The GDPR introduces more stringent data protection obligations on companies and will strengthen the rights of individuals. Its implementation and effect is therefore of relevance both to corporate entities and to those seeking to enforce their rights. It will be implemented across all EU Member States and its provisions will continue to apply in the UK post-Brexit through the UK’s proposed Data Protection Bill.
The GDPR sets out new rules for any organisations that collect or process personal data of individuals (known as data subjects). Personal data is any information relating to an individual, including names, addresses, photographs of individuals, email addresses, bank details, IP addresses and even social media posts – as a result, the GDPR will apply to most organisations that do business in the EU.
As a result of the changes in the law, and the publicity surrounding the introduction of the GDPR, individuals are more likely to scrutinise the way in which information about them is held by organisations.
Two key themes arising from GDPR are transparency and accountability. Companies will need to explicitly and clearly tell individuals what data they are holding, why they have captured it and what they intend to do with it. Companies will also need to be able to show that what they are doing is in accordance with the law. In practical terms, this is likely to involve at the very least updating your privacy policy to ensure that it is in plain English and that it accurately reflects what data you are processing.
Electronic direct marketing, such as emails sent to people who are not existing customers, will require a higher level of ‘consent’ than now: consent needs to be explicit and freely given, by way of a positive opt in. The GDPR also introduces a requirement for some types of organisation to appoint an expert in data protection law as a Data Protection Officer.
Reputation management should be a key consideration for all companies. Ensure that you have a crisis plan in place for dealing with data breaches. You could also face enforcement action if you are unable to demonstrate that you have addressed the new requirements. The legislation introduces hefty fines for data breaches of up to 4% of global annual turnover or €20million, whichever is more.
Think carefully about a notification strategy for breaches. In the event of a data breach, companies will often have just 72 hours to notify both data subjects and the Information Commissioner’s Office, so having a strategy in place for dealing with this will be crucial.
Data breaches are most likely to occur as a result of human error – make sure that members of staff are appropriately trained on the changes which are coming into force and ensure that you have policies in place in relation to data security and how to handle data breaches.
If you are an employer, you will also need to ensure that the way in which you handle your employees’ data is GDPR compliant. Review any HR policies to ensure that you have systems in place to deal with your obligations under the GDPR and inform employees and any job applicants about the purpose and legal basis for processing their personal data.
For further information on the GDPR and how it could affect your business, please contact Suzi Sendama at Mishcon De Reya LLP, [email protected], +44 (0) 203 321 6794.
Suzi Sendama, Mishcon De Reya LLP
Did you miss Suzi’s article on Intellectual Property and Copyright Law? Click here to see more.
Andrew Davies, Design Director at YTM Group explains how technology is challenging hotel design teams in new ways.
In recent times the focus of hotel design has shifted towards what will make a statement online. The need to create spaces that photograph well, showcase something new and exceed expectations has never been greater. The ever-growing popularity of social media platforms and review sites is making it possible for guests to analyse and appraise almost every aspect of a hotel before they stay, so no room or space can afford to look anything other than outstanding.
In the 21st century, one thing that guests love to see is the adoption of cutting-edge technologies. As a result, the challenge we often find ourselves presented with, is the demand to deliver an end product that utilises digital tools without compromising on the aesthetic or comfort of the surroundings to ultimately, strike a balance between beneficial tech and unnecessary gimmicks. Finding this balance can be a powerful tool in generating positive reviews and word of mouth, both online and in person.
Innovation with purpose
Whether it’s across public spaces or in the privacy of a hotel room, the temptation among hoteliers is to expect that every new gadget and gizmo in the marketplace be integrated. Yet the temptation to overload on tech can also detract from a guest’s stay. To deliver a true experience, we know that hotel guests need to be connected to a room – not via wireless technology – but through their senses. Lost in a screen, they may all too easily miss the pleasing curves of a four-poster bed, the soft feel of an upholstered chair and even the smell of a carefully placed diffuser. It is important to acknowledge that we remember with all of our senses. Repeat business and particularly referrals can only be acquired by bringing guests into the present and making them appreciate their surroundings.
This, of course, is not to say that technology does not have a place in supporting the guest experience. On the contrary, giving guests control over the ambient temperature and lighting through “Smart” equipment to accommodate their needs can heighten their sense of well being. The challenge however, is always to integrate technology seamlessly into a room, supporting the overall experience and making a stay more restful rather than overpowering it.
All too often it becomes possible to overlook the primary purpose of a hotel bedroom: to sleep. A hotel bedroom should work hardest to support rest and recovery. Few people will book the same hotel twice if they do not wake feeling refreshed, energised and ready to face the day ahead after their first stay. With this in mind, we know that digital devices are accountable for poor sleep. Many studies have shown that screen time before bed disrupts the sleep cycle. While it would be unwise not to accommodate laptop or mobile device usage in a bedroom, there are things that can be done even in smaller rooms to divide spaces and help differentiate between rest and activity space. A guest may not consciously note the positioning of a sofa, bookcase or cabinet between desk and bed, but subconsciously this can make a very real difference to the enjoyment of their stay.
It can be particularly tempting to pack as much new tech as possible into the pubic spaces of a hotel. Gymnasiums, pools, spas, restaurants, bars, workspaces and lobbies can all sport smart technology in abundance. But here, too, it is important to incorporate digital aids with a delicate touch. It might be manufacturing a reception desk that accommodates a slim tablet device into the work-surface or crafting fitted furniture to house television screens or even self-service machines. We can embrace these advances and use them to create greater subtlety rather than let technology become the statement piece.
The terrifying (but exciting) prospect for design teams is that the progression of technology and the way consumers appraise hotels is ever-changing. So we, as designers, can never stand still – it’s what keeps us on our toes from day to day!
Andrew Davies, Design Director at YTM Hotel Furniture.
In a new series we profiled the SBID Masters of Design to discover a new perspective on global interior design. We spoke with interior designer Liang Jianguo who attained degrees in Art and Architectural Design before launching his career in the 1980’s when he co-founded the Newsdays Design Studio. His award-winning projects have harnessed a design palate inspired by the contemporary dynamism of a young and rising generation, whilst capturing the essence of Chinese culture and remaining sympathetic to China’s traditions.
Designer: Liang Jianguo
Company: Newsdays Design Ltd
When did you know you wanted to work in design?
When I was five years old. I came across a picture by Qi Baishi, one of the most eminent Chinese artists and from that day, I decided to become immersed in art. In terms of my career, I officially became a designer when I established my own interior design company in 1984.
What has been the most career-changing moment for you?
It all started in 2004 with my Beijing North Lake Number Nine Club & Restaurant project. From then I started to formalise my own style and design concept, fully-integrating elements of Chinoiserie, modernism and nature in an international way.
What advice do you have for design students?
They should seek to understand more about life and society – and not be swayed by achievement or vanity. Don’t think too much of becoming a master designer; instead do more to solve the original needs of design.
How would you like to use your talent and work around the world?
I’d like to present Oriental culture and the Chinese aesthetic on the international stage while introducing good Western design and ideas to China through collaborations. It would be great to work on international projects between foreign and Chinese designers.
The task of designers is to solve problems posed by human life and to address the practical and spiritual demand of the human condition. This is the common concern of all nations so really we can say that design is stateless, and not limited by geographical boundaries.
What does being a SBID Master of Design – CHINA mean to you?
For me, it means we can collaborate internationally with some of the most inspiring international designers – this will allow us to expand each other’s horizons.
Questions answered by Liang Jianguo of Newsdays Design
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Entries were received, finalists deliberated and the winners of the SBID International Design Awards 2017 have been announced! Click here to see the full list.
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire series features JHP Design’s stunning Muscat based Amouage project. Middle Eastern brand Amouage is a luxury perfume specialist. Known for incorporating local Frankincense into their perfume they have now expanded the brand to include home and accessories. The centre in Muscat integrates perfume production, a working factory, offices, a visitor centre and a very sophisticated shopping experience.
SBID had the opportunity to speak with Creative Director & Joint Managing Director Raj Wilkinson.
Company: JHP Design
Project: Amouage
Project Location: Muscat, Oman
What was the client’s brief?
Amouage commissioned JHP to design a new visitor centre and factory at their headquarters in Muscat. (Owned by the Omani Royal family, the brand is now a truly international business with shops and accounts in 52 countries.)
JHP worked on the project for more than five years with a remit that included the centre’s architecture, visitor experience, landscaping, and retail design.
As the Amouage brand grew internationally, and with more and more people visiting Oman, more people became exposed to the brand. It was a natural decision to expand the home of the brand – its factory.
The design of the new building was to enable the business to increase its production to 20,000 bottles per week from the current 8,000 as well as to provide a memorable experience for tourists and visitors to be educated in all aspects of perfume creation.
What inspired the design of the project?
The factory’s design was influenced by the brand itself. The Amouage brand palette was taken into the more industrial aspects of the factory. It was expressed liberally in the more luxurious aspects of the visitor centre and by way of a slight diversification in a minimalist way it is employed in the retail gallery. We consciously paired back many conventional retail and display strategies and displayed the product in glass boxes in an environment more akin to an art gallery than a retail store.
What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?
The main challenge arose from the complexity of managing a design programme which was based around the construction of a new building on an existing facility which included live buildings such as Amouage’s offices and original factory.
The existing factory carried on in operation before it was part demolished and part integrated with the new offer.
The second issue was in meeting the client’s aspirations for the building to be of the highest international standard, juxtaposed against the capability of local manufacturing and sourcing of materials.
In order to overcome this, JHP undertook an extensive briefing process with the local implementation team and researched endless alternatives and sourcing outlets for key materials and finishes.
What was your team’s highlight of the project?
Our highlight would probably be the success of JHP’s work with Amouage. The new retail offer, factory and visitor centre is the showpiece the Amouage’s growing retail presence.
It has greatly contributed to the brand’s growing reputation as one of the world’s most highly respected perfume houses.
It has also lead to the greater contribution to visitors’ understanding of the various stages of perfume manufacturing, from ingredient maceration to bottling and packaging as well as explaining the perfume extraction process.
According to Amouage’s CEO Mr. David Crickmore, the new retail and factory facility created by JHP has given Amouage the capacity to produce and sell its products at its current location for at least the next ten years.
The new Amouage factory and visitor centre has firmly established itself as a true retail destination and ‘must visit’ attraction for all visitors to Muscat.
Why did you enter the SBID International Design Awards?
Our work for LOTTERIA has received huge publicity across numerous retail publications in Europe, America and Asia and was very well received on social media. We are very proud of what the team has achieved and of the project’s results. The SBID International Design Awards are very prestigious and we’d be honoured to have our work appreciated and shared by such a great organisation.
Questions answered by Raj Wilkinson, Creative Director & Joint Managing Director at JHP Design
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week with Penelope Allen Designs Click Here
Entries to the SBID Awards 2017 are now open and accepting submissions, to find out more and enter Click Here.
We hope you feel inspired! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
JHP Design | SBID International Design Awards 2017
British bespoke bed-maker and acclaimed SBID member, Vi-Spring, has become the first UK bed-maker to be awarded the Woolmark for its luxurious collection of all-wool beds. Made using 100 per cent wool – from fillings to upholstery – Vi-Spring’s Shetland Collection is the first of its kind, with exclusive use of real Shetland wool; a naturally soft, warm and sustainable fibre.
Recognised around the world, the respected Woolmark is synonymous with quality and guaranteed wool content. Vi-Spring’s luxury all-wool range, The Shetland Collection, underwent rigorous independent testing to comply with the Woolmark’s quality and performance criteria.
Vi-Spring’s Shetland Superb with Wool Sovereign divan
Each and every bed is handcrafted in Vi-Spring’s Devon workshop using the finest mix of real Shetland wool and pure Platinum Certified British Fleece Wool and finished with hand-tied woollen tufts. A selection is available of the highest quality all-wool fabrics to cover divan base and headboard to create a stand out look in the bedroom.
A planet friendly fibre, wool is uniquely suited to bed-making thanks to its natural softness, warmth and durability. It is an effective insulator and works to keep you cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and to draw moisture away from the body before releasing it into the air, ensuring a clean, fresh and hypoallergenic sleeping surface. Wool is also naturally resistant to dust mites, making a perfect choice for allergy sufferers.
Vi-Spring is proud to promote the Woolmark with The Shetland Collection, which includes the Shetland and Shetland Superb (as well as the Gatcombe and Marrister bedstead mattress, which are exclusive to John Lewis). Vi-Spring is also a keen supporter of the Campaign for Wool, which is committed to preserving Britain’s precious wool industry.
An interesting and important discussion is being launched here by kitchen design expert and SBID member Darren Morgan. This blog appeared in Modenus, one of SBID’s media partner for which Darren contributes regularly. Please feel free to leave a comment below. For more information about Darren, his work as a kitchen designer, writer and speaker, please contact him through his website.
‘I, like many, understand the power of hope and the bitterness of disappointment. The everyday exchanges that make up our lives are potentially loaded with both these emotions. But no matter how proactive we are in trying to protect our hope from disappointment, inevitably sometimes our valiant efforts are unsuccessful!
The funny thing about hope is that you only experience it when looking forward while disappointment always occurs in the present or past. It therefore seems appropriate as we look back at 2011 to consider the impact of both disappointment and hope upon the kitchen industry.
It is true that one of the main disappointments of 2011 has been the inability to shake off the global debt crisis which has not only hung around like a bad smell but has decided to act like an evil hobgoblin and dig its claws deeper into an industry that is reeling from an uncertain Euro zone. This uncertainty has stifled opportunities; well any that involves spending money, and even if corporate cash has been spent, those responsible for signing the cheque may well decide to change their mind as uncertain financial fear spreads like a disease. There have been one or two high profile companies who have decided to rethink their investment lately with Indesit deciding to abandon visionary plans for Scholtès UK and Lechner deciding to consolidate their efforts as opposed to spreading them wider.
But sometimes the darkness of disappointment can encourage us to look for the light of hope in places and ways we never imagined. Adaptation in the face of adversity is a basic human evolutionary principle that can be applied to our lives and our work. Although these shock disappointments cause further uncertainty and fear they also create gaps and market opportunities for other brands.
Because of wider economic pressures and disappointments the kitchen industry is now undergoing a pubescent change. Gone are the good old days where companies could have it how they liked, acting like spoiled kids who didn’t need to adapt or change. The kitchen industry is currently undergoing a period of introverted reflection and beginning to appreciate core values which will make it stronger in the future. And this new found maturity is certainly offering hope.
With less money around in the economy the kitchen industry is now driven by a clear need to deliver stylish value. And this determination brings with it better products, better service and better design. We are currently in the process of redefining the evolutionary path of kitchen design and therefore the industry as we know it.
Technology is driving the change with manufacturers using it to increase efficiency and market share. The products delivered by the flamboyant research and development budgets of the past are now being reconsidered, adapted and transformed in order to make them better and more cost effective. This is particularly evident in the production of laminate materials where choices and design options have bounded forward giving designers a cost effective alternative material to work with. The change in market conditions may also see a long term re-investment in Western industry as Eastern manufacturing regions like China may not seem as economically appealing to large scale producers.
For years kitchen designers have been seen as a consequential by-product of kitchen sales but now design is finally being accepted as a fundamental part of the process. 2011 has seen a surge in the number of associations and groups focused on the promotion of kitchen design as an important and influential discipline. Although it is disappointing that these groups appear to have different approaches and objectives, their very existence does provide hope for the future, encouraging new talent to get involved and changing the public perception of the lowly kitchen designer.
Because of the new importance given to kitchen design as a facilitator of sales software companies are investing heavily in order to make their products better. A major hope for the future is that 3D technology will begin to redefine the interface between retailer and consumer allowing designers creativity to flourish and consumers understanding to grow. The advancements in 3D technology will not involve standing in a showroom wearing funny glasses either as the technology already exists to experience 3D without them. Clients will experience kitchen design in an augmented virtual reality where they can use online resources and Apps to create photorealistic visions of their future space.
Imagine using your iPad as a window into the future, allowing you to stand in a pre-fitted architectural space and appreciate the post installed results. Simply by moving and rotating the iPad you will be able to see what your new kitchen will look like before it is even made. These advancements may well impact the current retail model with showrooms becoming smaller and in some cases, virtual spaces! The reality of remote showroom accessibility and newly “qualified” kitchen designers acting as design and product translators may well be just around the corner! Who said change wasn’t exciting!
Every cloud has a silver lining and every problem has a solution so don’t let the industry failings and disappointments of the past 12 months dampen your hopes for wp-content/2012. If you are inventive, passionate and persistent your hopes for wp-content/2012 could deliver your best year yet!’
Happy New Year ….. or is it?
REFLECTION
Keeping with tradition, we reflect on the passing year and each New Year revel in the promise of the unknown. In true tradition, on review of a decade I note the shared optimism for change. The first decade of the millennium promised much in the showroom window but there was nothing in the stockroom. The culture of the past decade was not conducive to building a sustainable society. A new Society is coming of age.
Our buildings are taller our tempers are shorter, we have bigger houses and smaller families; we plan more, but accomplish less, we create big people with small characters. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment. We have learned how to make a living, but not a life. We have added years to life not life to years. We spend more but have less. We have more possessions but fewer values. We have learned to rush, but not to wait. So as each year passes, in review what have we learned. When we created steep profits, we developed shallow relationships.
On reflection, I conclude we have achieved bigger things, but not better things. The biggest negative and positive impact on me over the past decade was that of peoples character, it had been jaw dropping shameful by some while witnessing humility in others was quite humbling. If there is one item alone to change in 2011 it is our culture. This is our moment so in the words of Michael Jackson ……. make that change!
FUTURE
A New Year brings many great expectations, a new VAT rate and a royal wedding. The banks have made decisions to assist business particularly SME by making borrowing more available. Although the year ahead suggests hope those in business are aware that cash-flow is the key driver of staying power. Employees also know that sales and getting paid is going to be very tough. So the message from the banks is steady the ship we are not yet out of dangerous waters but we can see the horizon and therefore for the first time in a while, we can see hope and opportunity.
HERE & NOW
So if we know where we’ve been and what we got wrong, we have mapped out our plans to move forward, how can we change momentum and steer that vision? How do we get there? The answer is always simple, strip out the dead wood, if it does not work, get rid of it. We must be ruthless in our aim to protect our prosperity. There is always a way to manage better. Designers need to leave their ego at the door to connect with this business. At SBID regardless of age, heritage and gender, everyone is treated fairly and personally. Our aims are simple, deliver the best service to provide our members with the best tools for the job, opportunities to get the best job and the ultimate resources to procure the job – alone you can do it, together we are the best.
Happy New Year
Vanessa Brady
Arriving at SIA is in itself an experience; I travelled to it at 8.30am in a people carrier with the European Council of Hotel Management Association who were heading to SIA to firstly host their own Board Meeting before visiting the show. En-route we held an inspiring impromptu conference and we put Europe right, a creative group of real people, proactive and fun as well as the united European voice for hotel owners and managers. I found the conversation and vision spot-on they collectively understand exactly what a hotel must deliver to be a success. As designers we must consult and include that knowledge within our decision making process. As architects and designers we should reflect on the experience the consumer has throughout the entire process of the hotel experience. I mean right back to the beginning from making the reservation to leaving the hotel with our luggage after paying the bill. Much of what is involved throughout that entire experience is `feeling` it is the emotion not the function the consumer experiences which remains.
I stayed at the Grand Hotel a magnificent celestial hotel of yesteryear, with everything that entails. The evening turndown service left a bookmark on my pillow, as a single occupant these little touches are an endorsement of the personal service, then I read the quote: “But where am I? I feel as if I am nowhere. If death is like this … this is not going to be nice. Everything gone, the people, the trees, the birds in the air, the wine, forget it” Fellini. Well now am I very happy to sleep in this big empty room with that last thought in my head? Design of an interior is more than just the furniture, the budget and the cleanliness although they are what the consumer purchases with their left brain thinking, their right-side thinking will keep them returning for the `soft` non tangible items a skilled designer provides.
The show was packed with the good and the great from Europe, and the opening ceremony was the usual wonderful ceremony in a way that only Italy can present, Regalia, more military uniforms and colours than I knew existed, with various shaped hats and gold braiding to demonstrate rank and importance, this was further embellished with a chest of medals and ribbons glistening on the proud chests of every rank and file who waited patiently for the arrival of the Minister of Tourism to endorse the importance of this annual event. The exhibition hall was built in 2001 and designed by German architects GMP of Hamburg and it is the most spectacular architecture and design for a conference centre I have seen throughout Europe. I love this venue, it is also the most inspiring show full of amazing manufacturers from all over Italy and with the true flair and desire to create and design, it is in the bones of almost every Italian to be creative in the simple things, from the way they dress, to the way they interact as a family unit to the respect for their elders and the manners and dress of every citizen, I do love Italy, and the world loves Italy, the show was brimming with boutique hotel owners looking out for designers for their projects, manufacturers looking for designers to specify their new collections and the Managers of hotel chains looking for new trends and colour as well as keeping their eye on the general market. Vanessa Brady Chairman of The Society was invited ad the special guest of AIpi the Italian counterpart organisation of Italy, Carlo Beltramelli is the new Board Director of the European Council of Interior Architects, the collective Country members who reach the highest level of competence are strenuously scrutinised to ensure the quality and reputation of the organisation founded in 1962 is retained. The Society of British Interior Design was elected as a full member after a presentation given by the Chairman Vanessa Brady in Helsinki in September. Mr Beltramelli introduced Brady at the opening ceremony. The show will have approximately 40,000 visitors over four days and is spread throughout ten halls.
The Society of British Interior Design took a small delegation from across the Country.
Simon Bell of Archial Group PLC an international architectural practice that has 17 UK offices and 7 more worldwide. Simon a member of The Society of British Interior Design and is currently the lead architect working on the remodelling of Harrogate International Centre (HIC). This £45 million pound multi-phased project is due to start on site next year and the practice has developed the designs over the last 3 years. Simon said `What an impressive exhibition and what an impressive venue! I will definitely return and I will inform our seventeen offices throughout the UK about it. I am grateful to The Society for inviting me to join its delegation.`
Johnny Grey a kitchen designer with studios in New York, San Francisco and the UK also attended and said `the exhibitors are friendly and displays sophisticated and stylish. I found more well designed and quality products here in my three day visit than I expected, I am really impressed, having joined The Society of British Interior Design I was invited to attend SIA, I had not heard of this show in Britain before, I cant believe its been going for 59 years, Ill definitely return`
Was this show a success in such a bad economic climate? I have to say this was the best trade show I have been too in years, Italy has many amazing shows and we will be collaborating with SIA throughout the year ahead to make next year in collaboration with the show organisers, project managers and their Press Office the most successful show of all time.
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