Design vs. Layout

• By Stephen Cannella
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When I think of layout, images of Excel spread sheets and line diagrams come to mind, which by themselves aren’t baseless tools in the aid of a design, but they do not in themselves constitute a design. A design is the process of (for lack of a better phrase) thinking outside of the box, and taking into account the little burrs and imperfections that mar the edges of the perfect 8.5X11 that contain your layout. When I sit down to contemplate what techniques and systems I will employ to solve a problem, it is never the layout that is of concern, but the design that births the map I follow on my way to an end product.

Too often firms that represent themselves as design entities are little more than armies of technicians fitting the products they sell into holes in a predetermined layout. When taking on a design challenge here at Synapse, I and every member of our team start with the client and their set of criteria to be addressed, first thinking of how our solutions will be integrated into the lives of our end-user and only then considering the viability of each and every technical aspect we intend to integrate.

Lately, technology has been getting a bad rap because it “doesn’t work” or is too clumsy. But the real problem is that the people behind that technology only laid it out and didn’t design it, missing out on an opportunity to craft it into a perfect blending of circuit boards and the human experience. At Synapse we design, and we hope it shows in every solution we bring to our clientele. The next time you are in the market for a technology solution, ask yourself; what are you getting for your money, design or layout?

LEDs – Always The Right Tool For The Job?

• By Kym Formisano
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It’s nearly impossible to go anywhere these days without running into LED lighting. From wedding dance floors to the Empire State Building, those efficient and dynamic little diodes have become a part of our everyday lives. But are LEDs always the best choice?

Turns out, the answer is no. You may wonder why we would hold that opinion here at Synapse, especially considering our affinity for integrating LED technology into so many of our designs. Allow me to explain. We take no small amount of pride in our desire to connect each of our clients with the best lighting solutions for their particular project, and sometimes there is no denying that a more effective or creative answer can be found through other means.

For example, say that you’ve just refurbished your company’s main lobby. You’ve created a new logo and want to wash the walls in your firm’s new company colors. Although it may be tempting to choose LEDs as your light source, due to what you’ve heard about their energy efficient properties and long life, they could end up costing you nearly twice as much in programming and installation costs to create just that one color you are looking for. LED systems often require their own control infrastructure and need to be programmed to output the desired effect. Because of these added expenses and your desire for just one static color, you may be better served with, for example, a white fluorescent light filtered through a theatrical gel or a colored neon solution.

On the other hand, there are times when LEDs are simply the best, and often the only, choice for the job. If you will be changing your colors on a regular basis, integrating pixel mapped video elements, or if you require dynamic theatrical effects, there is no better solution. Also, if you are affixing lights to a hard-to-reach or delicate area, the long life of the LED can save thousands in maintenance and replacement costs.

Whichever lighting method you prefer for your new system, be sure to keep these ideas in mind when working with your designer to ensure that your final product is as effective, user-friendly and visually stunning as possible.