In the fall of 2017, Chuck Cerankosky, RIT ID alum and owner of Good Luck restaurant in Rochester, NY challenged our students to design a pop-up restaurant within a restaurant. In this experiment, 17 students acted as a singular voice to reimagine how dinner out can be interpreted through the lens of industrial design. The project culmination occurred as a restaurant takeover of Good Luck in December of 2017 for which tickets were sold to the public. A version of this experience was also brought to New York City for Design Week in May of 2018.
Video: Alex Freeman
I was the only Interior Design student to participate in this class and event. My partner and I were in charge of the furniture aspect of the night. The furniture plan was limited to the tabletops and existing restaurant furniture as we were not allowed to bring in or make any other furniture. Inspired by the class's concept of the changing seasons, we made ever-changing table cloths to accompany each course. From above, once completed, the layered table cloths represented the seasons overlapping one another.
First, a bright green dyed burlap was used to evoke the spring colors that emerge post winter. Second, a natural colored fishnet provided a grid like texture, alluding to carefully planted rows of farm crops growing during summertime. Third, for fall, the crunching sound of autumn leaves was created by filling a red dyed sheer fabric with cellophane. Last, for winter, the previous table cloths were replaced by a thermochromatic material that was cool to the touch. When the dinner guests touched the material, the heat in their hands and warmth of their beverages created colorful images on the table top.
First Course: Spring
Second Course: Summer
Third Course: Fall
Table Clearing
Fourth Course: Winter
Group Photo
