In 2009, I worked on a project that utilized windows as canvases throughout the city. Each window would activate a written phrase. The project was called Take back the day and was inspired by artists like Jenny Holzer.
Tag: GSU
The Need
The Director of the School of Art and Design has asked for a new design to represent Georgia State University in the publications Art in America, Art Papers, and Artforum. The design should act as an advertisement for the fully funded MFA/MA Program at Georgia State. The ad will represent the school as part of its image and branding for 2011-2012 academic year. The overlaying message should communicate to a larger audience, making a significant impact on the public and raising awareness of the program among other colleges/universities.
In addition to the new design being a fresh idea to promote the school of art and design, the advertisement should communicate the program’s creative environment as well as its urban nature. The project brief states, “There is a need for any imagery to reflect the idea that GSU campus is an urban campus that stretches out among the corporate and downtown business community. The students and campus are an international community at large which is current and modern with a new President and Provost.”
The Design
The work reiterates the school’s need to highlight their creative environment as well as communicate the urban feel of the campus. Each solution adhered to the array of information that needed to be explained in a clear and concise manner. The use of typography, hierarchy, and composition were all considered strongly in the final design and production of the ads.
My design strategy uses images of the pavement, paint and cement of the city streets in order to achieve a sense of the urban environment in downtown Atlanta. The focus is on the abstract texture of downtown roads. In addition to this, I used photographs of stencils to create display type. This approach exemplifies the hands-on nature of an art department. The aspect of craft combined with urban textures makes my design concept.
The colors in my design are primarily grayscale by nature of the color scheme of downtown Atlanta. The concrete is gray; the paint is white. Because this is the case, the design could easily fit within a b&w print ad. Color should be used sparingly and for accent purposes only. The colors I’ve chosen to incorporate match the existing color scheme of Georgia State, red & blue.
Environmental Graphics is the study of how graphics in public and private spaces (i.e., in an environment) inform, educate, and guide users.
Wayfinding is the methodology of arranging indicators to guide people to their destinations. Signs are tools that aid in wayfinding. Architectural indicators such as light, color, materials, and pathways also play a large role in wayfinding. A successful wayfinding program is intuitive and self-navigable, and it protects the overall visual integrity of the site. Wayfinding is specific to its place and visitors.
Specifically, we are proposing new wayfinding solutions for the Arts and Humanities Building at Georgia State University on 10 Peachtree Center Avenue. The building has two wings on each floor and five floors total.
Last week, graduate students presented concepts to the art office that proposed better wayfinding solutions for the GSU Arts and Humanities building. The proposals were received well and steps to move forward with raising funds are underway.
Objectives
- Georgia State has requested a wayfinding system to improve user understanding of the Arts & Humanities Building.
- Choose a particular entrance to the building. Main entrance is proposed from Peachtree Center Ave by the galleries.
- Focus on the interior of the building firstly –Budget request is under 20K.
- Create a wayfinding strategy starting at the bank of elevators on the first floor.
- Create visual facsimiles of your concepts (photo-shopped photos) and follow it through each of the 5 floors as it relates to the elevator banks and the areas outside the elevators.
Design Intention
The Railway Wayfinding Concept offers a solution for the arts and humanities building that mimics the essence and style of some of the best-designed subways in the world. Specifically, I examined the New York Transit System and The Underground in London. The design employs striped patterns denoting pathways from each level of the building as well as from floor to floor in the stairwell. The uses of circle contained “destinations” denote floor levels. This package also includes a map that would be shown at each elevator landing denoting color scheme and floor level. Along with these design elements, a tile pattern will be adhered to certain surface areas of the building (primarily the main entrance walls of each floor). These could be used as pin-up areas as well.
Materials
Paint
PMS 404
PMS Black
PMS Black 5
PMS 301
PMS 420
Tiles: MDF cut squares
Epoxy and / or adhesive for tiling
Tape
Stencils
