Design Process - Research

As a group of 4, we were tasked with designing a personal sign system and a way finding system that would create an interaction with people in public spaces.

Key words for ideas

• public stairways
• shopping centres
• public buildings
• road/traffic signs
• interactive
• engaging
• super-graphics
• colour/scale/shapes
• entrances/exits
• control
• environment

social conventions or norms

• keeping to one side of the road
• following sign directions
• not sitting next to someone you do not know
• listening to music with headphones
• 'one way'/'no entry' systems
• giving way to someone else/opening doors for someone else

Their alternatives

• moving into the road
• disregarding sign direction
• sitting next to someone you don't know
• playing music out loud
• going against one way and no entry signs
• allowing yourself to go first

By exploring ways that might go against social norms and conventions, we may be able to attract the attention of the public and create diversions, new connections and make people stop or interact in some way with our sign system.

Sol LeWitt
Sol LeWitt is best known for his large-scale wall drawings which mainly consist of paint and pencil designs using grid systems, colour rendering and shapes. As one on the leading creatives in Conceptual art, LeWitt's work reflects similarities with super-graphics as many of the pieces made by him share a style that can be seen throughout 3D art, printed art and interactive street art. When looking at his work, a pattern emerges that shows he focuses on keeping colours flat and contained within geometric shapes and lines. The same can be said about several sculptures created by him, as they share a similar style to the large wall designs.

Candy Chang - Before I Die
this piece of street art was inspired by the feeling Candy had when someone close to her died. From this she created a piece that asks the public what they wish to do before they die. The piece consists of a chalk board wall with several responses from passers-by, detailing what they want to do in life before they die. A pot of chalk pieces also prompts people to write on the wall, which is another engaging aspect of this installation.

Aakash Nihalani - Domino

This public street art shows coloured tape stuck to a wall to look like 3D rectangles toppling over one another. As shown in the photograph, this piece is engaging with its environment because people can take photographs next to it, pretending to hold up the 3D objects.

Colour Me Katie - Dreams

This artist has created several street art pieces that show engagement with passers-by. By sticking thought bubbles on walls in public spaces, it makes people walking past look as though they are thinking.