SEEING DOUBLE 2.
INTRODUCTION.
Welcome back to "Seeing Double." Last month's blog brought us to an imagined world of altered authenticity, duplicated objects, and reflected surfaces. This month we ground that idea in our design reality by going from illustration to mood board. As is true in our daily projects though, sometimes a mood board can create more questions than answers. We use this medium as a method of exploring potential paths, testing out aesthetic limits, and proposing new ways to combine old ideas.
This mood board was no exception. In that translation from a conceptual illustration to a practical mood board, we were struck by the fact that while pairs should create balance in the physical world, they often cause just as much disruption. What is about duality that demands equal parts comfort and confusion?
That one little inquiry became our inspiration (or, if we are being entirely honest, our obsession) for the month. Below are three distinct ways we responded to that idea through the lens of three iconic duos: the Wiliams Sisters, the Olsen Twins, and the Shining Girls. From sporty to classic to horrific, how do these duos toe the line between balance and disruption?
CONCEPT 1: HYBRID
INSPIRATIONAL DUO: THE WILLIAMS SISTERS
In a world that wants things to feel neat, tidy and all the same, the “Hybrid” concept is here to defy expectations. It centers around a single entity composed of two distinct elements. Though unified from afar, the two are full of differences that command attention. This space celebrates hybridized styles, natural imperfections, and high low contradictions. Though we see potential for balance, more often than not we get a beautiful collection of subverted expectations.
IN THE WORLD: INTERIORS AND ATTIRE
Within design the clearest example is in bookmatched marble. Across two nearly identical slabs of stone, the real focal point is the seam. That small decision highlights the fact that this single surface is actually two individual pieces. This approach of celebrating the junction seeps into other areas of design from colored grout to multifunctional furniture. When it comes to fashion, things are a little less literal. Brands like Gucci, Marni, Dior and most recently Tiffany's are playing up the intersection of high and low through sneaker and streetwear collaborations. Even less obvious, though equally poignant is the collision of fashion and sports. From the Williams Sisters femme glamour on the clay to courtside basketball attire turning into the new runway, these two disparate spaces have come together in the ultimate show of hybridization.
CONCEPT 2: INVISIBILITY
INSPIRATIONAL DUO: THE OLSEN TWINS
“If you know, you know” is the mantra for the "Invisible Dichotomy" concept. It is all about blending two elements into one until only the whole is recognizable. Though unique behind closed doors, the public image is a united front. This concept so expertly weaves opposing forces of old/new and masculine/feminine that the resulting rebelliousness is easy to miss. Despite being satisfied with the big picture, the knowledge that it is made up of two leaves us wondering where one ends and the other begins.
IN THE WORLD: INTERIORS AND ATTIRE
While "Hybrid" is a bookmatched wall, "Invisibility" is a waterfall island. The fusion of separate slabs into one continuous surface is the epitome of two becoming one. However, the more exciting expression of this within interiors is tête-à-tête furniture. The symmetrical merge of separate objects into a single piece with no beginning or end is a prime example of the concept. Beyond the home, the extension of two separates into one is expanding in fashion as gloves stretch so long they become shirts, shoes grow so high they become pants, and coat pockets expand so wide they become backpacks. This same principle translates to silhouetting as well with the blurring of traditionally gendered forms into androgynous pieces.
CONCEPT 3: CLONE
INSPIRATIONAL DUO: THE SHINING GIRLS
The "Clone" concept boasts that one of these things is just like the other. It exaggerates the idea of mimicry, one duplicated into two. Though clearly two entities, the similarities are so eerily identical that it is difficult to accept as reality. This idea toes the line between comfort found in symmetry and unsettledness in replicas. Our escapist love for unnatural perfection is at direct odds with the challenge it poses to authenticity, making it the scariest yet most satisfying direction of them all.
IN THE WORLD: INTERIORS AND ATTIRE
If "Hybrid" is bookmatched and "Invisibility" is waterfall, "Clone" is a set of flanked marble accent walls. Intentionally duplicated for an indistinguishable statement. A similar tactic of nearly identical repeats throughout the home can be seen in repeated wall mirrors, inverted tile patterns, and most importantly, doubled faucets, pendants and refrigerators. As for fashion, duplicates are front and center in Gucci's Twinsburg runway, which lead the way for a resurgence of twinswear for siblings, friends and mainly couples. Stepping beyond the physical realm, twinning with one's avatar takes replica attire to the next level with brands from Fendi to Burberry digitizing cult classics and new separates for gamers and metaverse users alike.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
How do you see doubles coming to life? Join the conversation and keep an eye out for the application of these ideas in our current projects.