FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1961
1961 - 0110.PDF
110 FLIGHT, 21 January 19t I Meal-service tableware (above) and tray for BOAC. Trays are in aquamarine or Tiber blue, and the mats have a scroll design in white on a coffee-coloured ground. Tableware carries the same design in charcoal grey on white. (Design and colour consultant, Gaby Schreiber, FSIA; scroll pattern designed by Sheila Stratton, MSI A) Furnishing and Finishing... in transit. Basic habits of individuals or of a large number ofpeople determine the design of everyday products and environ- ment. The implication of insufficient provision for psychologicaland physical requirements is discontent, frustration; the reverse brings a feeling of well-being, happiness. I believe it is essential to spend a great deal of time on carefulresearch and methodical planning to achieve a real contribution to other people's comfort. It would be superficial to makeesthetics the only objective and to attempt solely to provide something beautiful or original. The consultant practitioner in design has the advantage ofbeing consistently in touch with almost every field of industry and of working with all materials. In relation to the aircraft industry,therefore, he has at last ceased to be merely a decorator entrusted with the superficial task of choosing colour schemes and furnishingmaterials. He has become the interpreter of his clients' com- mercial and (perhaps of necessity) idealistic aims. His job now embraces most aspects of the passenger compart-ment, overall and individual lighting, air control and other service units, ventilation grilles, writing and storage facilities, seats andseating configurations, magazine racks, skycots, the treatment of windows, walls, bulkheads, skirtings, kicking strips, hat racks, etc.Vestibules, lounges and bars must also be considered, as well as lavatories and galleys (these two sections present wide scope forthought and improvement). Our organization has been in the fortunate position of being called in by clients to redesign oradvise on trays and tableware, as well as other items of cateri::g equipment.In all this work the complete support and co-operation of tl.e airline's or manufacturer's design-office and other departments ^needed, and it is in fact this team-work and mutual service whi h provide an opportunity for the establishment of a successf :1modernization plan. It is here that one can learn from the impressive work doiieby the design panel set up by the British Transport Commission in 1956. It was appointed to advise on the best means of attaininga high standard of appearance and amenity in equipment of z\\ kinds used by passengers and staff and permanently visible tothem or the general public. Under the able guidance of the design officer in charge of the programme, Mr George Williams, thepanel has made impressive progress towards its aim for an integrated design policy. It has concerned itself not only withrailway vehicles and electrical and other installations, but also with direction signs and other graphic work. There has been littleopposition to "outside advice" and the co-operation between the technical staff of British Railways and consultant designers ishappily established to the satisfaction of all concerned and for the benefit of the public. In the USA, consultant design offices are working at top levelwith the executives of the aviation industry and advantage is taken of their comprehensive services to help win the race againstshipping lines and railways. In this country similar facilities are available, expert teams combining industrial and engineering aswell as architectural and interior design experience. They are, in fact, being made use of every day by an ever-growing number oforganizations who have already been convinced that sound design is a powerful force as a function of business management. In allthese cases complete confidence is invested in the specialist adviser and mutual trust exists between the client's staff and theindependent design unit—to the advantage of the customer. Having tried to establish the philosophy of our approach, Iwould like briefly to explain the system of procedure. The initial period of assessing the client's requirements, investigating pastaction and future commercial aims, the markets concerned and production or presentation methods, may take up a considerableproportion of the time available. I would regard this part of our work as the most decisive, as only the careful study and evaluationof competitive products or activities will enable one to put forward new ideas. In the aircraft industry particularly, this includes theknowledge of up-to-date and forthcoming materials which must be not only eesthetically pleasing, but economically feasible andpractical. The next phase is the submission of proposals, in visual sketchform and combined with a report on the results of our preliminary investigations. The client having accepted the scheme, in wholeor in part, models are produced—a comparatively cheap way of eliminating possible misunderstandings. Then follows the impor-tant period of working drawings, including the detailed specifica- tion of materials and fittings to be used, which in our organizationwe support with charts. Over the past fifteen years we have found that such charts, handed out to all departments of the client's orhis contractor's concern, avoid tedious correspondence and almost any chance of errors. They can be referred to easily over thetelephone or in writing. Simultaneously a full-size mock-up is produced, if possible andif necessary. (In the case of aircraft interiors it is desirable.) Finally, all comments and constructive criticisms having beentaken into consideration, the project becomes reality. Estimates are obtained, orders placed and the last stage of supervisionbegins. It is then that the design firm has to rely to a large extent on the Typical example of a specification chart issued to contractors and sub-contractors and read in conjunction with the aircraft manufacturer's drawings. Note the samples of actual fabrics SCHEDULE OF FINISHING MATERIALS JOB No. COL IOI gil FURNISHINGS 11
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
