Books

1. Shopping in London. I found this book very informative because it describes how areas in London were, historically, when shopping stores started in locations such us Oxford Street and Regent Street. This book provided background information which I included in my project design for two coffee shops, one in Oxford Street and the other one in Regent Street.              2.    The bestselling guide to interior design updated and expanded for a new generation  

For over three decades, Francis D.K. Ching's integrated, comprehensive approach to presenting the elements of architecture and design has helped millions of students and professionals alike visualize and make sense of complex concepts. As functional as it is beautiful, this richly illustrated Third Edition of Ching's classic, Interior Design Illustrated, is a visual introduction to designing for interior spaces, from the building elements and environmental systems within them, to the details of furnishings and interior finishes. As a Student designer I appreciated this updated and expanded edition for its concise and accessible presentation of key concepts and practices, while established designers will cherish it for its many practical insights into the relationship between building structures and interior spaces.

Updated and expanded to include new information on building codes, building information modeling, and sustainability

Includes new content on Indoor Air Quality and other issues in environmental systems, as well as the latest on data/communication and security systems

Now features a richly illustrated section explaining the role of colour in interior design, along with teaching resources available online

Updated and expanded for a new generation of students and practitioners, Interior Design Illustrated, Third Edition is sure to remain the standard reference for many years to come.

I found this book to be an essential guide for designers and some of the principles illustrated in this book were adopted for my café shop project, particularly as it guided me in showing me how to get the right proportions for my designs .

3. Deciphering Advertising, Art and Architecture

This book examines the recent history of persuasion techniques employed by advertisers and architects and suggests that we have now entered a new age; an age in which the old techniques have been superseded by subtler and perhaps darker ones.

The book is packed with fascinating case studies, including the famous Benetton, Diesel and Timberland advertising campaigns. Retail architecture is also looked at in detail with stores ranging from French Connection to Giorgio Armani and Issey Miyake. Using examples from brands, advertisers and architects such as Oliviero Toscani, Frank Gehry and Rem Koolhaas, Deciphering Advertising, Art and Architecture uncovers the hidden art of contemporary promotion found in the pages of magazines and in the stores of our high streets.

The book also provides a well written explanation of what is Semiotics and how to apply them which I found useful.

4. Psychology of Colour

Psychology of Colour is also very useful guide and provides me with ideas which I can then incorporate in my designs. For example, for my café project it was very important to select colours that worked together.

I also referenced Sharon’s Price’s 2012 Seminar .