amy pariser design work
A
my Pariser is an interior designer with a Master of Arts from Harrington College of Design. She graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Arts in Rhetoric and English. After graduating from the University of Illinois, Amy pursued a career in Web Marketing Communications at
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. From 2006 until 2014, she focused on content strategy, external communications, user experience, and health literacy at Blue Cross and Blue Shield. This included developing the Web experience as it relates to health care reform and the Affordable Care Act.
umbra | collaborative effort It is essential for interior designers to be collaborative in order to be productive and successful on every project. Both the following projects, Umbra and Penumbra, were completed over an eight week period with a team of four. Umbra is the complete or perfect shadow of an occluding body, where direct light from the source of illumination is completely cut off. It can alternately mean a phantom or shadowy apparition, as if something or someone is not physically present. These two definitions informed our entire design. From geometric patterns and reflective materials to obscured views and partially hidden elements. Umbra is located in Lima, Peru situated in the beautiful Andes Mountains. We invite clients to take a journey to the coast of the Pacific Ocean and reawaken their senses.
Clients will have the option to stay in our subterranean spaces where they will have the opportunity to take a break from the world above. Another option is to stay above ground in suites with spectacular views of the ocean and bars and restaurants that allow for a more social setting. Our ability to cater to clients of all different ages, generations, interests, and cultures combined with our enthusiasm for catering to special interests through progressive design elements makes Umbra a radical hotel like none other. We later explored an extension of Umbra, called Penumbra, or the space of partial illumination between the perfect shadow on all sides and the full light. Penumbra is a unique corporate hospitality retreat and is physically connected to Umbra through a system of transitional passageways.
collaborative effort by: amy pariser, amanda mason, carrie lin, marcie blanco
umbra | suites
collaborative effort by: amy pariser, amanda mason, carrie lin, marcie blanco
umbra | cultural and demographic analysis
collaborative effort by: amy pariser, amanda mason, carrie lin, marcie blanco
umbra | cafe
umbra | yoga studio
collaborative effort by: amy pariser, amanda mason, carrie lin, marcie blanco
umbra | zumba studio
umbra | art gallery
collaborative effort by: amy pariser, amanda mason, carrie lin, marcie blanco
penumbra | transition and dining
collaborative effort by: amy pariser, amanda mason, carrie lin, marcie blanco
penumbra | lobby
collaborative effort by: amy pariser, amanda mason, carrie lin, marcie blanco
penumbra | raw bar
collaborative effort by: amy pariser, amanda mason, carrie lin, marcie blanco
penumbra | conference room
collaborative effort by: amy pariser, amanda mason, carrie lin, marcie blanco
penumbra | business center
collaborative effort by: amy pariser, amanda mason, carrie lin, marcie blanco
penumbra | lounge
collaborative effort by: amy pariser, amanda mason, carrie lin, marcie blanco
penumbra | semi-private library
collaborative effort by: amy pariser, amanda mason, carrie lin, marcie blanco
bioluminescence | 300 e. randolph st. chicago, il bioluminescence: the production and emission of light by a living organism In nature, organisms use bioluminescence for camouflage, mimicry, attracting mates, distracting predators, and communicating. The same concept can be applied as a communication device for interiors. I chose a hospitality environment and translated the idea of bioluminescence into a tool for accessibility, wayfinding, and to give users a sense of place within a very large floor plate. The programs include a lobby, retail space, restaurant, lounge, bar, galleries, and hotel suites.
I explored the uses of digitally fabricated materials, which can be easily changed to respond to user needs. I also researched smart materials which enhance positive human interaction and increase user satisfaction. Situated just west of Lake Michigan and just east of Michigan Avenue, this hotel will attract many tourists that have come to Chicago for a conference, trade show, festival, concert, or leisurely visit.
bioluminescence | lobby
bioluminescence | suites
bioluminescence | lobby
bioluminescence | suites, gallery, dining
bioluminescence | lobby
bioluminescence | suite
bioluminescence | dining
bioluminescence | dining
bioluminescence | gallery
the maker pool | motel + fabrication lab As the methods of digital fabrication become more accessible, they will become more essential to the interior design industry as part of the research and design process. Using processes associated with human factors and user experience, an iterative and experimental hotel design process can lead to an increase in satisfied guests, prevent unnecessary renovations and waste, and generate revenue.
Similar to complex, self-organizing systems, experimental research laboratories can function as the center of a motel environment. This new motel typology will serve as a tourist attraction, community center, and interactive hospitality component encouraging creativity, collaboration, and fabrication. It will promote the concept of making for the purpose of experimentation, without users necessarily having an objective in mind.
the maker pool | motel + fabrication lab
the maker pool | motel + fabrication lab
the human heart | abstract experimentation Much of my abstract work focused on the inner workings of the human heart and a personal exploration of its meaning. I explored personal photographs and film, pulling out geometry and analyzing it.
My experiments in modeling and conceptualizing allowed me to observe the heart in a variety of ways and helped to articulate my point of view. The final product consisted of a presentation of my findings, a short film, and a banner that incorporates my entire investigation.
reflection | lobby + mezzanine section This project featured multiple two-story spaces and a variety of programs within a hospitality environment, including a retail space, lobby, mezzanine, bar, and suites. Reflection served not only as a concept for materials and obvious choices, but also as a metaphorical concept representing Chicago’s rich history. The fountain in the center of the lobby is my interpretation of Buckingham Fountain and the pool at the bottom serves as a quiet reflecting area
for hotel guests. The undulating ceiling in the bar and the flowing ribbons on the ceiling throughout the lobby represent the oscillating waves of Lake Michigan. The floor plate of the mezzanine level in plan view appears to be the silhouette of a person, representing the city of broad shoulders. Other subtle details pay homage to the Columbian Exposition of 1893 and the industrial nature of Chicago’s past.
reflection | lobby
reflection | suites
reflection | bar
reflection | lobby + mezzanine
reflection | retail
reflection | suite
reflection | suite
urban renaissance | lower level This residential project featured a threestory home in Chicago and a middle-aged couple who wanted to showcase their
extensive art collection, traveled frequently, had a fondness for Tuscany, and had many social gatherings at their home.
urban renaissance | first floor
urban renaissance | second floor