Seeing Clearly and Clearly Seen
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GLCO Diptych
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In the world of luxury eyewear, personalized service and artisan-level expertise sets GLCO apart from its staid competitors. This ain’t Costco! We recently photographed their 1400 sq ft flagship store, located on La Brea Blvd in the heart of Hollywood’s trendiest shopping district, for WEST OF WEST. This hip young design firm, led by UCLA-AUD alums Clayton Taylor and Jai Kumaran, delivers architectural design that dips into urban strategy and graphic design.I’d never thought much about eyeglasses before, but talking to the staff and clientele at the GLCO boutique during our shoot, really opened my eyes! People who choose to wear glasses (despite the prevalence of contact lenses and corrective surgeries) do so as a statement not just of their personal style, but how they see the world and how the world sees them.With this perspective, it only makes sense that these discerning individuals would seek out a shop that’s just as passionate about eyewear as they are! Staffed by expert opticians who offer specialized advice and can talk history of eyewear for hours, the service level is comparable to a high-end jeweler. WEST BY WEST’s design for the GLCO boutique is fresh, inviting, and ever-changing, with a serious art gallery vibe. Each pair of frames beckons shoppers from a clean and minimal display. The shopping experience is calm, relaxed and cooler than cool.The boutique is even transformative like an art gallery! Multitude wooden pegs covering the crisp white walls allow for the modular displays to be re-configured on a whim, accommodating fresh styles or unique displays — like a headphone station (to make sure your glasses don’t interfere with your retro-cool professional headphones, I guess!)The storefront is transparent — a clear nod to the lenses sold within — but at the same time shapes the perspective of passers-by, who can’t help but peek into the modern, undulating space. The shopping district where the GLCO boutique is located is prized for its walkability. I shouldn’t have been surprised to see several friends and clients pop in on the day we were shooting!This project was small, but hyper-cool. I love photographing commercial interiors that really change the way we think about shopping!