The use of this list was unknown until today when we received the project brief, "How to...".We splint into groups of six and given a problem from the list per group. My group consists of me, Elliot, Molly, Taylor, Ryan and Joe. We have to identify the problem which we are given and find a way to resolve it through graphic design. My group were given the task of creating solution to "not knowing your way around a new city (transport etc.)".
We brainstormed ideas and answered the questions on the brief as followed:
Our group discussion and brainstorm led us to believe that the best solution for a LCA student that didn't know their way around is a map that can be kept on the student at all times. We settled on focussing our project around creating a credit card sized map, so that so that students can keep it in their wallets without hassle. We chose to make our target audience Liberty Park residence that were attending LCA, as that is were the majority of students stay. We are also hoping to create maps for the rest of the student accommodations if we have time.
The map will include:
-Bus Times/routes to LCA
-A map with a highlighted route from Liberty Park to LCA
-An 8 step street view guide from Liberty Park to LCA
-Contact information for LCA
-A QR code for users to give feedback on the map
We began looking at other pocket map designs to learn the best way to fold our map to include everything we wanted. We created a prototype with paper which we agreed worked well which you can see below.
Below is a template that I created later that night so that we knew where everything would be printed. The other side only has the 8 pictures which would be easy to do.
I also did some research into Massimo Vignelli and Harry Beck, who are both well known for their info graphic subway maps. Both of their designs follow a colour co-ordinated "dot and line system" which Massim Vignelli explains in this video.
Vignelli's Design (created in 1972)
Beck's Design created in (1933)
We took inspiration from these designs as they have achieved exactly what we want to do. They make complex systems easy to understand, even to people who haven't used them before, like tourists (in our case, fresher students).
We are hoping to create an info graphics inspired map that has numbered dots that refer the street view photos on the reverse of the map. We also hope to use colour scheme hat will help users of the map understand it easier.
