When I saw the commercials for the new Will Trent TV show, I got excited because of the Chihuahua he was holding. Dog + mystery + drama = good in my view. However, when I realized it was the Will Trent of the Will Trent series of books by Karin Slaughter, I became apprehensive. I’m not a fan of turning books I love into movies or television series as the results are usually disappointing.
I watched the first episode and I liked it — particularly Betty the Chihuahua. Betty the dog is introduced in the first Will Trent book, Triptych. If you are a big dog lover and can’t wait to read the series to get even more of Betty, let me warn you: There’s not much Betty in the book series. Honestly, I had even forgotten he had a Chihuahua, and I am a hard-core dog lover. This is because the books focus on Will and the investigations, which can be mind-blowing, and not so much of when he’s home with Betty. Will is a special agent of the Bureau of Investigations, investigating the worst of the worst, and he’s pretty fascinating on his own — grew up in a foster home where he was horribly abused, has dyslexia and the ability to notice things others don’t.
I absolutely love that the TV series embraces Betty. You are introduced to the adorable Chihuahua right away at the beginning of the Pilot. In Episode 2, Betty pretty much steals the scenes at the end of the episode — her cuteness bursting into overload as she watches Will paint a ceiling. Dog lovers do need to remember that Will is not a dog lover and doesn’t know anything about dogs and isn’t even good at human relations, so you’ve got to give him some slack. I’m hoping the dog walker we meet in Episode 2 I’m a Pretty Observant Guy becomes a regular character.
In real life, Betty is played by Bluebell, the Chihuahua. Her trainer is April Mackin, who you can follow on Twitter here, to see more of the cute Bell.
If you’re a fan of the series, there are a lot of deviations, particularly with the character of Angie Polaski. However, author Karin Slaughter told reporters that the “book is the book and the show is the show” when questioned about these deviations from the book. It had been many years since I read the first book, so I went back and read Triptych, published in 2006. Will and the other series’ characters change a lot from book 1 through the latest book, The Silent Wife, and I had forgotten what it was like in the beginning where the television series begins. Karin Slaughter believes in complicated characters.
Just a note that the Grant County series by Karin Slaughter, which focuses on Sara Linton and Lena Adams, who later show up in the Will Trent books and I believe will be added to the TV series, start with Blindsighted, published in 2001. You don’t need to read those books first but you may want to in order to avoid spoilers. Sara is a dog lover and has a couple of dogs, so I look forward to them joining the cast too.
Watch Will Trent on ABC on Tuesdays at 10pm EST. Check out the episode order of Will Trent the TV series here. Check out the Will Trent book series by Karin Slaughter in order here.
People have used generative-AI chatbot ChatGPT for many tasks, from writing cover letters to coding.
Insider asked dating coaches what they think of ChatGPT’s advice for online and in-person dating.
Some of ChatGPT’s advice was impressive to the coaches, but they all think their jobs are safe.
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Thanks to technology advancement, dating should be easier than ever, with several ways to meet people online, keep up with them on social media, and talk to them through text and video calls.
But even with multiple apps and bar options, it’s hard to know how to navigate the world of dating.
Endless blog posts and guides explain how to approach someone you’re interested in, or even how to break up with someone. But now, artificial intelligence is involved.
Insider asked ChatGPT for a range of relationship advice, like how to build a dating app profile and how to know when you want to marry your partner. Four online and in-person dating coaches gave their feedback on the chatbot’s advice, and while some of them found it impressive, none of them thinks their jobs are at risk.
While some of the more general advice from ChatGPT can help, Amy Nobile, who owns dating coaching service Love, Amy, said there are deeper layers to relationships that AI can’t get to.
“There’s tone, there’s intuition, and there’s emotion, and all of these nuanced human qualities,” Nobile said.
Below are some of ChatGPT’s responses to Insider’s relationship questions and what the human relationship experts think of them.
Screenshot of ChatGPT response to “How should I (a woman) reach out to a man I’m interested in on Hinge?”
ChatGPT
Nobile said ChatGPT’s advice to mention something in a man’s profile is “decent,” but that its advice to “be respectful and considerate of his feelings and boundaries” and be “confident and direct” makes no sense, because it sounds more like advice for an in-person meeting.
Her first piece of advice is to have an opener you always use.
“Ask a question that you are genuinely interested in knowing the answer to,” Nobile said. Some examples include asking about their favorite podcast or brunch spot.
Screenshot of ChatGPT response to “What are some things I should have on my online dating profile to be attractive?”
ChatGPT
“I think the more modern advice is, you want less people to like your profile,” Nobile said. “You want to be so specific in your profile about what you want, who you are, and what you like, that you’re not getting a million likes, that the people who are liking your profile are more aligned with you.”
Max Alley, an online-dating coach who runs Match Up Online Dating Coaching in New York City, said examples of “complaining about past relationships,” include saying “no hookups” or saying you’re looking for people only willing to commit.
He said one big thing ChatGPT is missing is videos.
“It’s still newish, but on Hinge and Tinder, videos are the best type of content out there,” Alley said. It should be silly, fun, not super show off-y, short, and should have your voice in it.”
Having a video can help the algorithm boost your profile.
Screenshot of ChatGPT response to “What photos should I include on my online dating profile to attract the most matches?”
ChatGPT
Alley said he would advise against adding too many travel photos, and instead opt for photos from your life to show who you are on a day-to-day basis. He also said he recommends a fuller length photo and photos without sunglasses.
“In online dating, you want to stand out, whereas ChatGPT is going to show you what it thinks you’re supposed to put on a dating profile,” Alley said.
Screenshot of ChatGPT response to “How do I start a conversation with someone on Tinder that I really like?”
ChatGPT
Alley said he talks about conversation strategies differently between men and women. ChatGPT’s advice is more geared toward men, Alley said, because they are more relevant to courting someone. He said he sometimes recommends that women bring up controversial or heavy topics to vet whether or not they’re interested in a man.
“Women, when they come to me, they’re like, ‘how do I vet this guy,’ because for heterosexual women, often the men are ready to go out with them once they’ve already matched,” Alley said. “Women’s goal is not to necessarily build attraction or build connection, it’s to figure out if this guy’s a psychopath or not.”
Alley said he thinks some of ChatGPT’s advice could apply to non-heterosexual couples too.
Screenshot of ChatGPT’s response to “How do I ask someone on a date?”
ChatGPT
Paris and Joseph Dixon, a married couple who run the RealBlackLove matchmaking agency and dating app, said they would add if you’re asking someone on a date, you should tell them why you want to go with them.
“Find reasons of commonality and then say, ‘Hey, I would love for us to get to know each other a little bit more, would you like to go out?,” Joseph said.
Screenshot of ChatGPT response to “How do I tell someone I’ve been talking to that I’m no longer interested in them?
ChatGPT
“Anybody who’s cutting the cord or breaking up with someone, we have to consider the exact scenario,” Nobile said. “If someone’s been rude or betrayed them in some way…you don’t need to be in person. It’s more dependent on the situation and what’s led up to the breakup.”
Nobile said a person who is ending a relationship also should be mindful of protecting their own boundaries.
Paris said it’s also a good idea to practice the breakup and know what you’re going to say. Like Nobile, she said how the breakup goes depends on how you and your partner have drifted apart.
Screenshot of ChatGPT response to “How do I tell my partner I love them?”
ChatGPT
Paris said she would add that you need to qualify why you love the person.
“Understand why you’re in love and what you love about that person,” she said. “It’s just important to let your partner know your feelings are genuine, but there’s a process to falling in love with someone, and there’s an emotional attachment that happens based off of experiences.”
Screenshot of Chat GPT response to “How do I know if I want to marry my partner?”
ChatGPT
Nobile thought ChatGPT’s advice for how to know if you want to marry your partner, was “very good,” and that it mirrors some of her own relationship advice.
“I have a three-four rule, so early on in dating, you need to check four boxes,” Nobile said. “That is connection and chemistry, core value alignment, emotional maturity and availability, and readiness.”
Screenshot of ChatGPT response to “How do I know if someone is interested in dating me?”
ChatGPT
Screenshot of ChatGPT response to “How do I know if someone is interested in dating me?”
ChatGPT
Nobile said this advice is tricky, because someone can do all of these things for their own self-validation, not because they’re actually interested.
“They can flirt, they can touch you, they can have sex with you, they can call you whatever beautiful names, they can text you all day, it literally does not mean that they even like you,” Nobile said, or that they like you enough to pursue a deeper relationship.
Nobile said it’s a good point to remember that people can’t assume anything, and that conversations about compatibility and core values need to happen early in the relationship.
Dealing with human behavior is “really tough,” Nobile said. “You can’t give people one size fits all answers.”
Joseph said he’s not afraid that ChatGPT will put him and his wife out of a job.
“The whole point is getting real-life feedback from someone who’s actually been through it,” Joseph said. “A robot has never been through these feelings, these emotions, these situations.”
It’s time for the most adorable sporting event you’ll ever see: the Puppy Bowl.
Brimming with oodles of puppy energy, the TV event is a Puppy Bowl Super Bowl spotlighting the tireless work of shelters and rescues across the country, as well as showcasing some very sweet adoptable pets.
Here’s everything you need to know about this feel-good puppy love fest:
The Puppy Bowl is on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023 at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.
What can I expect to see on the Puppy Bowl?
There will be lots of very cute puppies, of course — specifically, Animal Planet Puppy Bowl adoptable dogs from rescues and shelters. Puppy players from Team Ruff and Team Fluff go paw to paw in the Puppy Bowl stadium to win the Wayfair “Lombarky” trophy. Puppies will also be competing on the field for top doggie spots like the Bissell MVP (Most Valuable Puppy) or to win the Subaru Of America, Inc. Underdog Award.
Is there a pre-game show?
The Puppy Bowl XIX will begin with a pre-game show on Animal Planet and discovery+ at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT with insights for the Puppy Bowl draft, including interviews with coaches and players and information about each puppy player’s breed mix and traits from Wisdom Panel dog DNA test. The pre-game show will also offer a first look at the Arm & Hammer Slide Kitty Halftime Show.
Who are these puppies?
The Puppy Bowl features 122 puppies, 67 shelters and rescues across 34 states. Plus, for the first time, it will include a Native American animal organization and a puppy player from Dominica, West Indies. There will be more puppies, animal shelters and rescues than ever before — including 11 special-needs puppy players looking for their forever homes like:
Julius, a hearing-impaired Dalmatian
Marmalade, a sight- and hearing-impaired Border Collie/Australian Cattle Dog
Mykonos, an American Staffordshire Terrier/Bulldog with a cleft palate
What else should I know about the Puppy Bowl?
Referee Dan Schachner returns for his 12th year while sportscasters Steve Levy and Taylor Rooks return to provide play-by-play commentary. The Puppy Bowl’s Adoptable Pup segments will appear throughout the program with 11 shelters from around the U.S. featuring one of their adoptable puppies. (There will be three shelters with kittens during Kitty Half-Time.)
From Norway to New Zealand, this lookbook explores rural cabins with cosy living areas that are animated by natural materials and views out over wild landscapes.
Cabins are a popular building typology with architects all around the world. Typically built from wood, the little shelters are ideally suited as peaceful retreats in remote locations.
Their small size and the use of organic materials such as wood helps these structures to blend in with natural surroundings, while also creating warm and calming living spaces for inhabitants.
As demonstrated by this roundup, little else is needed to make a cabin cosy, and keeping their interiors pared-back retains focus on the main event – the views out to nature.
Dark-stained floorboards complement the light and exposed timber beams and columns of this cabin on a farmstead in Nova Scotia.
Its living room has large windows for looking out over the rustic landscape but retains a sheltered feel with low ceilings, a soft rug and comfy leather furniture such as the 2 Fauteuil Grand Confort armchair by Le Corbusier.
A black fireplace is suspended from the ceiling of this sitting area, located in the Looking Glass Lodge in East Sussex.
The room has a pared-back design filled with woven furnishings and wooden surfaces, helping to ensure the focus stays on the floor-to-ceiling glazing.
According to its designer Michael Kendrick Architects, the studio’s aim was to give the cabin “a sense of transparency and belonging within its setting”.
Despite its tall ceilings, The Hat House’s living-dining space has been made to feel snug with its warm material palette dominated by different woods.
These include spruce panels on the walls and end-grain spruce blocks for the floor. A cushioned window seat allows the owner to immerse themself in the view.
Baltic pine lines almost every surface of this off-grid cabin in Tasmania, designed by Maguire + Devin with references to traditional Japanese houses.
Nearly every piece of furniture forms a part of the building’s frame, creating a minimalist and uncluttered interior. This includes a raised seating area, positioned beside a pane of glass and finished with a low-lying table and rugs for sitting.
Hidden within the rainforest in the coastal village of Punakaiki, this holiday cabin has large spans of glazing that aim to immerse occupants in the landscape.
Furnishings are few and far between to prevent distracting from the view, but a homely feel is created through the warm and exposed timber structure and mid-20th-century furnishings including a leather butterfly chair.
Arches made of poplar give a chapel-like character to this tiny mobile cabin, located on a campsite in the Robbenoordbos forest in the Netherlands.
Its compact living area is deliberately simple, furnished with just a writing desk and a wood burner for warmth and offering visitors a meditative space to “rejuvenate close to nature”.
Iragüen Viñuela Arquitectos opted for dark-stained wood for the interior lining of this ski cabin in Chile, creating a moody yet cosy living area where the outside views take centre stage.
“The interior of the house, completely covered in black wood, allows a great contrast with the white winter and green summer landscape, and offers an atmosphere of introspection and calm according to the vocation of shelter,” said the studio.
An angular corner window animates the unadorned living room of Cabin Nordmarka that Rever & Drage recently completed in Norway.
The green and blue tones of the forested surroundings form a colourful backdrop to the elevated space, which is characterised by light timber planks and matching furniture.
Landscape studio Sleth designed this writer’s cabin to blend in with its natural setting on the outskirts of Aarhus.
Douglas fir planks line the living room, creating a cosy retreat for the owner while echoing the surrounding trees. Bookshelves at the base of its gabled profile help reduce the height of the room, making it feel even more snug.
This compact wooden cabin nestled in the treetops of a Swedish mountain is one of four designed for the Bergaliv Landscape Hotel.
Like many other cabins on the list, the interior is simply finished. This draws attention to a wooden L-shaped bench and window seat, designed for visitors to get lost in the views out over the landscape.
Kemp, whose firm manages around $250 billion worth of assets, was impressed with the quality of ChatGPT’s knowledge and prose but said it lacked the depth of analysis you’d find speaking to a top stock picker or financial advisor.
“The quality of its responses is remarkable,” he told me. “That said, I don’t think it’s helpful as an investment decision-making tool, either for professionals or laypeople.”
“It provides factual answers that are descriptive and are generalized,” Kemp added. “But it doesn’t ask questions like a good investment manager does.”
Here are the four questions I asked ChatGPT:
How should I invest during a recession?
What impact will the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate increases have on a portfolio?
What investments are a good hedge against high inflation?
Should I invest in cryptocurrencies?
The questions reflect some of the biggest ongoing concerns of retail investors – after the threat of a recession, Fed rate hikes and high inflation rattled stocks and caused the the ‘crypto winter’ of the past year.
ChatGPT quickly churned out a set of answers you’d find in a good markets textbook – recommending “invest[ing] in companies that have a strong track record of performance” during a recession and saying that “higher interest rates can make stocks less attractive to investors, which can lead to a decline in stock prices”.
Kemp told me he was impressed with the breadth of the bot’s knowledge – especially its ability to avoid unnecessary jargon when producing stock market content.
“It’s quite amazing how ChatGPT can gather what is known about a particular subject by the investment community and then convey it in a very understandable format,” he said. “If you haven’t used ChatGPT before, it’s genuinely surprising that an engine can do that with subjects as diverse as recessions and cryptocurrencies.”
But the bot can only generate what Kemp called “first-level responses” – meaning that while its knowledge of the stock market is impressive, it can’t apply that knowledge to specific situations in the manner a top Wall Street analyst or old-fashioned financial advisor would.
“It can tell you the things that everybody knows,” he said. “When you asked it about inflation hedges, it mentions inflation-linked assets – clearly, that’s correct, but that’s a very limited help when making an investment decision.”
“When making investments, you not only have to consider the fair return of investment, but also the price at which it’s trading,” Kemp added. “So you have to understand not only the basic features of an investment, but also how that investment is perceived by other investors.”
“That’s what people call second-level thinking – and it’s something that ChatGPT doesn’t appear able to do.”
Kemp was also concerned with ChatGPT’s response to my question on cryptocurrencies. The bot told me that “investing in cryptocurrencies is a high-risk, high-reward endeavor” – but rising interest rates meant most digital assets offered no returns at all in 2022, with the largest token bitcoin‘s price plummeting over 60% to under $17,000.
“I found this troubling because ChatGPT has clearly learned that to gain a high return, you typically have to take a high risk,” he told me. “It’s an interesting mistake and it’s one that lots of investors made last year – not every high risk comes with a high reward.”
Kemp’s feedback chimes with what people tend to love – and dislike – about ChatGPT.
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Sure, we give our dogs treats every day, but these Valentine’s Day gifts for dogs aren’t your average bone.
Valentine’s Day gift boxes for dogs
Valentine-themed gift boxes for dogs are filled with red, white and pink dog treats and toys — a fool-proof way to get a slobbery kiss. Here are three of our favorites:
BarkBox $23/box with a 12-month subscription. BarkBox; barkbox.com
PupBox $29/month for a 12-month plan. PupBox; pupbox.com
BoxDog $45/box for a prepaid subscription. BoxDog monthly and seasonal subscriptions available; boxdog.com
Provided plush pet-beds in your room, plus food and water bowls and mats
Welcome amenity for pet (or pet treats to take home)
Complimentary valet for easy arrival
Bottle of bubbly for the human
Dogster tip: Bring a few of your dog’s favorite things from home (toys, blankets, treats) to help ease any away-from-home jitters. Here are a few other tips for hotel stays with your dog.
Tidying guru Marie Kondo says she’s done with constantly keeping her house neat.
Kondo said after three kids, she’s “kind of given up” on constantly tidying up, per The Washington Post.
Kondo has spent years — and built a career around — advocating for spotless homes.
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Tidying guru Marie Kondo says that after having three children, she too has given up on keeping her house spotless.
“Up until now, I was a professional tidier, so I did my best to keep my home tidy at all times,” Kondo said at a recent webinar, per The Washington Post.
“I have kind of given up on that in a good way for me. Now I realize what is important to me is enjoying spending time with my children at home,” she added.
Kondo added during the webinar that her home might now be “messy,” but she feels she is spending her time “the right way.”
Kondo had her third child — a boy — in April 2021. She has two other children with her husband Takumi Kawahara, daughters Satsuki and Miko, per People.
If you believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, you already know what you do in the morning counts. Skin care is no different. Thankfully, if you have a jam-packed start to the day, your morning skin routine doesn’t have to be complicated. Instead, discover how easy it is to complete a simple skin care routine tailored for your skin type, all while your first cup of coffee brews.
An effective morning skin care routine removes dirt or oil that may have settled on the face through the night. It also preps the skin and creates a healthy skin barrier to protect you from any environmental stressors during the day ahead. Stressors include pollution, blue light and UV exposure. You’ll also want to choose products that replenish and strengthen the skin throughout the day. Keep reading to find out our recommended morning skin care routine for each skin type, as well as our esthetician’s must-have products for her morning routine.
4-Step Morning Skin Care Routine
Before we dive into product recommendations for each skin type, here are the foundational four steps to follow.
Step 1: Cleansing
Using clean hands, start your morning by cleansing the skin. The best morning cleansers work to remove any dirt (especially anything that has transferred to your face from your pillowcase), sweat, residual makeup or skin care from the night before. You can select from an oil, gel, balm or cream cleanser depending on your skin concerns and skin type.
Step 2: Toner
There are many reasons to use a morning toner. Toners offer replenishing benefits and add a barrier of protection and hydration throughout the day. Depending on your skin, you might choose one that increases hydration, reduces oil or removes dead skin.
To use, apply the toner to a cotton pad to the face, lightly sweeping it across the skin. Alternatively, you can spritz your toner directly onto the skin. When selecting a toner, avoid a product with a high alcohol percentage that can irritate or dry out your skin. Instead, look for a toner with soothing ingredients that address your skin’s needs.
Step 3: Moisturize
Seal the deal on your morning routine with a moisturizer to smooth the skin and protect the skin barrier. A strong skin barrier protects the skin from bacteria and other nasties that can lead to breakouts, dryness or irritation. The moisturizer you choose should also align with your skin type. For example, a dryer skin type might opt for a thick cream-based moisturizer that adds hydration, while an oily skin type may prefer a gel-based moisturizer that will hydrate without adding bulk or oil.
Step 4: SPF
The final step is applying an SPF to protect your face for the first few hours of the day. Ideally, reapply every few hours to continue to protect your skin from sun damage. Sweat, weather, touching your face, or even using your phone can all contribute to sunscreen losing its efficacy throughout your day. This step is key, even if you’re working inside (the sun’s UV rays can get through windows!) or if the weather is looking cloudy. Sunscreen is the best defense against the aging effects of the sun and using it regularly can lower your risk of skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen that can protect you from UVA and UVB rays and aim for one that is at least SPF 30. We recommend reviewing our range of SPF moisturizers and sunscreens found here.
Step 1: Use a gel-based cleanser such as the Citrus Exfoliating Wash to remove any oil or dirt that has built up overnight.
Step 2: Spritz with the Lime Refresh Tonique to add a boost of green tea and Vitamin C. These ingredients encourage a more youthful-looking complexion for oily skin.
Step 4: Use an SPF to defend your complexion from harmful UV rays. The Bright Skin Moisturizer SPF 40 balances both dryness and oil while brightening up the appearance of dark spots.
Morning Skin Routine for Sensitive Skin
Step 1: Begin your routine with the Lemon Grass Cleanser to refresh and cleanse the skin.
Step 2: Spritz with the Hawthorne Tonique. With hawthorn, chamomile and marjoram, this tonique helps the skin look calm.
Step 4: Protect your skin from the sun by applying an SPF daily. Reduce dry patches with a replenishing SPF like our Tropical Vanilla Day Cream SPF 40.
Morning Skin Care Routine For All Skin Types
Step 1: Start your routine by cleansing with the Kombucha Microbiome Foaming Cleanser, a cleanser that balances the microbiome and reveals a healthy-looking glow.
Step 3: Moisturize with the replenishing Arctic Berry Peptide Radiance Cream. This cream is formulated to reveal radiant-looking skin with our Peptide Illuminating Complex, an antioxidant-rich combination of yellow plum extract, gardenia and hibiscus seed botanical peptides.
Step 4: Use an SPF to block your skin from the sun’s radiation. There are many great options, but with its blue-light protection, the Lilikoi Daily Defense Moisturizer SPF 40 is ideal for all skin types.
An Esthetician’s Morning Skin Care Routine
Our Lead Skin Care Trainer, Natalie Pergar, is ready to pull back the curtain and unveil her own morning skin care routine. Watch Natalie as she discusses her favorite natural products that she uses daily.
Do you have any favorite products in your morning routine? We’d love to hear about them. Let us know in the comments below or on our social media.
Sometimes behavior is learned and other times it’s in the genes. For Axel, a 4 year-year-old, 110 pound Rottweiler, who was named AKC’s 2022 therapy dog of the year in its annual Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence, his handler John Hunt noticed at just 9 weeks old, how calm his demeanor was while interacting with others, but how engaging and confident he carried himself. Paired with a need to please and a noticeable ability to problem solve and lead others, Axel was a natural.
What characteristics do therapy dogs have
Therapy dogs typically show:
Calm demeanor
Engaging personality
Confident
Calm and handler-focused around other dogs
Ability to problem solve
Eagerness to please
Ability to relax when not working
Enjoy the attention of new people
Properly display stress signals
What type of work does Axel do
Axel is a Crisis Response Canine Operation Deployment K9 and provides weekly support to local healthcare workers in large hospitals in New Jersey, where he and John live, and Pennsylvania. He also does comfort visits to police, fire and other first responders and is called onsite, along with John, to start the decompression process after a traumatic event.
John has gone through extensive training himself, including mental health courses and a K9 Body Language, First Aid and CPR program to make sure he can keep Axel safe on the job.
During his therapy career, Axel has completed more than 600 therapy dog visits, earning his AKC Therapy Dog Supreme title and has traveled around the country to provide support after large-scale tragedies.
“He is like a big teddy bear,” says Andrea Hering, founder and president of Crisis Response Canines, a New Jersey-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that certifies, trains and deploys dogs in traumatic situations. “Even people afraid of dogs are usually taking pictures with him at the end of the visit.”
Crisis response dog off duty
Off duty, Axel is a typical dog, explains Andrea, “playful, energetic, silly.” But when he’s working, “Axel is so confident in his job that other dogs follow his lead. He serves as a role model for our other therapy dogs.”
Of course, part of the job is the after work treat. Axel’s preference? Mints and a good belly rub.
The 338-square-metre store has a discrete sandstone exterior marked by a red LED sign displaying the brand’s logo.
Inside, grey sandstone walls contrast against sculptural tie-dye furniture in earthy tan hues by British designer Max Lamb.
The store is located inside Chengdu’s SKP department store
“Our inspiration was aesthetically playing with design from the 1980s and 90s, and how that period looked at the future,” Halleroed founder Christian Halleroed told Dezeen.
“The inclined stone clad walls, the futuristic lighting together with the Daniel Silver mannequins – we thought of a futuristic space/computer age feel, but in a contemporary way of putting it together,” he added.
“We clashed this with the Max Lamb sculpture-like furniture that has a more primitive, earthy feeling.”
It features tactile, soft seating by Max Lamb
As well as the furniture, Lamb designed four fabric-clad touchscreens that are mounted on slim poles throughout the store and provide an overview of the brand’s current collection and stock availability.
Expressive mannequins by artist Daniel Silver and a light installation by designer Benoit Lalloz help to add a futuristic feel to the space.
Lighting was designed to feel “like a spaceship”
Halleored, which has designed a number of Acne Studios‘ stores, normally works with Lalloz on the lighting but said the Chengdu store lights have a different feel to those in other stores.
“These were done a bit differently than previous since they are recessed in the ceiling, but still has the typical look of Benoit Lalloz,” Halleroed said.
“We wanted the lighting to feel like a spaceship,” he added.
A large mirrored column in the middle of the store reflects its pared-down interior, which features a colour palette informed by the grey hues used for early computer designs.
A large mirrored column sits in the centre of the sandstone room
“We used a very restrained palette with the grey, monochrome sandstone on the floor and angled walls, high gloss white walls and ceiling, the black coves in the ceiling, and for the fixtures brushed stainless steel,” Halleroed said.
“The Max Lamb and Daniel Silver pieces contrast this, with their brown batik fabric and the white with patina and silver mannequins.”