For this way finding experience for children Erica and I wanted to challenge the children to think abstractly about the material and processes used to create each of the 6 outlined sculptures in the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art Sculpture Park. The sculptures were represented with a an object which is familiar to children. The icons for these objects are introduced upon opening the map for the first time. This allows the child to become engaged in them and narrows there focus. Here the map explains that the icon is here to lead to you to your friends who will introduce you to the sculptures. At each sculpture the child learns more about how the icon relates to the sculpture, does a short activity, and collects a piece of paper with that icon on it as a token of completion. These pieces of paper can be taken to the arts and crafts tent to allow the children to create a head band or sash for the afternoon parade around the park.

This project was very helpful to my growth as a youth focused designer. I now realize how its important to present children with playful and engaging things, rather then a static composition with bright colors. I also really enojoyed the user testing of the project because of the ability user testing has to reveal a flaw in the design that you may have overlooked. For instance how the children in our user testing experience had a hard time find a sculpture which was represented in a non-pictorial manner, therefore we made the decision to include the teen guides with shirts matching the icons as the new destination.

On a side note I’ve decided to enter my Woven Stripes collection site in the Adobe Design Achievement Awards!

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Enjoy this weather!

Don’t Slow Down

1. Without a literal comparison between map and sculpture younger children cannot make the instantaneous connection between an abstract icon and something which is visually different in the real world. So the pictorial gap between life and map should be bridged for the sole purpose of way finding and activating the sculpture garden.

2. While some elements on the map are there such as compass and key, they can be brought up is visual hierarchy in order to emphasize there functionality.

3. Although the map contains reference points it might be useful to include more, or atleast make those which are present more pictorial.

4. The art making activity doesn’t need to include the paper bag vest.

texture is king

Here’s is the full publication

OPTION 1

Why: Training daily (running, weights, and diet)
What: Detailed training routines
Who: Runners World, Nike
How: Specific training routines with a focus on the graphic representation of the plan. A focus on the quality of the visual as much as the quality of the information. Running schedules, weight training schedules, diets, and most importantly a balanced rest schedule.
Where: Runners purchase shoes quite frequently, therefore a partner ship between Runners World (the supplier of the training information) and Nike. But more specifically Nike+ enabled shoes & shoe boxes which already include a gadget that you put in your Nike running shoe to sync up your distances and times to you computer and iphone helping track this training information as presented by Runners World.

OPTION 2

Why: Chance of Injury
What: Cryocup, a freezable cup which allows you you hold a plastic top which is unfrozen and massage the muscles directly with ice.
Who: Cryocup inc., Boston Marathon (you can’t compete if your hurt, therefore they can’t make money, so they’re invested in your health and injury prevention)
How: Loose slogan: “Even though Boston is over, the race isn’t” basically getting at the idea that there is a chapter necessary to athletic competition beyond the “game”, and that chapter is recovery, and injury prevention, so ice your muscles in order to compete again. It would also be nice to have an element of recovery speed, because it quickens the recovery process.
Where: Cryocup packaged a bag of peas inside The Boston Marathon finish line, banners, billboards and giveaways.

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OPTION 3

Why: Positivity during hard physical activity
What: Motivational messaging that encourages runners to keep going! They can do it!
Who: The New York City Marathon, American Running Association/Road Runners Club of America
How: Loose slogans, “What’s just another step?” playing off the idea that you’ve made it this far whats just one more step? “Mind is everything” Mind over matter mentality. “Whether you believe you can or believe you can’t, you’re probably right.” -Henry Ford, “Don’t bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.” -William Faulkner, “The difference between a jogger and a runner is an entry blank.” -George Sheehan, “He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.”,- Muhammad Ali, “We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort.”-Jesse Owens, This is where you will win the battle — in the playhouse of your mind. –Maxwell Maltz, “Anything worth while will not come easy.”, Man imposes his own limitations, don’t set any -Anthony Bailey, Your biggest task is not to get ahead of others, but to surpass yourself.
Where: A Responsive and moving installation at the Boston Marathon to encourage runners along their route. Maybe presenting runners with inspiration at researched “HARDEST” point of the race. Most common place for when runners “hit the wall”.

CONCEPT #2