Photography as Documentation: Mapping Time & Space

Ideas for a joinery photography project.

1. Mapping time: the creation of a table
joinery photography collage is in a shop (secound life studios) and documents craftmens working to create a table. Shots are taken from a single point. Shots to left of collage feature the stack of raw wood, to the right is the finished table. Pictures joined in back are off the time in between; The craftsmen working with their hands and power tools to create the piece of furniture. Possible pun opportunity because the process that is shown could be that of joinery

2. Mapping Change in Space and Environment: The change in Allen field house
Join photos taken from the same position of different events hosted at Allen fieldhouse. Example the left half of the collage could joined photos of a womens basketball game and then on the half court line it transitions into joined photos of a mens basketball game. Causes viewer to address the differences in the environment and crowd. This collage could also just feature a singular game but assembled on a floor plan with each photo corresponding to the view from that point on the collage.

3.Mapping time in dorm room:
Collage is created from pictures of visitors at my door. main photos could be joined but also printed on transparent paper so the outline of all the subjects can be seen. Collage would give a view of the community that visits my life. Or an alternative would be taking pictures of every diverse dorm room doorway in my hallway and joined them onto a unified wall. many of these doorways are decorated with sayings, posters, names, doodles, ect.

In communication it is usually more important how ones says something over what one actually says. Part of me is disgruntled with this fact  but it remains true. 

In the same way I think this is true of Design.

It is as important, if not more important, how something is Designed as is what the end solution is. 

The solution must be presented, communicated, sold, shared, expressed.

Project Redesign

After producing a presentation of our initial design solution and receiving feedback from the department and professors, we choose to redesign our solution.

Feedback

·        Solution is too modern, Jayhawk Boulevard is a historic area and any addition would need to blend to the environment.

·        Too many wayfinding elements scattered throughout area

·        Graphics on the sidewalk will be obscured by pedestrians

·        Wayfinding devices need to be visible despite crowds

·        Appears overwhelming and disorganized, looking for information in too many places, in too many forms

Redesign Goals

·        Synthesize and unite design elements into one area/feature

·        Create a classic historic aesthetic that meets the existing architecture

·        Provide specific information on each bus route

·        Create a system that users at bus stops can use to know the expected arrival time of their desired route

·        Make the bus stops have a sense of space/node

·        Make bus stops uniform and identifiable 

Our initial design solution focused on improving signage and information related to transit along Jayhawk Boulevard. Our two part design solution included unified signage on posts and sidewalks as well as a posted digital sign that displayed incoming route information at each bus stop. We created sketches, CAD models, renderings, graphics, and mockups when researching and designing.

Design project inspirations:

For the Wayfinding Project, my group and I selected transit navigation for the University of Kansas campus. The KU campus is closed for through traffic during regular school hours and thus the majority of students rely on a combination of walking and riding the bus system. With this in mind we decided the most effective improvement we could make would be to improve the bus transit experience along the most traveled street on campus, Jayhawk Boulevard. 

Using brainstorming strategies we made a list of problems with this major campus street has.  Our group reflected on our own personal experiences as well as polling students and visitors. We noticed that the bus stops and routes were not only confusing for new students and visitors but even for seasoned students.  A major area of frustration for bus riders was which bus was coming and when it would it arrive.  Knowing how long it will take would help them know if it would be faster to walk or if they have to time to wait inside a shelter.

My list of design criteria for the wayfinding project

Wayfinding Solution to improve Bus Transit system on Jayhawk Boulevard.

¨ Lack of Bus Route Information

¨ Lack of campus maps

¨ Waiting for buses

¨ Uncertainty on bus arrival time

¨ Difficulty identifying bus stops

¨ Not knowing upcoming route

¨ Bus stop lighting at night

¨ Visitor confusion