Our presentation and critique: Semi-Final

   Today my group and I presented our testing and results and in return we got some feedback. Some of the feedback from the class as well as people we talked to about our project along Jayhawk Boulevard was that the signs needed to be bigger. Brittany. Kevin, and I redesigned the poster as well as made it larger. Here is a preview of what it looks like right now.

Testing our Wayfinding Solutions

   My group and I ended up choosing a blue poster for our project. We printed them out and I mounted them to some cardboard. Then, Brittany and I set up the whole project outside of Marvin, putting up the posters on the two light poles, and buildings along the way to the handicap entrance along with a duct tape path (for testing purposes; we would obviously use a more permanent solution if we were actually implementing this on campus) beginning from Jayhawk Boulevard to the Art & Design handicap entrance. Here are some pictures of our testing.

Update!

   I've been playing around with signs and how to make them more unique than just a standard letter size paper with Helvetica font and a picture. So, I decided to make it more literal. I chose to make the sign in the shape of an arrow, with the logo and title inside of it. I also changed the type of lines I used. I added the marker effect to the lines and then added it to the logo. The font is downloaded to match the effect as well, but I'm not sure if I like it yet! I am also in the process of deciding if I need color and if so, then how to incorporate it.

What is Ethnography?

   One of the assigned readings is over Ethnography; what it is, how to be an ethnographer, etc. This first reading was from Two West Discovery and Design. The object of ethnography is to determine how the consumer sees the product, the service, the innovation. Often, this is weird to us. We can’t see into the consumer’s head because we are, in a sense, captive of our own heads and hearts.  We have our own way of seeing and experiencing the world. This becomes somewhat of a barrier. Ethnography is designed to give us a kind of helicopter experience. It takes up out of what we know and lowers us into the world of the consumer. Ethnography is a confusing and time consuming method. When we first begin, we don’t know what we need to be asking. We are surrounding the consumer’s world looking for a way in.  Eventually, we formulate questions to figure out what works and what doesn't. We eventually begin to see how they see the world. This method is designed to allow us to learn through conversation rather than the typical, pre-planned and rehearsed questions. This lets the consumer feel as if they are the expert, and that they know what is best. After having the conversation, we have plenty of data, cultural and industrial information that we can start to look for ways to help the consumer. To make what they actually want and need.

Ideas for Signs! (Preliminary thoughts/drafts)

   I have been working on a few different ideas for the handicap signs. Here are a few of them incorporating the traditional handicap logo with a few different characteristics added. I added some paintbrushes and a backpack to the person, and I flipped the logo so that it was facing the same way the person would be traveling, which is toward the handicapped entrance. These are very, very rough drafts so don't flip yet!

P.S. I just noticed the random circle on the black handicap logo....I'll fix that! ;)

What is wayfinding?

My definition of wayfinding is:

   Wayfinding encompasses all of the ways in which people and animals direct themselves in physical space to navigate from point to point locations. Wayfinding can be indoors (architectural) and outdoors. Architectural wayfinding is commonly known as indoor navigation, which uses maps, information desks, or kiosks. Outdoor wayfinding uses street signs, maps, gps navigation, overhang signs on highways, markings on roads and buildings, etc. Wayfinding is used everyday by everyone without even knowing it sometimes.

   Here are some images of examples of wayfinding around the KU campus, and different cities. I want to go to London someday so I included a map of it! :)

Yay! Second semester!

   I am super excited for this semester and all of the great projects it will bring. My first project is a Wayfinding project. Wayfinding encompasses all of the ways in which people and animals direct themselves in physical space to navigate from point to point locations. Wayfinding can be indoors (architectural) and outdoors. Architectural wayfinding is commonly known as indoor navigation, which uses maps, information desks, or kiosks. Outdoor wayfinding uses street signs, maps, gps navigation, overhang signs on highways, markings on roads and buildings, etc. Wayfinding is used everyday by everyone without even knowing it sometimes.
   For this project, my group and I decided to create a path that would lead students from Jayhawk Boulevard to the Handicap entrance of the Art & Design building. This is important because right now there is a lot of construction between the normal path, so this will make it a lot easier for handicapped students trying to get to their art classes! What we plan to do is make a slightly raised path leading from the main sidewalk on Jayhawk Boulevard all the way to the entrance so that it is super easy to get to. We are also going to have signs posted on the light poles that are along the path and on the side of the building as well. This entrance is difficult to find, and is usually not well known unless you ask around.
  After we put up the path and the signs we are going to test it on our friends and maybe a few random people walking along the sidewalk to see how easy or difficult it was to get from Jayhawk Boulevard to the entrance. I am excited to get the ball rolling on this and see what creative things we can do! :)