— By Kait Paradowski —
The benefits of custom mosaics for F&B and retail applications.
In order to stand out from the competition, restaurants and retail spaces are seeking thoughtful ways to create memorable experiences and touchpoints for patrons and shoppers to take part in and interact with while perusing store aisles or having a bite to eat. One way owners, operators and designers are helping customers immerse themselves into a brand is through art and, more specifically, custom mosaics. Thanks to modern technology, mosaic designs can be made efficiently and incredibly detailed, bringing brand stories and art to life. Tile mosaics are loved for their highly durable, easy-to-clean and fully customizable qualities, making them perfect for food, beverage and retail spaces looking to forge emotional connections with those walking through the door. These first impressions become lasting ones, encouraging customers to return and bring others to experience the same engagement.
Custom Artwork
A unique way to create these impressions is through custom mosaics. Thanks to technology, we are now able to transfer any logo, image or inspiration source into the mosaic medium to create designs that are often a reflection of the brand ethos, an attribute to a theme, or a tie back to a specific community or location. These “memorable moments” are essential, bridging the gap between in-person experiences and digital. Many shoppers or diners seek out places with “Instagramable” spaces which not only allow for the design to become a destination worth visiting but also call attention to the brand and/or its location. Because of mosaic’s versatility and durability, these designs can be incorporated in a variety of places and applications — walls, floors, bathrooms, pools, spas — the list goes on for brands to leave their mark.
Brand Storytelling and Logos
Community Ties
Artwork with scenes and elements depicting the local community, as well as pieces commissioned by a local artist or artisan that supports the theme of the space have become sought-after ways to liven up a space as artwork adds character and provides a local connection. When vacationers dine at a local restaurant or a consumer stops at a local store, they want an authentic experience with touchpoints that bring them back to the surrounding environment. We see this often in new flagship stores in popular cities that are aiming to create a unique brand experience, or bring aspects of local history and storytelling inside. In New York City, for example, we see many brands use classic subway tile art as the inspiration for their mosaic, paying homage to the history of their city.
Threshold Designs
Current Trends in Retail and Hospitality
All brands approach the interior design for new stores and restaurants, as well as those they are renovating, differently. Today, competition is fierce and owners and operators have to do everything they can to set their space apart from the rest. Mosaic tiles offer customized options and a way for a brand to express itself visually. A true storyteller, mosaics are a thoughtful way to infuse art into a space while telling the brand’s narrative to those wanting to shop or dine and through a medium that will maintain the brand story for years to come.
— Kait Paradowski is design director of Artaic, which designs and fabricates custom, award-winning tile-work. Artaic modernizes the creation of architecturally compelling mosaics through fast design iterations, free sampling and American robotic production. For more information, visit https://artaic.com/.