Chicago Trading Company
Gensler, 2019
Challenge: To design a feature wall for Chicago Trading Company’s headquarters.
Team: Senior Designer, Computational Designer, Fabricators
Role: Junior Designer
Client: We want to use this space to highlight our staff and our core values.
→ We pitched the concept of “the power of many” to showcase their emphasis on inclusivity and diversity. We used portraits of their employees to create a pixel wall. Each employee’s face is printed on small discs which are arranged on a grid to make up a larger image.
Client: We would love a way to celebrate holidays and events.
→ We decided to build an installation system that supports interchangeable artwork. The image formed by the pixel wall illustrates the holiday or event being celebrated. We had a limited budget for this wall, and since our architecture team was designing the rest of their office space, this would also ensure recurring revenue. By defining roles and establishing a step-by-step process, changing the image requires minimal coordination with the client and the fabricators.
The first image we installed was to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Client: This wall shouldn’t look too out of place in our corporate office.
→ The wall is visible from the lobby near the entrance which will influence a visitor’s first impression. It’s also their main staircase wall, so people will view it from afar but also from up close. We chose a grayscale color palette to blend with their modern industrial interiors, but the discs have smiling faces which still makes it memorable and joyful. Each employee portrait was printed on 6 shades of gray which helped compose the larger image. We would use accent colors if needed.
Client: We’re trying to be environmentally conscious in this office space.
→ We chose a felt made of recycled materials for almost the entire installation. Most of the discs would be reusable, unless an employee leaves the company, in which case we suggested giving them their discs as a parting gift.
technical drawings
installation
