Case Study: Nautica / DIFFA

The Goal: Design and build a ‘dining room’ reflecting Nautica’s brand essence

Nautica asked Pink Inc. to create a structure for its exhibit space at Dining by Design, a national fundraising effort for the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA). The vision for Nautica’s dining space included a boat-like setting with nautical furnishings and table settings. The sails had to be enormous – 10’ x 11’ x 15’ in order to envelope the perimeter of the floor plan, soar above the dinner guests, and create the feel of a dinner cruise aboard an elegant sailing vessel.

Using advanced architectural engineering to create a form that is full, with smooth inner contours similar to an inflated balloon or – in this case, wind-filled sails, we created two 11’ tall, arched Spinnaker sails. Essentially creating a new product we now call The Coves, the result was the perfect pairing of tension fabric, lightweight metals and state-of the-art computer engineering.

The inspiration for the design came directly from the Nautica brand itself and its design elements. Weaving the sailing theme throughout the dining space – including the flooring, the furnishings and the tablescapes – and incorporating Nautica’s corporate blue color into our specialty fabrics – resulted in a spectacular, memorable, and perfectly branded experience.