Angolo
PREMIUM GLASSES
‘Angolo’ is a Luo(African tribe) word meaning eyeglasses. Luo is considered one of the most prestigious languages spoken in Kenya which is befitting for the product designed to feel as prestigious as possible yet simple and practical.
CREATIVE DIRECTION
Design is essentially solving a problem or a set of problems with a product or service. The simpler a solution is, the better. My approach towards designing these glasses was not just informed by imagination but research and critical thinking as well.
Sun Frames and Optical Frames are such small objects where so many things have to happen: convenient ergonomics respecting nose size and distances between the eyes and ears; a proper CMF respecting durability, skin contact and – of course – style issues. No wonder there is so little space for invention. Regarding the way eyewear brands are working, there is very little happening concerning innovation. Most of them actually look into the past to rediscover “new” shapes, materials and accessories. Maybe the last significant innovation that happened was the introduction of sheet metal for the frame construction. Following a similar principal to beadwork, the slim frame is curved like a string is when making bracelets and necklaces and assembled together with the wooden parts to form the glasses.
I thought about a way which could lead to more sunglasses per sheet metal: instead of laser cutting the front shape, as it normally happens in sheet metal or cellulose acetate I thought about laser cut the frame as metal bands and later to shape it with a process similar to the one used in wire frames, using no screw. Here, too, the technical solution is at the same time an aesthetic one; its iconic shape comes from the inspiration.
‘Angolo’ is still a concept at the date.
ROSE GOLD
While it is a shade of pink, a color typically considered feminine, rose gold has often been described as a “gender neutral” hue. In color psychology, rose gold is through to create a sense of calm and alleviate anger.
CYAN
Cyan is a restful, calming color that symbolizes relaxation, especially that shade of cyan known as bright turquoise (shown below) which can be the color of the water in lagoons in tropical countries where people go swimming on their vacation.
BLACK
Black feels sophisticated, classic and serious. Black evokes power, luxury, elegance, but can also mean professionalism, neutrality and simplicity. It's bold, powerful and is often used to evoke mystery.
SILVER
Silver is a precious metal and, like gold, often symbolizes riches and wealth. Silver is believed to be a mirror to the soul, helping us to see ourselves as others see us. As a gemstone silver represents hope, unconditional love, meditation, mystic visions, tenderness, kindness, sensitivities, and psychic abilities.
CONCLUSION
I have designed a simple yet intricate design for the glasses with a lot on thought and consideration of materials, production processes, function, aesthetics and practicality in mind.
To create the design, I looked at the product from a consumer’s perspective as well as the production process to create a product that is all rounded, literally and figuratively.
There are two versions of these glasses, the first has a full frame all around the lenses whereas the other has half a frame at the base of the lenses to create variation. The frame has been placed on the bottom side of the glasses and not the top because a lot of people place glasses on surfaces sitting on the base of the lenses, the frame protects the lenses in this case.