UCI Informatics 282 | Fall 2018
People have mastered the ability to walk on water as the polar ice has completely melted. Women clothing contributes to the green effort, incorporating plants and flowers. The paparazzi has evolved into flying robot-drones. The campaign is a holographic yellow booth. This is to maintain the continuity and familiarity of design with a ten-year campaign. The interaction continues to be connecting people with children with cancer, as this continues to be a serious social problem.
Persona
Scenario
Michelle is walking back to her apartment from work, and needs to stop by Santa Monica Place to buy a new cooking apron. On her way there, she sees a giant balloon installation and stops to see what is happening there. She reads about the childhood cancer campaign that’s being promoted, and decides to purchase and blow up a balloon to contribute to the cause. They let her tie her balloon to the grouping, and also tell her to stop by again or save the website address to see the progress of the balloon installation over the promenade. She walks to work the next week and is surprised to see that the balloons cover a good portion of the promenade section!
Storyboard
Links can be found here:
Idea # 1 (Tunnels + pathways made from plastic bottles)
Location: Downtown Santa Monica near the pier
Nonprofit Organization/s: Sustainable Works, a nonprofit environmental education organization & The City of Santa Monica
Urban Intervention: Two to three tunnels made from painted, recycled water bottles constructed along the pedestrian, bike, and one-way (two lane) traffic paths on Colorado Avenue. The respected travelers can pass through these tunnels to experience them. They would be colored in blue tones, forming various waves to tie it to the ocean.
Santa Monica is a green city that promotes an environmentally-aware living through recycling and alternative modes of transportation. Since it sees many international travelers on a monthly basis, this could reach many audiences and make them more conscious of their waste within the city and worldwide.
Idea # 2 (Art installation promoting childhood cancer awareness)
Location: Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica or Santa Monica Place (where it is more enclosed, and less subject to weather restrictions)
Nonprofit Organization/s: The Pablove Foundation, a nonprofit organization specializing in childhood cancer and funding of pediatric cancer research (https://www.pablove.org/shutterbugs/) & The City of Santa Monica
Urban Intervention: A balloon installation over the promenade that represents cancer cells (in marigold to homage childhood cancer). Below, there could be installation panels or a small pop-up structure/playground detailing childhood cancer research information.
3rd Street already has a lot of culture and public art to promote both relaxation and expression. Since it is pedestrians-only, this would intrigue passers-by to get a closer look and engage with the installation.
Idea # 3 (Cutouts of yoga poses to promote free classes + women empowerment)
Location: The Palladio Mall in Folsom, California
Nonprofit Organization/s: Girls Inc. This is a network of local girls, managed by a nonprofit organization serving girls ages 6-18 in United States and Canada. Their objective: “Our research-based programming is delivered by trained professionals who focus on the development of the whole girl, supporting, mentoring, and guiding girls in an affirming, pro-girl environment. Here, girls learn to value their whole selves, discover and develop their inherent strengths, and receive the support they need to navigate the challenges they face.”
Urban Intervention: A set of life-sized cutout female figures spread across the mall. These figures will all be females performing either yoga or running. Images will include women of different ages, sizes, and life-stages including pregnancy. This will be to promote a free yoga class given every day for the period of two weeks. The purpose of this even is to attract the local female community at a fun event, raise awareness about the organization’s existence, methods of involvement with the organization, and a huge opportunity for donations.
Note: There is a yoga class that already takes place at the Palladio. It happens twice a week. This event will tap into the existing participants, but the aim of the event will be to increase participation and involvement of local community with the organization and the girls who benefit from the organization services.
My mappings site was Downtown Santa Monica, near the pier. Locals usually go there to eat, shop and have a good time. One of my personally favorite things to do is go and watch the sunset (overlooking the beach) after having a drink with friends. The following narrative precedes Friendsgiving and what happens after my experience at the grocery store…
In a sleepless daze, my friend tells me that I need to bring pie to the party. Pie? What should be in it? Should it be savory or sweet? As I battle another driver in the Whole Foods parking lot for the last space, I prevail after realizing that I make amazing pie crust. Walking in, there are carts galore. I should have brought a hand basket instead of lugging around this huge metal bin on wheels. I do not try to explore, yet go in knowing exactly what I need to get to make this pie spectacular. Ground nutmeg, organic pumpkin puree, half-and-half… wow, this is going to be good! For all of my vegetarian friends, I have to opt for coconut shortening instead of the tasty stuff: lard. Fast forward to the party in Venice. Celebration time! The best homemade pumpkin pie dolloped with whipped cream and a glass of champagne to wash it all down. Let’s all ride our bikes to the beach and watch the sunset over the Santa Monica mountains.
I explored downtown Santa Monica, California near the Third Street Promenade. On any given day, there are a lot of pedestrians and cyclists moving around, and I found that walking and writing notes didn’t get in anyone’s way. Walking along the promenade, it was a little hard to go “right” or “left,” so I switched between sides and was able to make hard rights or lefts at the intersections. I found myself noticing and observing people more than the buildings that surrounded me because the storefronts were all so similar. The architecture that stood out was the taller office buildings (which was hard to come by), so I instead focused on the environment that was created between the buildings. What I didn’t see a lot of were street performers, which, on any other day, would have been in the double digits.
I would have to admit that I may have objectively described an environment I wasn’t familiar with better than this one because I have walked down this promenade hundreds of times… everything that is the same as before gets kind of blurred out. Overall, it was a fun experience that made me notice more architectural details that I would have otherwise dismissed.
Alexa’s Apartment
Here is a map of my apartment space and the usual paths of my roommate and I when we get home from work. We have both common and private areas.
Alexa’s Apartment Building & Parking
Here is a map of my apartment building complex and the parking spots with adjacent tenant’s spaces. We can see how some spaces are closer than others to their particular building.
Alexa’s Neighborhood
Traffic tends to get increasingly worse after 3 pm. Surrounding my building is the I-405 Freeway and other major streets which get gridlocked during the later parts of the day. You can see which side of the street has more action versus going the opposite direction.
SITE
The site that I am observing for this project is located in Santa Monica, California. More specifically, the cross streets are Lincoln Boulevard and Broadway. There are numerous businesses, housing complexes and construction taking place on any given day, and the diversity of people is infinite. There are tourists coming from out of country, but also residents from down the street that populate the area and make it thrive. There is a historical Quonset hut from WWII that has been turned into a burger joint.
TRAFFIC + TRANSPORTATION
Broadway has one lane per way, and is the street that goes directly towards the Third Street Promenade. There are tons of meters, parking structures, biking lanes, and cars that occupy the area. I would say that Santa Monica is one of the most bike-friendly cities in the Los Angeles area because of the dedicated lanes. There is also the Metro light rail that connects Santa Monica with DTLA and other major areas.
RESTAURANTS + SHOPPING
Standing at the intersection, there are more than fifteen businesses in view. From restaurants, to grocery stores, to deli shops, to coffee shops, there is a lot of activity from residents and people who work in the area. There is also a museum and public library in walking distance, which attracts people of all ages.
VEGETATION , RECREATION AREAS + PARKS
There are at least three parks within a couple blocks in which people play basketball, soccer or just relax. The beach is also within ten blocks west which attracts people of all backgrounds. You’ll find bikers, volleyball players and performers looking for activities to be a part of. Tongva Park, which is adjacent from the Santa Monica Pier, has an overlook bridge in which you can capture images of the ocean, skateboard, or take part in an acroyoga group twice a week. The pier is somewhat of a small amusement park full of games and rollercoaster rides.
HISTORY + MUSEUMS
As mentioned previously, there are landmarks from WWII as well as other historical landmarks. There is the Santa Monica History Museum, located within the public library, and the Santa Monica Pier Museum located off of the famous pier and visitor’s center.
FORCE MAPS
Force 1: Restaurants
Force 2: Parks
Force 3: Public Transportation
Force 4: Entertainment
Force 5: Art & History
Final Map:
Coachella is a fairly popular, annual music/arts festival located in Indio, California. I was interested in seeing what kind of maps they provided to their guests (so that they could easily facilitate their way around the festival grounds), how the design of their map matches their brand, and if it’s as “ethereal” of an experience as it sounds. Let’s take a closer look…
The principle von Restorff Effect is used here to distinguish the large-scale art installations from the stages and food venues. You’ll notice that these icons aren’t labeled or outlined, but they are so different from anything else on the map that it would draw a user’s attention and increase their recognition… these large forms are typically used as visual cues for meeting up with friends at specific places on the grounds.
The principle consistency can be seen throughout this map to efficiently detect where the stages are located. Each stage is clearly labeled with the same, all-caps font with a dark shadow behind it to increase visibility. The landmarks also represent the size and shape of the physical architecture to compare with others. I will admit that the visibility of the map as a whole is limited by the background color in relation to specific icons that are also in the pastel color scheme.
The principle wayfinding is very evident throughout the use of this map. There are clear icons that identify with basic needs such as food, water and restrooms, while there are clear indications of orientation as a user could recognize the size and shapes of each icon while they are navigating the environment. The signage they employ inside the festival is large and visible, so that the user can determine if they’ve reached their destination or not.
Sidenote: I couldn’t use the following map for this exercise because it doesn’t pertain to a specific place… but check out this really awesome foodie interactive map! Instagram Food Capitals
Wayfinding is the process in which people understand, orient and guide themselves through a physical environment by use of information and visual cues. Orientation, Route Decision, Route Monitoring and Destination Recognition are the four stages that are used in wayfinding.
First, orientation refers to establishing one’s location in relation to nearby landmarks and objects within the space. Signage and ‘you are here’ markers plays a major role in helping one determine their location and direction. After someone orients themselves in an environment, the second stage is determining which route to take to arrive at their destination, called route decision. The easiest way of visually deciding which route is fastest is by use of a map. While en route to the destination, the person will detect their route along the way to make sure they are going the right direction. This stage is called route monitoring. The last stage is called destination recognition, and refers to the person being able to determine that they have reached their final destination. The destinations should be made clear by identities and signage.
This map and map key are examples from the book. It shows the wayfinding system within the Pittsburgh Zoo, with landmarks, symbols and areas that are easily identifiable.
This example is wayfinding within the Seattle Children’s Hospital. It has clear zone identification by means of different themes and colors for each particular level. The graphics give the environment a playfulness directed towards furthering children’s imagination and helps make them feel at ease. The signage is clear and easy to understand, using small logos to help indicate areas (for those who can’t read English).
This is an example of wayfinding at the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, California. There is a plethora of restaurants and retail shops within just a few blocks, and the map located at the intersection of each main street shows where the person is in relation to the entire walkway. There is consistency in color, font, and shape of all signage, which helps with route monitoring and destination recognition. The map also shows the person in relation to the beach, public transit and parks that are within walking distance.
Wabi-sabi is a traditional Japanese philosophy that embraces the “impermanent, imperfect and incomplete.” Wabi is a concept that refers to beauty in the unique and unrepeated, while sabi refers to beauty that can be found after time has passed and worn an object. In design, it can be applied to singular objects as well as interior design and architecture. Wabi-sabi is seen as a ways to appreciate weathered materials, natural processes and simplicity. It opposes traditional Western ideals of symmetry and flawless durability, and values the organic forms and materials found in nature.
This example is from the book… it showcases unfinished wood materials and asymmetrical but modern forms on the exterior of the house. The interior shows the raw aesthetic of the rope alongside the staircase and organic, natural shapes of the decor.
This example shows the interior of The Musket Room, a New Zealand-inspired restaurant located in New York, New York. One of the walls features “lime-washed exposed brick” and wishbone dining chairs, each made to look unique and hand-carved. The details show weathered materials to enhance its beauty.
This is an example of Tiffany’s bowl that reflects the ideas of wabi-sabi. It’s finished, decorative glaze is asymmetrical in design, and seems intentionally unintentional and natural in gesture. It features a muted dark brown often found outside. The table it’s sitting on could also be considered of the same aesthetic, as it is an unfinished, natural wood.
This is the generic version of the famous “DSW” Eames Chair, but much cheaper and from my local World Market. I liked the design so much that I have two of the same chair, originally bought for the living room to provide extra seats for friends. When I moved to my current apartment, I didn’t have a proper desk chair and borrowed the second from the other room. Besides the material being quite hard and cold, the plastic is actually molded well to a human form. Although it doesn’t have armrests, it is comfortable enough to sit in for an hour or so (to watch a movie or play board games on the coffee table). The height of the seat is perfect for me to rest my feet flat on the ground (being five feet tall), but I suppose it would be different for taller people. Aesthetically it is pleasing, and it gets the job done.
I posted about this chair as the “object I hate” because I avoid sitting at the dining table because of it. It is a stool and provides a curved top for a more comfortable experience, but it’s other features prove otherwise. The foot rests are too high to rest on, as my knees are constantly in a weird, disjointed position. It also has no back rest, and promotes bad posture and pain if I sit here for over thirty minutes. The only time I find this stool of use is when I have to climb up high to reach something. I bought these in college because they were $12 each, but feel like I haven’t gotten my money’s worth because they are not ergonomically comfortable.
My boyfriend’s roommate is a drummer, so we use this chair to play his keyboard. It is an ergonomically cushioned seat, and is the most comfortable “stool” I have ever sat on. The cushion is lined with leather, and the top is a nice, black velvet fabric that provides a pleasant smoothness. The height can be adjusted by the metal knob on the main stand, and the feet are made of rubber to help absorb shock when a drummer is going hard. So far on the list, this is my favorite chair. Although it doesn’t have a back rest, this probably gives a drummer the ability to move around better. I should also mention that it swivels to accommodate where the person has to pivot. It is a superb stool.
My boyfriend’s desk has an IKEA office chair. While he says it was fairly cheap, it is quite ergonomically fitting and comfortable. The fabric is made of vinyl which absorbs most of my body heat, the arm rests allow for me to be rested at the desk, and there is a lever below to adjust the height. I’ve noticed that changes in height make a big difference in terms of fitting a number of people, and this could market easily to a mass majority. Although it doesn’t have an extreme amount of cushion, it keeps the user from falling asleep to be more productive. It’s a mediocre chair that works better than a standard four-legged chair for someone sitting at a desk.
Okay, I know this looks ridiculous… but it’s more of a placemaking technique for Lake Las Vegas. It is a white, wooden oversized picnic/lawn chair that isn’t really for function, but mostly fun and looks. Because of the size, it acted as more of a lounge chair because my feet were barely reaching the edge of the seat. The seat was slanted downwards, making it quite comfortable to rest against the backing, but that made it difficult to get up and out of it. The armrests served as a nice surface to put our coffee, and if it were normal-sized, it would probably be a properly functioning picnic chair. Overall, this felt like more of an art piece to experience something larger than life and provided a fun novelty.
This is a picture I took of a bus bench in Amsterdam back in May. While I thought it was cute and aesthetically interesting because of the illustration on it, it was a decent bench. Made of wooden planks bolted to a metal frame, the form contoured to my body. This bench was intended for people waiting around for little amounts of time, and didn’t serve much past it’s function. The form also affords for people to lie down if needed!
I made this chair out of one piece of cardboard for a Principles of Design class back in undergrad. I was aiming for a more unique formed chair, and didn’t pay much attention to comfort (and passing the assignment by having an 150-pound person sit on it without having it collapse). If I’m being honest, the back didn’t serve much of a function because it wasn’t secured during construction, so the comfort of the chair wasn’t prevalent. I enjoyed the process of making it, but probably should have focused more attention on the comfort and human ergonomics.
An object I love…
is this cheese grater! I’m not going to lie; I may have bought it purely for aesthetic reasons, but was surprised when it actually worked well. Each of the four sides has different-sized openings used for a variety of grating styles. In this particular picture, the horizontal holes are used to slice things with an even thickness (which I have used for radishes and zucchinis). It’s logical constraints limit this item to be used only as sharp items are used, but its form and slant signify the grater be set down on a flat surface (such as a cutting board) so the cheese or other delicacy be spread out easier than from a vertical surface. The handle on top affords itself to be held down while used… and while it may seem uncomfortable to hold, it’s actually quite fitting for a hand. For me, it goes beyond obvious need or expectation, and entices people with its unique shape and finish for a regular kitchen item.
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An object I hate…
is this stool! Okay, I know this is a repeat picture and object from our chairs post… but I seriously despise having to sit on this for more than five minutes. Of course the affordance of the shape and size of this object is to sit down, but because it doesn’t provide any back rest, it is extremely uncomfortable. The pieces of wood towards the bottom also afford for the person sitting to rest their feet on it, but the height isn’t low enough for it to feel natural. I will say, however, that this stool lends itself to be used as a step-stool to reach things on the top shelf of the cabinet. Its seat slightly adheres to contour bias, which is probably the reason I bought it at the thrift store over the traditional, circular-topped stool.
Located in the city center of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the Markthal building is the country’s first covered marketplace. It was designed by dutch architectural firm MVRDV in response to the city’s competition in 2004 for a market hall that would double as a residential space. Completed in October of 2014, it’s arch stands at 40 meters tall and comprises of 228 apartments ranging from two to five bedrooms. Below, the open space consists of 96 stalls for food and produce, 20 units for retail shops, and an underground parking garage. The designers utilized the space above the stalls by adding space to eat, lounge, and grow plants. Printed on perforated panels of the curved internal arch is a large mural of produce and flowers by artists Arno Coenen and Iris Roskam. This is one of the largest murals to date, as it covers 11,000 square meters of surface. This multi-functional space combines all of these different elements to be considered a frequented urban architectural landmark in Rotterdam.
If you know nothing about the history of Rotterdam, it is quite fascinating. Most of the city was bombed during World War II, and since has rebuilt itself with loads of culture and modern architecture galore. I first saw and got to experience this massive building after exiting the Blaak train station walking towards my hostel for the weekend. This building affords to walk through it, as any other massive piece of architecture might. The glass facade affords translucency so that people know they can explore inside but the grid of stainless steel cables and glass panels are an anti-affordance to the outside elements. Not to mention, the building is sustainable and practices methods to reduce environmental impact. Locals think it is an eye sore, but its uniqueness caught me off-guard. From a design standpoint, the space is highly functional and caters to the urban citizen.
https://www.britannica.com/place/Rotterdam-Netherlands
https://www.archdaily.com/553933/markthal-rotterdam-mvrdv
