ENVIRONMENTS DESIGNER
! Hello! My name is Natalie Benos, I am a third year Interior Design student at the Cleveland Institute of Art. I have a lot of passion for design and am always exploring my curiosity of the industry. I strive to create work that I am proud of, showing my full potential as an artist. I like to push my boundaries and continue to expand my learning and horizons of any art form. Besides my interest in Environment Design I continue to take classes and have an interest in Communication Design, Industrial Design, as well as my new interest; Video Art. I believe drawing is my biggest passion and strongest attribute. I love working with, and meeting new people and I believe most inspiration comes from interacting with others. Take a look at my portfolio and I hope you enjoy my work! 440.823.7826 natalie.benos@gmail.com behance.com/nataliebenos
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
KONO: FAST FOOD RESTAURANT
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DOG HOUSE
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ADOBE MIX
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AMERICAN GREETINGS
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CUVE: FURNITURE
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WD PARTNERS
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MISC
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KONO
PROJECT BRIEF: This project was to design a new fast food restaurant exterior from an identifying grocery brand. Develop brand identity, street presence, type of cuisine, and brand characteristics. Requirements for design include drive through, walk up window, and logo design. PROJECT OBJECTIVE: I chose the food brand DOLE which is mostly a fruit distributor that was based in Hawaii and became the largest mass producer of pineapples in the world. I decided to explore the identity of DOLE’s Hawaii history for my restaurant. The restaurant would serve Hawaiian barbecue style food with an emphasis on fruit. The look of the building is modern using inspiration from Hawaiian landscapes. The forms and shapes will reflect specific characteristics of my Hawaiian brand KONO. PROJECT SOLUTION: There are two large overhangs to the building that not only help with sight lines of passing by cars from both directions, but reflect ocean waves of Hawaii. The curve of the white over hang on top takes on the form of the pineapple wedge. I created a dividing window piece in the middle of the building that opens up to the sky. The walk up window is essential to the convenient to the outdoor centralized dining experience.
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SKETCHES
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VISUAL POSITIONING
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For my inspiration board I wanted to focus on fun, colorful, and fresh designs. The pineapple itself was an inspiration of mine for its natural pattern and color.
LOGO
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KONO is a Hawaiian term that means “to invite”. I developed my own typeface for Kono, which has soft curves and a rounded form to signify a “juicy” fruit. A pineapple slice is used on its own as a visual identifier to the brand. The colors of the logo reflect the ocean and freshness of the Hawaiian Islands.
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CONCEPTS
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FRONT VIEW
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OVERALL VIEW
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MATERIALS
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I wnated to have the exterior be made of a warm toned wood, the sign and gradient lighting having frosted colored acrylic, and the concrete outside to have patterns recessed into it. Simple and fresh!
MALL FOOD COURT
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DOG HOUSE
PROJECT BRIEF: To design a dog house for a specific breed accompanied by a floor plan and elevations. The breed I chose was the Pomeranian. PROJECT OBJECTIVE: I designed this dog house to be as playful as the Pomeranian, because they are energetic show dogs. I designed the dog house with an overhanging aluminum roof so that the dogs canrun in and out freely. I have also designed a unique, organicpattern that would be painted on the aluminum to contributeto the playfulness and aesthetic of the dog house. POMERANIANS: Small toy dogs with a height around 7-12 inches, weighing around 3-7 pounds. They are proud, lively little dogs that are known as being show dogs. They need lots of running space because they are very active and playful dogs. They do well in apartments and are very active indoors, whereas, their duties include: guarding and performing circus tricks.
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SKETCHES
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VISUAL POSITIONING
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For my inspiration of my dog house I wanted to look at unusual geometric shapes. I looked at “toy” like shapes and textures to go along with the toy Pomeranian dog.
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ADOBE MIX
PROJECT BRIEF: This project was sponsored by WD Partners which I had to pick a favorite hobby and design a retail space environment associated with it. The materials must be sustainable as well. PROJECT OBJECTIVE: I chose to go around my hobby of video and all digital media in general. I love video and digital art and researched Adobe ad found they are the leader in all digital art, deisgn, and media. Almost everything you see on the web, iphone/ipad, video, or digital media was touched by some Adobe program. I believe digital media and art is the furture for fine arts, and design. PROJECT SOLUTION: For my Adobe space Really the only thing Ithe store is selling is a program and the experience in learning how to us it. I found there is a lot of demand for learning Adobe program but there is no physical store to go and ask for help. The store I designed has on the first floor a small cafe bar for food and coffee, small group learning screens for Web, Video, and Graphics (the three main groups of programs for Adobe), and a large two story screen and dj bar for entertainment at night. The second floor there is a lerger extensive learning area with tables and large screens for larger group learning as well as space for frelancers to come and work in quiet while haveing an Adobe expert help them with the programs.
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SKETCHES
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VISUAL POSITIONING
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For my inspiration board I wanted to focus on bold black and white trends, as well as seating, pattern, lighting, and a lifestyle store theme. I looked at forms that are geometric to Adobe but also softer forms to complement.
LOCATION
90 CHESTER EUCLID
SUPERIOR
DOWNTOWN BROADWAY
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DETROIT
W 25TH
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CARNEGIE
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The location of Adobe Mix I wanted to find a art district, but also a place with a lot of foot traffic. I choose an abandon building (top left) next to the Great Lakes Brewery and the West side Market, both high traffic areas of Cleveland.
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LOGO EXPLORATION
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FINAL LOGO
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MATERIALS
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My materials for Adobe Mix includes reclaimed hardwood floors, and sustainable low energy light bulbs. I wanted to also keep the brick and use old reclaimed aluminun ceiling tiles.
FIRST CONCEPT
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For this project I reworked a lot of my design to better meet the needs of the space and my ideas. This was my first concept of the project and I later found better solutions and reworked the space.
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FINAL EXTERIOR
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FINAL DESIGN
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This is the final front design for ADOBE MIX. It includes a small cafe with coffee and pastries, a large counter to ask for assistance and buy programs, a large screen to view media, and has cintiqs and sitting space for working.
FINAL FRONT
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Across from the bar on the opposite wall are the small workshop areas on how to use Adobe programs. There are three sitting areas for Web, Graphics, and Video. They are open but personal to learning each category.
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The back of the first floor is the entertainment area, this includes a large two floor screen for events. It also includes a DJ booth and cintiq station for the artists who come in to show work on the screen. There are digital frames on both walls that show work from artists as a digital gallery.
FLOOR PLAN
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The 2nd floor is a larger worksop area that can hold lectures and can be a space for frelance workers. There is also a lounge that overlooks the first floor and screen. The roof can be used as an event space in the summer.
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AG
PROJECT BRIEF: This project was to design a collection of card fixtures for American Greetings. I had a given space and foot print to design around and incorporated Recycled Paper Greetings (RPG), and Papyrus (AG’s sub card brands). My given space was a drug store such as CVS, Walgreens, etc. Considerations include: greeting cards, wrapping paper, stationaries, party goods and, technology. PROJECT OBJECTIVE: I chose to focus on 3 main fixtures: a back focal wall, the main card fixtures, and the fixtures for Papyrus and RPG. Displaying other product besides cards was an issue to address. PROJECT SOLUTION: For my design I focused heavily on AG’s fuchsia pink color, instead of their common red color. I thought the pink color was more modern and related more to the younger crowd. I wanted the three main fixtures to be coherent and have a similar identity. The back wall houses cards, a wrapping paper section, and a center console with a display screen to show any advertisements AG chooses to show. The illuminated AG logo attracts the eye and lightens up the space.
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SKETCHES
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VISUAL POSITIONING
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The materials reflects the west coast and is for young females. I used pink colors and bamboo wood to compliment. I incorporated clear plastic for the signs that are illuminated by LED lights
OVERALL VIEWS
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FLOOR PLAN
25’
25’
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The two fixtures on the right are designated for Papyrus and Rycycled Paper Greetings, and the rest of the fixtures holds AG cards, wrapping, stationaries, and gift items.
ELEVATIONS
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CUVE
PROJECT BRIEF: To design a flat pack piece of furniture that is used for a college student’s dorm or small apartment. Requirements include: concepts, small scale model, breadboard model, materials/ colors, logo/name, end cap, pop-up shop or in store display, orthographic plans, and final design built by fabricator company Benchmark. PROJECT OBJECTIVE: I chose to focus on coffee tables because they are used not only for TV use, but for dining, school work, and social events. PROJECT SOLUTION: My final concept was derived from a revision of one of my concepts and is a cube shape with a “twist” making the furniture skewed and curved, hence the name CUVE. The cube shaped coffee table is meant to be used in a set of two or more arrangements so they can be put together to have a large surface or, separated for individual use. I choose to have a light wood finish because nude or light colored wood is the new trend. To make it flat packable, the four sides of the piece knock down and are joined at the four corners with cross dowels. This table is meant to be a useful piece of furniture that serves as a focal point in any dorm setting.
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SKETCHES
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VISUAL POSITIONING
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The inspiration board for this project focused on furniture that is new, sophisticated, and utilizes patterns. I wanted my in-store display to be a pop up shop so it can be a portable event.
CONCEPTS
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FINAL DESIGN
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DIMENTIONS
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BUILT MODEL
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LOGO + BRANDING
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I wanted the logo to be a script typeface because it is a new trend in typography. The typeface mimics my furniture design form. The two colors for the logo are attractive to both genders and both compliment each other.
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WD PARTNERS
During the Summer of 2011 I was hired as an Environments Design intern for WD Partners in Columbus, OH. I worked on a team to develop concepts, sketches, visual positioning, materials, floor plans, final drawings, renderings, and much more for the retail clients listed below. Emart: WD is currently redesigning multiple stores in Korea (where they are located). This project I worked on most of the summer, I helped with initial concepts, floor plans, drawings, and final presentaion renderings. Giant Eagle Market District: I helped redesign their dairy section and had my very own concept that was presented to clients. Aramark: Helped design and render final concepts for Lowery Zoo food service buildings. Gatorade Boston Market 99 Restaurants Hasbro Scotts Walmart Starbucks
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VISUAL POSITIONING
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This is a project me and my team at WD worked on for Giant Eagle Market District where we redesigned the dairy section and I was able to have my very own concept that was presented to the client.
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MISC DRWINGS
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ARAMARK ZOO
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MISC
DRAWING (right): Here is a self portrait charcoal drawing I did my foundation year. 36” x 24” CHILDREN CHAIR (next page top): A childrens chair I made from bendable plywood, bent in the shape of a mold I created with a soft sewn cushion. 30” x 12” x 12” STAMPS (next page bottom): I was inspired by art deco patterns on cigarette cases to create this series of stamps. Drawn with colored pencil with gold leaf accents. Each drawn on 8.5” x 11” then scaled down to stamp size 1” CHESS SET This is a chess set I designed and crafted from sycamore and poplar wood. I was inspired by old painted wooden toys but making it contemporary and new. I like to think my shapes mimic fun bubble gum forms! (comes with wooden box for pieces) Board 18” x 18”
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MISC WORK
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! THANK YOU!
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