Defying Gravity with SteelWave at theLAB in Berkeley

In these moments we feel like we’re defying gravity and this sensation is the inspiration for our most recent work at theLAB in Berkeley.

It was important for this project to have a look and feel that harmonized pleasantly with the surrounding environment. Golden wood stains, weathered concrete and deep greens from the surrounding landscaping provide the color story we based our palette on.

We think of the work that we do as ‘architectural painting’ rather than generic mural making, which tends to place a framed design on a wall as if it’s a canvas at a gallery. Our technique creates harmony within the space by taking cues from all of the architectural decisions in the surrounding environment.

After a collaborative design process, we agreed on a motif that felt like the viewer was involved in a lighter–than–air ecosystem of possibility. We aspired to inspire creative thought and out of the box thinking for the scientists who work in this building.

According to a survey conducted by the Business Committee for the Arts, employees in art–filled workplaces report a 32% reduction in stress and a 12% increase in creativity.