Manual’s New York Camera Shop Borrows the Spirit of a Skate Shop
Design-build studio Protean Practice and camera company Manual have collaborated on the brand’s first storefront and photo lab. The Chinatown shop in New York is outfitted with plywood seating, metallic finishes and baby-pink accents, and is described as imbued with the “philosophy of skate shop”.
The Moonza view
This project shows that brand identity can appear directly in furniture materials. Plywood is simple, but beside metal and an unexpected colour it creates a memorable space. A distinctive result does not always require expensive materials.
For young companies and creative brands, this is a useful lesson: reception and waiting areas are where customers first feel a brand. Instead of a conventional layout, a signature colour and a mix of materials can build a space that fits the character of the business.
- Write down the brand’s character in a few words before choosing furniture
- Repeat a signature colour in details, not on every surface
- Do not avoid mixing materials in a waiting area
