Disruptive ( Remixes old experience in new way)

A wall of cascading thick indigo dyed ropes that people can adjust to create their own spaces.

Ropes with a handle on it

Climable ropes of different thickness that people can lay on.

People making their own spaces

Rope thickness determines pre set "rhythm" that people will follow to climb them

Blue gradient

A knit wall of braided ropes on top and loose rope for seating.
The braided top ropes cast a shadow.

Yellow light effect where the presence
of people brings the colors to life

Evening usage for street musicians

Maybe the wall could lean back and be climbable on the braided section

A wooden platform on top

An experience booth where people can try braiding their own sample to take home

Adjustable ropes

A large poster reference to another installation in a different part of the city- continuing the story

Maybe people can create flags to feel more included

People can create custom weaves that tell their
own story and combine them to create a pavilion

Different uses throughout the day ( focus on appreciation)

Maybe the booth space can be educational

Values:
• Helps season inspiration become tactile
• Places visitors into that time through actions
• Helps visitors experience similar feeling of self-expression & individuality
• Celebrates inclusivity and uniqueness (What is your personal rhythm).

A relaxing space for “posing” or just relaxing

Inspired by the Spanish Steps in Italy & the idea of posing. How do you act when in control of self-image? When not being made to fit into someone elseís idea?

Extrusions from the pattern used
in the studio made into seating

Sand bags that make a sound when
you step on them similar to a rattle

Sunset gradient

Steps are alternating in a 4 against 3 polyrhythm. This makes people "dance" as they go up the steps.

Moveable seating "drums"

Steps could have holes for
placing seats that are drums too.

Sunset gradient

Inspiration: West African djembe drums. Goal: How to imbue people with an opportunity to break the rhythm as they tap their heels against the front part of the seat.

4 against 3 polyrhythm
steps on the way up.

Djembe drum on the inside.

Sound made when you
hit them with your heels

Speaker look from the outside.

Maybe people can take pictures through
the periscope holes for a new perspective.

These sections use a snare
cajon mechanic for rattle sound

Variable height seating that looks like speakers.

Variable height seating
that looks like speakers.

Ramped w/cutout for ADA friendly

Flat version

Speaker look from the outside.

Maybe people can take pictures through
the periscope holes for a new perspective.

These sections use a snare
cajon mechanic for rattle sound

Variable height seating that looks like speakers.

Variable height seating
that looks like speakers.

Ramped w/cutout for ADA friendly

Flat version

Speaker look from the outside.

A casual poster on the side of a speaker seat
the is a picture of the next installation

Maybe ramp could be lit with the yellow lights at night and "be discovered" by people walking over them.
Then the light will turn white. "What was always there"

Speaker seats make sound

Speaker seats dormant for now

The steps record sound that people make during the day

The steps record sound that people make during the day

Ramp comes alive with a mix of rhythmic
sounds made during the day. A unique dance party.

Daytime use

Evening use

How can this installation connect people across the city?

People can play hit these
speaker boxes to add
their own rhythm to
the one that already exists

Print-out of your recorded beat, or an invitation to the main
ramp installation or store to hear a more complete version

Poster showing location source another satellite speaker installation

Satellite installation: Has two groups of speakers.
One large speaker playing inputs from a different location.
Second group of speakers by-passers
are encouraged to play on and add to the rhythm.

Rhythm speaker boxes

Rhythm making ramp

This ramp installation could be the central
installation, with two rhythm areas. Satellite
installations will be composed of smaller speaker boxes

Print-out from speaker of your recorded beat in that moment

QR code to download music you made

Rhythm speaker boxes

Rhythm ramp

3 Elements of this installation

How does rhythm stack up and create polyrhythm? How are people encouraged to dance?

Footprints and handprints are projected onto the floor
to suggest people can dance there and hit the speakers

Rhythm played becomes more layered over time

Side view of installation

Polyrhythmic fabric under the installation

How can this installation connect people across the city and inform people of the new seasonís collection?

Maybe the posters could be printed on fabric that
unravels at the bottom for people to feel the tactility

To reference & raise awareness of the retail store one of
the speaker boxes could have a live video feed of the main store

Large poster behind ramp &
hung posters like laundry

Satellite installations could have a large
ad campaign poster behind them

Ideations for placement of large ad campaign posters

Values:
• Helps season inspiration become tactile
• Helps visitors experience similar feeling of self-expression & individuality
• Celebrates inclusivity and uniqueness (What is your personal rhythm).

Faso Dan Fani is a traditional handwoven Burkinabe fabric that is sometimes indigo dyed and contains meaning within the weave

Faso Dan Fani being hand-woven

Volta Jazz is also influenced by music of the time & the way rhythm interlocks with each other.

Rhythms that mix together

A beach intervention with colored sand like faso dan fani fabric.A place where the rhythm of social groups adds a new layer of meaning to "polyrhythm".

Colored sand on the beach?

How can polyrhythms take a visual form?

Looks like a wall of speakers on one side, wall of drums on the other

When people pass by the translucent films a new "rhythm of passing by" is made out the polyrhythm

Vertical curtain version where sun shining
through creates a light rhythm on the ground

Sandbags rattles played by stepping on them

A wall of playable drums arranged in a polyrhythm pattern

This is a beach with a polyrhythmic pattern of sand. Maybe below the sand could be drums that people could discover.

Different shapes underneath the sand. More sand removed = louder.

Each section has some hidden rhythm instruments underneath.

Polyrhythmic pattern

Values:
• Proposes a message of connection for the collection as a bridge between the present & future
• Creates a touchpoint for people to stop by & gather around
• Creates a physical installation that starts conversation in a playful way

Photo - Airplane + Travel aspirations

Another feeling expressed in the Volta Jazz collection is the feeling & aspiration of travel
The connection between tradition & modernity

Initial concept:  A boat that is being pushed by the sound waves from a speaker.

A journey: As the region transitioned from being a French
colony to independent, music helped create core identity for people.

Concept for kinetic window display, blue
cloth moves with boat riding on top.
Blue cloth will be special cloth made
in that region that represents the people.

New concept: Blending the new and old influences through the lens of travel

Window display with stairs up to airplane windows.Products displayed inside.
Sunset gradient on outside metal, reminiscent of sunshine in the air

Behind the products are cotton ropes with a gradient color from white to blue, in a pool of indigo. The dyed ropes represent tradition. Airplane windows represent modernity.

Concept where one window looks into the store .The right window is viewed from the inside and displays the viewer's eyes in a huge size to the street as they look at the product.

Similar indigo died cotton ropes submerged into a pool.