OUGD501: Context of Practice 2 - Practical (Primary Research Wayfinding)

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Wayfinding:

I looked at some other aspects of wayfinding whilst I have been out an about, some use both type and image whilst others use one or the other. Wayfinding in shops tend to use just type which is very interesting and something that I would like to explore in more detail in CoP3. 

OUGD501: Context of Practice 2 - Group Crit

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April 29th 2014

As we have not had any concept or progress crits for the Context of Practice 2 Practical a small group of us decided to get together and have one of our own. I did not have a lot of physical content to show but I did have ideas. I had been struggling with an idea for a long while so I found this crit very helpful.

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My idea:

Create an Application and printed map for commuters in Leeds to find cafes with WiFi within a one mile radius of the train station. The map would play on augmented reality and allow people to hold their smart phone up and it will open in their maps area on their phones.

I know that I want to be able to test out the idea so to get an idea if it works. I am aware that this idea is not exact synthesis as my essay was a debate about whether type and image should work together in wayfinding.

I presented my ideas to the group and this was my feedback.

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Feedback:

• Not enough synthesis with my essay
• How can you try it out?
• Will you actually make the app?
• Who are your target audience?
• Would people not just google it?
• Would you need WiFi to be able to use the app anyway?

This feedback was very helpful and enabled me to change my idea into something that I could merge into my CoP3 response. 

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New concept:

Design an activity book and interactive website proving the key points of my essay in a visual way. Collect results from testing people on their knowledge and present them in an info-graphic as my final resolution.

I am very happy with the new concept and hope that it turns out to be successful.

OUGD501: Context of Practice 2 - Practical (Primary Research Symbols)

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Signs and Symbols:

Whilst out and about in Leeds I have been taking photos of the different signs and symbols used to represent something and direct people to amenities. I wanted to do this to look at the similarities and differences between each symbol. 

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M&S

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Wagamama:

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The Light Car Park:

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Mijas Car Park - Spain, Malaga. August 2013.

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Tesco

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Leeds College of Art

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Mrs Athas Leeds

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I have found that all symbols are different depending on the place their are. For example, the M&S toilet signs are much more detailed than any other symbol, I think that this is a reflection on the target audience who will be looking at the sign. The specific placement of the sign was a toilet with a joint baby change unit in the children's section of M&S, a contrast is the symbol on the door of the toilet in the women's department, this is a clear example of how a symbol is changed depending on who will be viewing it. 

Mrs Athas cafe does not use a symbol to represent the different toilets, they use old photographs as their target audience would probably engage more with it. The car parks are very interesting because they use the same symbols, this is interesting because they are both several hundred miles away from each other, this links to Otto Neurath's plan to develop a global language that will be recognised internationally. 

OUGD501: Context of Practice 2 - Practical Concept Development

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I have written my essay about wayfinding and signage, with a specific focus on the debate between type and image. I have really enjoyed writing the essay as it is something I am very interested in. Coming up with a practical concept is proving to be difficult as what I would like to do for this brief would probably be best suited for my CoP3 submission as I want to extensively research into the topic and the writers that I have theories on it. 

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Initial Ideas:

 I want to try and test out two maps of leeds, one with type and one with image and see which one is the most successful. This will be hard as I do not have alot of time to do this. I have to come up with a concept that will allow me to gather results quickly. 

We have not had any crits for this project which is incredibly disappointing. I feel that had I had some contact with Amber or Richard I would feel much more confident in approaching this brief. Seen as though I cannot have the crit that I feel I need I have decided to set up my own crit with some other students who feel the same as myself. 

Before this crit I want to sit down with one other student and brainstorm all the possibilites that I can think of for my practical element:

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Planning my publication:

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Planning the website:

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Final concept:

I am going to make an activity book and interactive website based on the key points I have covered in my essay. I will collect results from the activity book and make an information graphic to show the results.