Context
Lately we’ve been talking a lot about context at the studio. It makes all the difference for how you evaluate what goes into a space.
When considering an item for a space, clients can get overly focused on one item. They begin to consider it absent from the items around it. Not considering an item in its context is always a mistake. A table, light fixture, sofa or rug all need to fill a specific role in the overall design.
Here is an example drawn from the film industry. In a movie there are roles that each actor will play in telling the story. It does not work if everyone is a lead actor. You need a supporting cast. By extension, if every item in a space is competing for the lead role, it will very quickly become difficult to follow the plot. The eye does not know where to land. Understanding this is essential to putting together a space that works and allocating your budget wisely.
Much of design is leading the eye and focusing the gaze where you want to place it. You would make a different selection of backsplash tiles in a space where there is a stunning view out the window versus a place where the backsplash is the view.
If you are ever struggling to narrow down design directions for a project, take a step back and consider the context. How does this item you are selecting fit in the overall design? Where are you trying to direct the eye? It will answer everything you need to know.
