Tuesday, 29 November 2016

Study Task 1: Wayfinding Video

Study task 1



Key considerations when approaching this task:
-       Is it interactive?
-       Will it be static?
-       Can it move or change?
-       What were you testing/ trying to achieve?
-       Would people react to something out of the ordinary in an everyday space?
-       How did it stand out, was it obstructive, was it playful?

Our video set out to be both playful and non-static. We wanted to create an environment that was distorted from an ordinary in a simple and low-cost way. The balloons perfectly enabled this 'random' environment where nothing was planned out or predictable in terms of its placement and peoples interaction. Due to it's interactive and playful nature, it was expected that some people would indulge and others wouldn't, however, against general stereotypes, this was not dependant on age as shown in the video. 

Semiotics of signs
Frutiger analyses shapes  to look at the psychology on how we respond to them in the form of signage. We used circles in the context of balloons, with the basis that Frutiger analyses that a viewer feels a sensation of claustrophobia with a sign that is inside a circle.  As they were outside the circle in this context, the audience may have felt a stronger freedom and confidence in some places (which led them to kick or header the balloon/circle). This may also be due to the separate set of connotations surrounding a balloon – it’s playful and not static, its always moving in all directions due to its lightweight nature. It could be considered nostalgic for some, or annoying for others depending on their own association with this common figure.

Audience, scale, contrast impact and clarity:
Was it tested in the right places – how would reactions vary in different locations – up and down or horizontal plains?
Due to the weather conditions, and the very heavy rain, it was hard to try out a lot of places with our concept. We were originally kicked out of trinity centre as balloons were considered a hazard there, this left up with very few options for how we could produce the type of wayfinding. With bad weather also effects the moods and attitudes of the public and thus their scale of interaction. Pathetic fallacy, I feel, did play a big part in affecting the scale and type of interaction we had.

Critique response:
Comparing and contrasting with other groups, and spotting trends in wayfinding for additional research

It was evident that…
-       Girls and boys signs seem very applicable; people have strong subconscious associations with the gender symbols and their own doors or paths that an individual identifies with and thus feels is directed at them as it is all-inclusive and not specific to certain people.

-       No entry signs or signals people take more seriously. A physical obstruction means people have no choice but to go around or avoid this is what was seen in all videos that included this sort of wayfinding obstruction.
-     People found it generally hard to get the public to interact, and that most likely, a more professional outlet would attract more people. 



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