The Brief

This week we were tasked, in groups of 3, to research and create a signage intervention in DJCAD. We were to make and install a physical sign or object that would affect the behaviour of the people in our chosen space. We were then to discreetly observe and document peoples reactions and interactions with the signage.

Primary Research

For our primary research we took a wander round DJCAD to see how signage was used and to get some inspiration for our project.

Once we had walked round the buildings we collated our images into a mood board to see them all side by side. Upon reflection our images aren’t so much of signs but more of art work and irony. This showed us that despite all the signs around the building, the things that stood out most were the marks left on the building by past and present students. We realised that what makes DJCAD so unique is the personal touches people have added to the building.

Looking back I think we should have payed a little more attention to the signage as walking round now I realise how much there is and how useful yet bland it is.

Hop-Scotch Experiment

For further research we wanted to observe how people used the space outside the lecture theatres. We decided to disrupt the norm and place a hop-scotch on the floor to see if anyone would take it upon them selves to do it or if they would just walk round or over it.

Our findings were that out of 95 people who walked through the hall 11 used the hop scotch, 57 walked past and 27 walked over it. One insight we did gather is that people were more likely to use the hop-scotch if they were in friendship group. This showed that people don’t like to be the only person acting outwith the social norm, whereas if they are in a group who are all participating they feel less awkward and more inclined to take part.

Playing Card Experiment

For this experiment we wanted to see if, given the opportunity, people would use a set of playing cards they found lying in one of the pits. We sat and observed the cards and how people acted around them. After sitting for 15 minutes we were starting to get a bit sceptical as to wither anyone would use the cards but eventually two people who were waiting for the print shop to reopen after lunch came and sat next to the cards and proceeded to play with them. However, they were the only people to use the playing cards in the hour and a half they were there, we had various groups of people sit next to them but they either did not acknowledge they were there or decided not use use them.

Looking back I think we should have made a sign of some sort to show that the cards were there for anyone to use, as they looked like they had accidentally been left. I also think people would have been more inclined to use them if they had the reassurance that they were there to be used.

Secondary Research

For our secondary research we collated images of signs, statues, installations and public projects to try and get a broad idea of how others have engaged the public in a familiar place.

We were really interested in the interactive projects as they engaged the public and were encouraged to step out of their comfort zone.

Initial Ideas

One of our initial ideas was to put a “leave your mark” sign up outside the lecture theatres along with a large piece of paper and some paint, pens, pencils ect. However, we quickly realised that whilst it was a nice idea it could end up very messy and people would be unlikely to do it if they were to get messy in the middle of the day.

We decided to go back to the brief and try and take a simpler look at it in terms of what we could do. This gave us the idea to make small, subtle changes to a familiar environment and see if anyone would notice them.

Question Marks

For our sign concept we decided to place question marks onto existing signs to see if people would notice them and if so, how they would react. Adding question marks to signs would also change their tone. We decided to place the question marks on various sings from our studio to the cafe and back again. As we were putting them up we got a few giggles from fellow students walking past and some very odd looks off of a lot of staff.

After leaving the question marks up over night we had a walk round to see if they were all still there and how people were reacting to them. Almost half of our question marks had been taken down over the course of the night, we are not 100% sure why but we think some people weren’t to happy with them as they did look tacky and like someone was trying to have a laugh.

In reflection I think we could have chosen a slightly more advanced concept as ours was very simple and didn’t take much time or effort to put together. However, after talking to some classmates we found that they did in fact do what we were hoping, despite them being subtle people did notice them and wondered why they were there and who had put them up. Some people found the question marks funny on some of the signs which is always a bonus.

Conclusion

In conclusion I think we worked really well as a group to do research and come up with various ideas, however, I think we chose the wrong concept to take further as our other concepts had much more depth and imagination behind them.