A skincare servicescape for Margaret Roberts : biomimicry and biophilia as a model and mentor for design

Abstract

The ever-increasing nature of consumer demands has forced retailers to adopt 'added value' strategies to ensure their competitive edge in the market. Branding is considered a market differentiator, but alone is not enough to convince consumers to make a purchase. Consumers want more. Trends in the contemporary retail industry show that retail sustainability and retail experience design are two of the most successful added value strategies employed. This brings forth the issue of the retail sector's resource intensive and wasteful nature. Natural resources are used to produce everything from products and packaging to the physical retail space including the architectural structure, interior finishes and fittings, all for it to be demolished and discarded as waste at the end of its life cycle. This dissertation explores the value of nature as a model and mentor in the realm of retail design, particularly through application of Biomimetic and Biophilic design theories. Biomimicry is used as a design tool for developing a sustainable retail servicescape that emulates nature's resource efficient and zero-waste principles. Biophilic design strategies are employed towards the development of an in-store retail experience inspired by nature. Margaret Roberts; a well renowned South African herbalist - specialising in the art of healing with medicinal herbs, is the 'client' for this study. The proposed design intervention is the creation of a skincare servicescape for Margaret Roberts that integrates Biomimicry and Biophilia as an added value strategy.

Die immer veranderende aptyt van verbruikers het handelelaars genoop om tradisionele verkoopsdenke te verander en aan te pas ten einde te verseker dat "toegevoegde waarde " ontsluit word in 'n streng kompeterende mark. 'n Handelsmerk word beskou as 'n wesenlikke onderskeier maar is opsigself nie voldoende om verbruikers te oortuig om die produk te bekom nie. Verbruikers verlang meer as dit. Tendense in die kontempor?re verkoops-industrie dui op kleinhandel-volhoubaarheid asook kleinhandel-ontwerp "ondervinding" as twee van die meer suksesvolle strategie? om waarde te ontsluit. Dit plaas die kleinhandel sektor se ho? hulpbron verbruik en vermorsing onder die vergrootglas. Natuurlikke hulpbronne word gebruik, nie net vir die produksie van produkte nie maar ook vir die vervaardiging van verpakking, fisiese handelruimte oprigting insluitende argitektoniese struktuur, binnehuise versierings asook bybehore. Alles net om aan die einde van hul bruikbaarheidslewe afgebreek en weggegooi te word - 'n wesenlikke vermorsing. Hierdie skrywe ondersoek die rol van die natuur as model en mentor in Handelsontwerp met die fokus op die toepassing van Biomimetic en Biophilic ontwerpsbeginsels. Biomimicry word aangewend as 'n ontwerpsinstrument in die ontwikkelling van volhoubaarheids Handels en Dienste-ontwerp wat doeltreffendheid en zero-vermorsing beginsels van die natuur najaag. Biophilic ontwerpsbeginsels word terselfde tyd ook aangewend om die aankoopondervinding in die handelsruimte te ontwikkel en verbeter volgens natuur-geinspireerde beginsels. Margaret Roberts, 'n vernaamde Suid Afrikaanse kruiedeskundige wat spesialiseer in kruiemedisyne, is die kli?nt vir hierdie studie. Die voorgestelde ontwerp is 'n toegepaste handelsruimte vir Margaret Roberts waar Biomimicry en Biomimetic beginsels ingespan word teneinde toegevoegde waarde te ontsluit.