As a matter of fact, Megan and I had the opportunity to join the MAYA team on Tuesday, October 11, for its annual staff retreat. We all donned our metaphorical lab coats and goggles for an intense hour of experimenting!
Senior Designer Paul Gould introduced the MAYA Design team of over 30 practitioners to our 826-inspired concept of a wacky storefront that attracts community members -- including students, families, and volunteers -- by capturing their imagination and engaging their participation in a truly unique shopping experience.
As an example, Paul cited the Brooklyn Super Hero Supply Co., where customers can choose from a wide variety of capes and test them out. After all, according to the store’s cape page, “Since the dawn of superheroism, nothing has said ‘hero’ like a good cape.”
The MAYA practitioners were divided into six teams and tasked with creating six key deliverables based on the Mad Scientist theme: a store name, logo, storefront entry image, floor plan design, singular experience, and product prototypes.
Megan and I joined these amazingly creative, multi-talented and energetic groups to generate and illustrate some really incredible ideas - with only one hour to work! In the spirit of mad scientists far and wide, the ideas were bubbling and bursting, bringing life to inanimate objects and prompting maniacal laughs. A great time was had by all!
Here are some brainstorms and pictures:
Names
- IGOR's (with an eyeball in place of the “I”)
- Frank & Stein's Mad Scientist Supply
RAD Scientist Supply, (Un)limited- Dr. Dimento's Weird And Wacky Science Supply
Storefront
- Shadows of scientists and monsters running around in the windows
- A street level light display to make the building look like it's floating
- Dungeon-like bricks and thick doors to represent the dark, hidden, underground lair where mad scientists conduct their hair-brained experiments
Floorplans
- Conveyor belts that carry products to and fro, and over-complicated gadgets a la Rube Goldberg
- Double-door dry-ice entryway
- A lofted tutoring center from which students can control lights and gadgets in the store below while observing customer reactions
- “Concoction Cafe" with beakers and jars full of crazy mixing options for juice, coffee, and tea (and maybe cocktails for fundraisers?)
Singular Experience
- Electrostatic haircuts
- Build-Your-Own-Monster lab
- Photo section where customers can experience and memorialize their head in a jar
- Lab coats and goggles for every occasion - eveningwear, casual, beach
- Beakers and flasks that serve as flower vases, tea sets, etc.
- Free Radicals - 99¢ each
