Glass Pundit

We've Moved

2010-02-02T09:09:00.000-08:00

You can now find the Glass Pundit blogging from www.icdcoatings.com

Publisher of USGlass Magazine Comments on Glass Table Top Standards

2007-07-27T08:48:00.000-07:00

Or the lack of standards. Debra Levy, Publisher of USGlass Magazine comments on our industry's lack of standards for glass used in table tops; see US Glass Magazine July 2007 "Issue@Hand".

Ms. Levy comments that it's long over due for our industry to have standards on this type of glass, especially since most of it is manufactured overseas and brought back to the US. She makes an extremely good point that we as an industry can lose control of the whole thing if we do not act quickly to set standards, "An industry can lose control of its own issue when public, political or legal outcry becomes so loud that control of that issue moves into those sectors" states Ms. Levy.

Ms. Levy continues to comment about some media coverage of table top breakage, including a recent speech by Ralph Nader speaking at the America's Glass Showcase in Las Vegas this year.

If you get a chance, read the article and if you want more resources, this blog is the place as we have commented and covered this topic:

February 13th, 2007 Table Top Update
January 25th, 2007 New Poll Posted on Glass Table Tops
Martha's Broken Glass Buzz, Getting Louder
Death By Martha's Glass Table

As for the poll posted last January, I'm afraid the results are still pretty even:

Should glass furnishings such as table tops be required by law to be tempered

50.9% No
49.1% Yes

With only 53 votes that is and I'm sure we all know this is too small of a sample to really call this a good poll. :)

And finally, there has been some talk on the USGlass Boards.

Decorative Glass Coatings Bursting

2007-07-25T15:43:00.000-07:00

Caught your attention didn't it, the thought of a coating on glass bursting. Well, it may not be far from the truth, a piece of glass looking like it burst apart because the coating failed. I've been in the glass coating business for ten years now and even longer when you count my Parents who have been in the glass industry for over 25 years, we have seen many coatings on glass but as of late they appear to be bursting up all over the place.

There are tons of things you can put on glass to do everything from add opacity and decorative design to conductivity, and trust me people have done just that as of late; put tons of things on glass that is. What you will see is test data that says the coating will not fade but it was subjected to a test that measures the corrosion resistance on the underside of a car, great test for a coating on glass. Not to mention the coating only fade ohhhh enough for anyone's eye to notice. But hey it passed in relation to fade on the underside of a car, who cares?

Coatings on glass are an interesting and tricky thing, some fuse and become part of the glass while some are chemically bonded, some more bonded than others and then some have additives to increase the adhesion. The key is to be careful and make sure any tests done to show the durability of a product is appropriate.

Not all coatings are created equal, each coating to some degree is crafted for many factors such as adhesion to differing substrates (ex. a coating for wood most likely will not stick to glass) and performance such as low fade or scratch resistance.

Point is, be careful and don't just put any coating on glass, make sure it was created to be on glass and in environments where glass products go.

Test it, Test it, Test it...

Beveled Glass Vs. Film Effect?

2007-07-25T15:23:00.000-07:00

Beveling of glass for decorative use has been around for a long time but in the last few years the industry has seen a rise in applied films to offer the same look. Which do you like better? Why is one better over the other? To be honest, I'm not sure. Beyond the difference in machinery cost to actually bevel vs. a film, I'm not sure of the big difference.

If anyone is interested in bing a guest poster and write an article on this subject, please drop me a line. Of course, the writing needs to be non-commercial but informational.

What sparked this?

I recently came across an article that CertainTeed acquired a company in 2002 that sold a glass product using 3M film to give a beveled appearance. They of course say the product is falling off the shelves and into applicators hands.

PPG Marketing Alliances & Decorative Glass

2007-07-11T09:21:00.001-07:00

I love it when several companies come together to sell and create more ideas. A great example is the energy created by the team of companies under the PPG Marketing Alliance relationship, recently started and moving very quickly.

Deco Therm Digital Glass Decoration is the latest addition to the family, bringing some great decorative glass to the PPG family of glass products.

From the PPG Alliance Website:

Decorative Glass
DecoTherm digital ceramic frit glass decoration is a patented process for placing graphic designs permanently on glass without sandblasting or screen printing. DecoTherm offers a viable, economical alternative for custom and short-run flat glass decoration in commercial and residential applications

The DecoTherm process delivers a high degree of detail with up to three colors per image, so designers can create any design imaginable, from graphics, logos and text, to photographs and detailed custom designs, even sketches up to 400 dpi. The process uses ceramic frits and colorants that bond to the glass, so the images are permanent, fingerprint resistant and easy to clean. Applications include glass doors, transoms, entrances, partitions, stair rails, windows, furniture and bath enclosures

PPG is pleased to announce a marketing alliance to promote IIMAK’s new digital ceramic frit technology, DecoTherm®, in combination with Starphire® Ultra-Clear glass by PPG, as a decorative glass solution for use in commercial applications across North America. Bob Krystyniak, manager of strategic alliances for PPG, said “PPG continues to look for alliances involving innovative technologies to provide the architectural and design communities with solutions to their building needs.”

I have to add that I know another company part of this great program, MINE! Yup, ICD High Performance Coatings is very proud to be a part of this program. To see more information, jump over to this page and take a look.

Decorative Glass Inspired by Sandwish Wrapper.

2007-07-03T14:54:00.000-07:00

Could the future of decorative glass making be attributed to the modern vending machine?

According to wales.co.uk in an article; "Wrapper Inspires Glassmaker", a Wales company and inventor, Paul Richards, after 11 years of research has come up with a new way to create moulded glass using a polyester film. The inspiration came from a store bought sandwich Mr. Richards purchased and the plastic container packaging the sandwich.

“I looked at the sandwich packet, which was made of moulded plastic, and thought it looked exactly like patterned glass. Straight away I knew the idea had potential.” [wales.co.uk]

The company main website can be found here: Glass Inserts

Dude, Where's My Posts? & Made In China

2007-06-20T11:36:00.001-07:00

I'm techno-savy but quite amazed at how I could have lost posts since April, yet still wrote them and went on with life like nothing changed. But if you look, the last post was April. Where's my posts? Ahhh, there they are, still in the que to be posted. (shaking head) I could release them again all at once but that might be confusing so starting back again, here are the posts just sitting quietly and waiting for you all to read them. Sheesh, someone could have asked where they went, thanks guys!

Made in China

"Made in China", we've all seen it on just about everything these days from a fantastic Tibetan ceremonial bowl I recently bought (ya, made in China, first they take Tibet then they take their "Made in Tibet" sticker) to my stapler. Now the news is full of toy recalls and other news about tainted wheat gluten or leaded paint on toy cars. It's just the beginning and I'll save the soapbox talk about who's responsible (US Firms having their products made in China with no care about the product other than it's cheap and does what it's supposed to) but it's a good time to talk about Decorative Glass and imports from China.

Besides wheat byproducts and toys a popular import from China is cheat glass; fritted, patterned, even tempered and IGU's. Seems simple, they have a cheaper labor base so why not import and even with shipping cost have a great margin in the US market. But what are you buying and do you really want it?

In coated glass product from outside the US, what's the coating? A recent toy maker found out that it was lead filled and recalled. A recent project with a prominent architect is calling for a leaded frit glass from Europe (not sure how they are doing that in legislation land called the EU) vs. an environmentally clean alternative silicone spandrel or no heavy metal ceramic frit from the US. The building owner isn't happy, what happens if the glass has a problem or needs to be replaced?

For any glass product not coming from a local source; what is your support like? Can you get replacements? Will the color be the same? Will the pattern be the same?

I agree that some things may be good to have produced overseas because of cost structures but should something like coated glass or safety glass be made overseas and used here? Sure, it's a free country (cough) but something technical such as glass products should be sourced locally for the support factor along. Not to mention the fact that you know your product isn't full of lead or other nasty stuff that may be ok now that it's here in package form but killed 5 workers in Shenzen China because it was toxic. Go ahead, live with that Sally Struthers image the rest of your life. :)

Point is, cheat is good, cheap is easy but is cheap the best way to go? You create value products in decorative glass, why start with poor value raw materials.

Links to News bits on China:

Some Good News - From the Fabricator
Burning Up the Net - From the Fabricator
Quarter 1 In Review - From the Fabricator
Thomas the Poisonous Train - The Consumerist
Chinas Slave Labor Recall Problem - CNBC
Recall -o-Rama - World Daily Net

Decorative Glass & Green Building

2007-04-04T10:29:00.000-07:00

Two topics I love and have a passion for; sustainable building design and decorative glass. In this post I'm going to showcase some companies who provide architectural/decorative glass and lend to LEED points as well as some innovative green glass use for decorative applications. The fun stuff!!

The Environmental Home Center in Seattle showcases some great recycled glass tiles for decorative use, taking glass from a window shop, grinding it down, adding pigments and "sintering" or fusing the glass to make glass processed decorative tiles for commercial and residential use. Great stuff!!

Sandhill Glass Tiles

DuPont is a company who makes standard laminated glass interlayer as well as decorative, check out some of their stuff as well as their information on using interlayer and attaining LEED Credits.

Just a few interesting ideas to meld sustainable design and decorative glass, of course there are so many more options. One can get creative and blend energy efficient design that includes decorative glass to ad a great aesthetic feel to a project.

Can Decorative Glass Be Too Trendy?

2007-03-30T16:04:00.000-07:00

Not everything in life is meant to be "Go go go" and "Yes yes yes", often even the Pundit has to take the Devil's Advocate to always have a clear picture of a topic. Not that I'm taking the Devil's side on this, just expressing some thoughts I have in the ever growing Decorative and Art glass area of the Architectural glass market.

I recently came across an article by BJ Katz of Meltdown Glass; "Speak up: Joy of decorative glass; Field among the fastest growing in the industry" in Glass Magazine. BJ writes about new ideas and exciting ways to add a crowning jewel to your commercial project, which I have to say was much needed and proving to be an exciting feature to the commercial glass industry. It's not secret, I'm a huge fan of decorative glass and the creative ways designers and glass people such as BJ come up with unique and creative ideas.

But...

Yes, but, I have to express something that has been bugging me, maybe it's lame or maybe it's something other's are concerned with as well. Heck, maybe I'll just create such a stir I get more readers on the blog. Sometimes I think that the fusion of art glass, decorative glass, and commercial glass can get too trendy. Which this would be a good thing for the glass producers such as BJ, as people's tastes change so does the glass they put in their office. The reason I bring this up is one statement by BJ: "Installing decorative glass is like putting architectural scale jewels into your projects. This glass is both durable and gorgeous. Long after resin, flooring, wall coverings and other building products have been replaced, decorative glass will remain. It stands the test of time. Historically, art glass has been highly prized for its beauty, strength and permanence. People will always be drawn to its visual appeal. The use of art in commercial, hospitality and residential markets will ensure the look never goes out of style."

I agree that art glass can be the large scale jewel you put in your project but does that mean it comes with large scale jewel prices? Well yes, it has to, this is an art piece and you are buying a crafted piece to enjoy and show. But what happens when you created this beautiful slumped glass enclosed conference room and now five years later you are into Zen Minimalism and what you once loved because of it's swirling and splashing now disrupts your minimalist and centered mind? Hey, it could happen.

Point is, glass does stand the test of time, your art piece will be in your office for a long time or until you change your taste.

I do agree with BJ that the more decorative and art glass used the more it will have staying power and become ingrained into the residential and commercial markets. What I do see is two areas growing at the same time; decorative glass use for long term and mass appeal installation and art glass use in commercial applications where beauty is in the eye of the beholder. As for the Decorative Glass market, I think it's important to understand the two segments and grow both with an overlap in the middle.

Finally, I just want to say, I really didn't disagree with BJ it just made it an easy way to take a thought of mine and bridge it into a blog post so don't shoot me I love what Meltdown and other's do (really I'm just an artist myself who has been in the commercial glass business toooooooo loooooong).

What do you think? Please post your comments here.

green building :: Better architecture and energy savings :: ENN

2007-03-29T11:25:00.000-07:00

Who knew? Sustainable green building will do wonders for global warming.

green building :: Better architecture and energy savings :: ENN

LEED Certified Product? I Don't Think So...

2007-03-20T16:03:00.000-07:00

A little diversion from the normal decorative glass posting but a diversion that hits my values. Personally, I've been involved with or promoting of Sustainable Building Practices for over 10 years, stemming back to my crazy college days working in Recycling Education programs through the Urban Studies Department of Portland State University. I've always been interested in the concept and I've enjoyed watching it grow today through many but most importantly (in my opinion) through the US Green Building Council and the LEED's Program. If you want more info please click the links to learn more, what comes from Green projects is not only sustainable building and lower carbon footprints but great design and innovation of construction. It's a topic I love, hits at the old core values, so much in fact I'm studying to be an Accredited Professional in the LEED's Program. Why I didn't do it sooner is a mystery, the ability to work with Architects and Designers in creating Green and sustainable buildings, talk about exciting.

So, why am I writing about this, besides the promotion of Green buildings? When I come across a product or a company who says they are LEED Certified it bugs me. A product or company can't be LEED Certified but their products can lend to help create a certified project.

So I came across this press release in the USGlass News Network, via PRWeb, you can see it below.

It states in the headline, "LEED Certified Company Opens its Doors", I read further because heck it's a new concept in the LEED Certification, now a company can be certified.....nope, it can't.

So of course I am really interested now and read, "Company offering LEED certified films entitling customers to energy and homeowners insurance rebates as well as storm and solar protection opens its doors in the Tampa Bay area.", WOW, now a product can be certified.....nope.

LAME! Sorry but the program doesn't work this way and this press release is very misleading, I'm rather disappointed about it, a company being so misleading.

Then I read further, still feeling the sting of being fibbed to: "whose reputation far exceeded any competitive line, to offer their clients an alternative choice to companies in the same field who routinely twist the facts and in many cases flat out lie to their customers."

Huh? Busted! "Twist of Facts" heh....nice.

But wait, maybe they are USGBC Members and it was a simple misunderstanding. Not one mention of being a member on their website. Maybe the web guy left it off or is about to put it on? But.....no listing the Membership Directory. Hmm.....

I think they ought to join, they might learn what LEED's means, let alone that it's an acronym.

LEED Certified Company Opens its Doors

Company offering LEED certified films entitling customers to energy and homeowners insurance rebates as well as storm and solar protection opens its doors in the Tampa Bay area. http://www.advancedfilmfl.com/

New Port Richey, FL (PRWEB) March 20, 2007 -- On march, 11, 2007 Advanced Film Solutions opened its cyber doors by launching its website www.advancedfilmfl.com . The company, which is opening with over 40 years of experience, is led by former National Sales Manager of 3M Mike Feldman and Window Film Installation Trainer Jay Wall. Their action plan was to use their superior product knowledge and products, whose reputation far exceeded any competitive line, to offer their clients an alternative choice to companies in the same field who routinely twist the facts and in many cases flat out lie to their customers.

One way their inventory varies from competitors is that their films pass tests that qualify the customer for Homeowners Insurance rebates, energy rebates, and tax credits that the other companies simply cannot offer. Advanced Film Solutions is the exclusive carrier of VISTA Films for Port Richey, which are known not only for their incredible clarity but also for their ability to pass the Hurricane Survivability tests that the competitive lines fail.

"Everyone without some type of security measure on their windows already know they need this product", says Mike Feldman of AFS, "the consumer just wants to feel like they have a friend in the business that won't take advantage of them and it is that service that we are here to provide."

Glass & Design Awards

2007-03-06T08:58:00.000-08:00

It's no secret, I travel, maybe I don't 100% enjoy all the business travel but I love to travel for leisure. How lucky I am to be able to go places for work and know I want to go back and explore. So, as any good traveler I read Travel & Leisure Magazine, it's where I dream of that beach in Greece or that cathedral in Romania.

In the most recent issue, March 2007, T&L magazine has an article on their Design Awards and much of it includes glass. Being the glass and design nut that I am, I get excited.

Best Museum

Glass Pavilion at the Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, Ohio

Spectacular minimalism? SANAA Architects created a fantastic transparent and curved glass structure with interiors of glass and lines. Housing what type of art? Glass!!

Best Restaurant

Centovini, New York City

An Italian wine bar, fusing casual with etched and diffused plate glass, designed by Murray Moss. Glass for interiors is such a versatile medium, you can shape it and move it to create anything you want.

Best Retail Spac e

Alessi Flagship Store, New York city

Ok, so maybe this doesn't have much or any glass in it but it could. Every part of the design aspect of this project could have used glass. Although some elements would have changed, the sheen of glass is different than that of some of the composites used. In this project, I see the use of screen printed glass, opaque coated glass, wall cladding, flooring, and counter space. It would be interesting to see this idea use glass and see what the difference would be.

Best Cultural Space

Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis

Jean Nouvel created a striking and dramatic building skin and interior that uses many glass applications. Colored vision glass for visual effect of the outside world, industrial form on the skin of the building. Although, if I'm not mistaken, the skin has more metal spandrel than glass. Still wonderful in design, it would have been better if more glass was used.

Best Resort

W Maldives

Ok, no glass, not really needed (glass is always needed) but I'm dying to go to the Maldives and this resort and that chair is where I'd like to plop my arse and read a great work of fiction. Get away from the NW rain.

Ciao!

Channel Glass; Function & Design

2007-03-02T10:28:00.000-08:00

A recent Glass Magazine article; Daylighting with channel glass by Tysen Gannon of Pilkington Profilit, sparked a memory and some fantastic design ideas. I remember several years ago when this channel glass came out onto the market in Europe, it seemed to be such a great concept and decorative idea. Adding a diffused lighting on the inside, design to the exterior. I've even seen the channels coated with a sprayable silicone opacifier to add color consideration and greater use.

I saw this product used as an interior partition, of course a very thick one, where the inside was coated with just a 2' band in the middle, these partitions were dividers in bathrooms and shower stalls. Allowing for some privacy but a distribution of light. It was quite striking, I wish I had a photo show this effect. Once the channels were masked and sprayed the channels were then turned into each other and interlocked with a sealant to give a solid wall on both sides.

Here are some application ideas for this product:

Stairwell enclosure, lighting the whole stair shaft
Possibly an elevator enclosure?
Interior partition
Building fascade as in the photo above
Interior walls to create an office space

Some great websites to see ideas and uses:

*Photos courtesy Glass Magazine and ArchitectureWeek

Glass Magazine's 20Under40 & Glass Pundit

2007-02-13T14:38:00.000-08:00

So, I'm not going to pretend I didn't know I was nominated or that I was going to be one of the 20Under40, so let's just pretend I just found out.

Check it out! Yours truly was recently given the honor of being one of the glass industries 20Under40 Fresh Talent for 2007.

Reprint from the article - Glass Magazine, February 2007, 20Under40: Fresh Talents

Kris L. Vockler
Vice president, operations | ICD High Performance Coatings | Vancouver, Wash.

Kris Vockler’s parents founded Vancouver, Wash.-based ICD High Performance Coatings when she was a teen, but she dreamt of a career in science, not business.

Vockler studied geology and chemistry at Portland State University, Ore., and worked in seismology and environmental consulting. When she joined the chemistry lab at ICD, it was because she wanted to return to Vancouver and needed work, not because of career ambitions. To her surprise, she found she loved the work and was good at it.

She merged her love of science and glass in the lab, becoming a formulator with a specialty in coatings, and working up to technical director. “I loved being in control of the lab,” Vockler says. “What we create is cutting-edge and that makes it a challenge.”

Later, she left the lab to embrace the business side and moved into marketing. “Talk about something different!” she says.

As marketing manager for the company’s OPACI- COAT-300 line, Vockler spurred huge growth.

Now the vice president of operations, Vockler also is on the Glass Association of North America board of directors and various committees. She has written numerous articles, and her blogspot, http://glasspundit.blogspot.com/ is well regarded. She is working on her MBA at Marylhurst University, Portland, Ore.

“Kris has an overwhelming sense of enthusiasm for the glass and glazing industry,” says Ashley Charest, GANA account executive. “Her ideas provide the rest of the GANA association members with the encouragement to become creative in their own right.”

_

I am honored, it's a great feeling to be nominated and then to be accepted and see your name in a magazine. Ok, I guess I need to get back to work and make some paint!

Tempered Table Top Poll Update

2007-02-13T14:32:00.000-08:00

With 28 Votes so far:

57.1% Yes and in favor or requiring glass furnishings be tempered
42.9% No and not in favor of requiring glass furnishings to be tempered

It will be interesting to see where this poll goes over time. Again, not a scientific poll by any means.

Saint-Glas Hong Kong Shows How To Innovate Decorative Glass

2007-02-13T08:27:00.000-08:00

Saint-Glas Hong Kong

My laptop was displaced to another co-worker, makes it hard to blog from anywhere, I sure hope my replacement comes soon. In fact, the new laptop comes with a broadband connection to my cell company, so I can beat From The Fabricator to the punch when it comes to blogging from Glass Show events. :)

Decorative glass, it's the buzz these days, pick up any magazine and see the articles and ads for products and design. In this blog we are more concerned with the design and use, with a hope that these ideas will spark in North America and bring Decorative Design into the everyday commercial and residential building design. Maybe you see decorative glass around, maybe a cascading wall of water and glass or some furnishings.

One of the most innovative and creative companies I know is based in Hong Kong, you will see me blog about them quite a bit. They are creating the market in Hong Kong, not waiting but creating the trends and bring the building owner and Architect together to create. This company is Saint-Glas of Hong Kong and they are true innovators. The have a two story building just for mock-ups, showing bathrooms, condo rooms, or any room that can have glass. They have put glass in huge residential building on both Hong Kong and mainland China. Created bathrooms for casino's in Macao, China.

Here are some of their ideas that have turned in to huge projects:

Hotel Lisboa - Macao, China

Wall cladding, opaque silicone coated glass, drawers and furnishings also back painted with silicone. With the broad range of colors, any palette can be created to help the architect create their vision. Color in flooring and furnishings coupled with walls allows a flowing design, conveying any emotion through color.

Back painted wall cladding, accent strips of glass also silicone back painted. Laminated, tempered and broken glass counters with slumped bowls. Decorative glass use is vast a full of depth.

Bathroom stalls take on a new look and feel with two back painted pieces of glass sandwiched together with back painted silicone. Sheets of patterned glass offering texture and color together. All with a hygienic surface that is easy to clean and doesn't show wear marks.

Back paint coatings offer broad ranges of color and effects that allow the imagination to flow as much as the flow and design of fixtures, as in this example of wall cladding and bathtub surround. When it comes to showers and bathtubs it is very important to ensure the coating on the back is going to withstand the durability challenges of being near water. Not only this but how compatible is the coating to the sealant used to adhere to the wall. These are very important questions to ask any supplier of the coating.

Table Top Poll

2007-01-31T12:16:00.000-08:00

Now, this is by no means a real poll, who knows who clicks on it and who knows how many times. But as of today here are the results:

66.7% In favor of requiring furnishing tops to be tempered glass
33.3% Not in favor of making it a requirement

This could be consumers, people in the glass industry, or anyone who came across the blog. I think I'll leave it as a running poll to see how it moves.

A discusson on this topic has been sparked at the USGlass Message Forum, some for and some against but all some great ideas.

New Poll Topic - Tempered Table Tops

2007-01-25T16:19:00.000-08:00

Should table tops such as patio tables and coffee tables be required by law to be tempered glass?

Cast your vote!

GlassWeek Recap and Stuff

2007-01-25T12:11:00.000-08:00

I'll leave the updates and items to Max over at From the Fabricator, he trumped me by blogging from the show. I guess I now need to trump that and blog from the meetings! I can see it now, Max and Kris huddled in the corner speed blogging to beat each other, pissed off because the Wi-Fi just went down but Kris pulls ahead because she has a new broadband card in her laptop. ;)

Like Max I have to remind that this is my personal blog and in now way part of GANA or a voice as the Chair of anything. Oh wait, I am the Executive Chair of my own Reality. ;)

The people of the new Decorative Glass Division are amazing, if you were at the meeting of the Division you would have felt the electricity, Max was right the energy was high and everyone wanted to get involved to shape an very quickly emerging market for the glass industry.

The marketing folks are heading out to define Decorative Glass and how to promote it to Architects and Designers, starting with a market survey. The engineering folks are starting to develop the holes that need support; like how to handle and glaze sandblasted and frosted glass and not get implemented in a crime scene with your fingerprints. Manuals, books, standards, oh my, where will the group start?

Discussion and talk was everywhere on how to show the flat glass folks where Decorative Glass is very much a part of what they do, how to sell it, and discussions on how to bring artistic glass assets to commercial and residential glass. Everyone is excited about the flush of fresh design that artistic glass people will bring to GANA. Every once in a while change needs to happen and a flushing of the holding tanks needs to occur. Maybe not go as far as a revolution but a cleansing.

The energy is high and expect to see some great foundations laid in the coming year that will promote, define and expand Decorative glass at GANA.

Some bits of news on the Decorative Glass meeting:

From the Fabricator blog - GlassWeek 2007 Wrap
From the Fabricator blog - At GlassWeek in Sarasota
USGNN - GANA Members Get Fired Up About Glass Week
USGNN - Glass Week Gets Underway

Slow? No, Not Me!

2007-01-19T08:12:00.000-08:00

No posts in the last few days, how strange you say? Waiting to gather some scoops and info from GlassWeek. Trust me, I have some great things to post during the show.

Stay tuned and Don't Touch That Dial!!

DECO Glass Application: Tiles

2007-01-10T11:10:00.000-08:00

I have an affinity to Decorative Glass and it's uses, maybe why I'm writing this blog? The how and the why doesn't matter but I'm starting a new concept here at the blog called "DECO Glass Application" and it's a focus on a different or new or neat application of decorative glass, completely (as much as possible) none commercial and speaking to the idea or the application.

For the first I pick one of my most favorite applications of Decorative Glass and that's the use of glass tiles. Nothing adds more aesthetic versatility and creativity than what is coming out today in tiles. It's not new, it's been around for many many years and it's built to a fantastic product and application. One of the greatest bennefit is how the tile industry has grabbed it and made it easier to use by adding mesh backing and such for easier installation. Imagine the old days when each tile (some 1"x1") had to be laid in the mastic one at a time. Outch!!

Here are some words from the blogosphere on glass tiles and why they are an excellent design idea:

Home sellers contemplating placing there home on the market in the next year and want to prepare, should consider what trends home buyers are saying yes too. This tips are based on a survey of 923 real estate agents, managing brokers and association executives who responded to a survey request in Agent to Agent. Agent to Agent is distributed monthly to real estate professionals in all fifty states and Canada.

Do's

-Consider glass as an option to ceramic tiles. Ceramic doesn't offer the decorative benefits of newly re-discovered glass tiles that reflect light and add a glisten and glow to kitchens and bathrooms. The cost difference is minimal.
[source | Blog "For Sale by Owner (Fsbo)"]

Glass Kitchen Tile

With the price of glass tiles becoming more affordable, you can now use them to decorate your kitchen without breaking the bank! You can use them as borders of mosaic tiles, backsplash, countertops, walls, even floors. With the unlimited choice of colors you can practically use them as you please. The unique ability of glass tiles to reflect light, allow it to bring out the beauty of each tile. You can even choose crystal glass tiles with their unique light refracting property as borders for your regular kitchen tiles for a modern look that is visually appealing. [Source | Tropical Home Improvement Ideas]

The opportunities are endless and the use in the interior of a residence is huge. From what the buzz says, the costs are coming down and maybe that's all it took to say Decorative Glass use is ok?

Explore...Design...Enjoy

Photos in this post are from Original Style

Phew....I Really Am the Decorative Division Chair

2007-01-08T10:13:00.000-08:00

It's official, well official at GlassWeek, I am the GANA Decorative Division Chair. I'm relieved because I was and am excited about starting this new Division, I really wanted to see it through and hand it off to the next Chair with a solid structure. But as much as I'm relieved I was voted in, I'm more pleased about the people in the Division. The ease in which this Division started and is soaring can only be attributed to the people in it, our vision of the Division is rooted in each of us and it is moving.

Here is the news bit:

The Glass Association of North America's (GANA) Decorative Division today announced that Kris Vockler of ICD High Performance Coatings will be its first elected chairperson.

"Decorative glass has taken the industry by storm," said Vockler. "The Decorative Division is a part of the huge potential, and I will strive to provide leadership and understanding to this swiftly growing market." Vockler is the vice president of ICD High Performance Coatings, based in Vancouver, Wash. Previously she served as the company's research and development director, focusing primarily on silicone and urethane coatings for glass. She has a bachelor of science degree in chemistry and environmental engineering from Portland State University, and is pursuing her MBA from Marylhurst University.

Vockler previously served as the GANA Tempering Division marketing committee chair and is active on several GANA committees, subcommittees and task groups. She is also a member of the National Organization of Female Executives and the Federation Society of Coating Technology. The decorative division chairperson position will officially transition during the Glass Week 2007 meeting, taking place January 20-23 in Sarasota, Fla. To lean more about attending the meeting visit www.glassweek.com. Be sure and visit Kris Vockler's decorative glass blog at http://glasspundit.blogspot.com.

Copyright© 107 by Key Communications, Inc. for USGlass Magazine. All rights reserved.
No reproduction, in print, electronic or any form without the expressed written permission of
Key Communications Inc. 540-720-5584.

The best thing about this is I really, REALLY, like my hair in that style. ;)

Pundit

How To Inspire Decorative Glass Use.

2007-01-08T09:58:00.000-08:00

That's a loaded question I pose and one that needs to be addressed. A great discussion was sparked on the post about Trends in Decorative Glass Use, leading to where the disconnect is in sparking great use of Decorative Glass. A comment poster brought up a good point, on a recent visit to Manhattan he noticed the difference between the Virgin Music store and a Westin Project that he and I both had contributed to. His point was that the creative use of glass and color in this project will stick in ones mind longer than that which can be seen in the design of a store such as Virgin. Please click the link in the word "Westin" above to see the project, exterior as well as interior. Sadly I can't post a photo because the Westin group wants to charge a huge amount of money to do so. This is sad, the project is huge, in a creative sense, and the promotion of this type of use is big.

As the poster comments, one could have this great of design in their house but they don't know about it. This, in my opinion, is exactly the issue; promotion to the end user. I have to comment that Scott Surma, Chair of the Decorative Division Marketing Committee, and his committee have identified this same issue and do have an action plan to promote further.

So, my question to all of you, how does one go about marketing to the end user and what are some of the barriers in perception that must be overcome? Here is a partial list:

glass appears too cold to use in my house
glass and color are too expensive to use in my house
super special people are needed to install this glass

Just some thoughts. Finally, I think the best thing for Decorative Glass was to have it become a part of GANA, an organization that does an excellent job in promotion of glass products and standardization.

Be safe everyone.

Pundit

Trends in Decorative Glass Use, For Today

2007-01-04T09:46:00.000-08:00

Whew, finally, back at my desk. It's been a great holiday, great rest, and great times (working on that New Year's Resolution of staying positive) but it's time to get back to work.

Decorative Glass is and will be making huge jumps in the future for North America, the question is what form it will take. I've already blogged about some difference in the Decorative Glass use in Europe vs. Asia but what's in store for North America. Much the same I feel but not in as grand a scale. Looking at this photo you can see this is a GRAND scale type of use.

This project is all glass, which can also be used on the floor and has been! But this is going to be, in my opinion, just some spotty type projects in North America; when compared to whole condo buildings with glass interiors in Asia. It's rather sad that peoples taste in North America don't go with this type of use, it may seem odd at first but being in the presence of this much glass is truly beautiful.

The growth area I see for Decorative Glass will be in the application of back splashes for kitchens, bathrooms, offices, etc; with some wall cladding in commercial applications. As well, glass patterned partitions should do very well as Architects and building owners develop a taste for how artistic glass will be.

Example:
Backsplashes and appliance fronts, these might be the biggest bang for the buck when it comes to the emerging Decorative sector in North America.

For Today, Decorative Glass use is emerging but in small niche ways. Not to discount the large scale use of decorative laminates, patterns and wall cladding across the continent. Education and a spark of design is what will be needed to help this market grow to heights it is elsewhere in the world. We truly are on the verge of some great things with Decorative Glass but it will take some work, are we ready for it?

Just my New Year thought, what do you think?