1.Whyte and Gibbs analyzed the sidewalks, window displays, and placement of plants, seating, and trash cans. but their approach to the city design were from two different perspectives.Whyte's perspective is from a bystander wacthing and analyzing how the pedestrians interact with the city design.His focus was on the effectiveness of a short distance form the storefront and the streets, the importance of landscape like large trees, the way pedestrians interact with their surrounding and the importance of a crowded but flowing pedestrian crowd. Gibbs' perspective was from a professional who looks at the flaws of the city design. His focus was on how to improve the city, but eliminating the landscape he thought was unneccessary and creating automobile traffic.Whyte was more convincing to me because his focus was based on the people who enjoy the city design. He pointed out all aspects of the city design and even if some things were flawed he explained how the pedestrains found other uses for the failures. He showed how the crowd dealt with the city they flow into daily.
2. The elements of a urban area I find particularly attractive is the atmosphere. I like the congested sidewalks full of pedestrains quickly flowing through the city, the vendors who hassle the pedestrains , the restaurants, the stores, and style of the building. The feeling I get of not being safe repels me from the city.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
"CITY"
1.The author's key points in the chapter were based on the elements he believed made up the good street. He described the good street as having buildings flush to the sidewalk, stores along the frontage, and the doors and windows on the street.To distinguish the description from many existing streets he presented them into enitrely new terms. The good street was now one that has a multiple-access block, continuous fenestration,and rhythmic repetitions of entry points.The author also focused on simple items like benches, clocks,drinking fountains and trash containers that if placed in relation to its use would make them succeed functionally on the good street.
2. Whyte's ideas and Norman's concepts were similiar in that they both were geared toward the behavioral and reflective design aspects. In an example, Whyte appealed to behavioral design when talking about trash cans. He notes that the trash can was a failure as a container to hold garbage but succeeds as a shelf, table, desk,stand,and footrest for a passerby.He appealed to reflective design when he talks about the concept of a good street giving off a homely sense. Whyte's and Norman's ideas about the visceral aspect of design were different. Norman believes the the visceral design is one of the more important factors because it deals with the initial reaction from the consumer that makes them want a product , the "wow factor". Whyte believes that too much good taste from designers with the same good taste results is bland conformity.
3.To analyze and urban area I would use the following checklist:
2. Whyte's ideas and Norman's concepts were similiar in that they both were geared toward the behavioral and reflective design aspects. In an example, Whyte appealed to behavioral design when talking about trash cans. He notes that the trash can was a failure as a container to hold garbage but succeeds as a shelf, table, desk,stand,and footrest for a passerby.He appealed to reflective design when he talks about the concept of a good street giving off a homely sense. Whyte's and Norman's ideas about the visceral aspect of design were different. Norman believes the the visceral design is one of the more important factors because it deals with the initial reaction from the consumer that makes them want a product , the "wow factor". Whyte believes that too much good taste from designers with the same good taste results is bland conformity.
3.To analyze and urban area I would use the following checklist:
- Stores along the frontage
- Doors and window on the street
- Building flushed onto the sidewalk
- Basic amenities have good relation to its use
- Second-story activity with windows
- Seating
- Trees
- Sidewalk (broad enough)
Sunday, October 31, 2010
"What Main Street Can Learn From the Mall"
1.The criteria Robert Gibbs uses to evaluate a a Main Street are:
3.My criteria to judge a Main Street would be similar to Gibb's criteria. I would judge Main Street based on the condition of the streets and sidewalks, they way the chairs, tables, and benches are spaced, the organization of stores based on functionality, the aspects that assure comfort, and the storefronts. I consider these to be most important elements because when they are not used properly and effectively they can deter a shopper from even entering Main Street.
- Sidewalks- Are they so beautiful that they draw theshoppers attention to the ground rather than the store front and window diplays? Are they so grimy they oush shoppers away?
- Shade Trees and Planter boxes- Do they block the shopper's view of shop windows and signs?
- Benches/tables/Chairs- Are they placed together in a way that discourages poeple to walk through them?
- Security- Is there a mall security of some sort to ensure a safe enviornment for shoppers?
- Stores-Are the window displays design to get the shoppers full attention?
3.My criteria to judge a Main Street would be similar to Gibb's criteria. I would judge Main Street based on the condition of the streets and sidewalks, they way the chairs, tables, and benches are spaced, the organization of stores based on functionality, the aspects that assure comfort, and the storefronts. I consider these to be most important elements because when they are not used properly and effectively they can deter a shopper from even entering Main Street.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Wikipedia Article
My wikipedia article is on The Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia. It can be found using the following link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_of_Contemporary_Art_of_Georgia
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Retail Analysis
1. I observed the store Meijer,which is a hypermarket chain in Grand Rapids that markets to the general public.
2. Before walking into Meijer, I noticed the unique design structure of the outside. On opposite ends of the outside of the building, were grey concrete paneling on the building and between them were glass windows.Above the building was a large translucent wall that gave off natural light to the customers and cashiers at the register.After walking inside, I noticed it was so quiet that I could hear low to minimal noises like shopping carts rolling, scanning noises from the register and could even hear people conversing.The merchandise was displayed under the headings in which they fall.The floor was pattern with blue and light blue tiles, grey and white tiles, and brown and tan tiles. There was blue signs above each isle and blue or reds signs within each isle.The cashier are was very large. They had a self-checkout section and a regular checkout section.
3.Meijer tries to project a consumer centered enviornment through its simple structure.The signs in Meijer, for example, are placed pacifically to help the consumer find its way through the store.Each sign has a legible script and others have images that reflect the products being sold in that area.
4.Customers in Meijer interacted to the store's elements in different ways. Some customers that walked in with a shopping cart, strolled through each isle carefully looking at certain products. The customers that didn't have a shopping cart, came in and brought what they needed and left. Most of the consumers looked and touched the products they were buying and others did so because they were interested.
5.The interesting part about the design of Meijer was the subheadings in each isle. Where I am from, stores only have the big sign in the center of the isle to help guide the consumer and once you find the isle you have to scan the whole isle. In Meijer, I could look down each isle and see in words wher the flour, sugar ,or etc was located.
2. Before walking into Meijer, I noticed the unique design structure of the outside. On opposite ends of the outside of the building, were grey concrete paneling on the building and between them were glass windows.Above the building was a large translucent wall that gave off natural light to the customers and cashiers at the register.After walking inside, I noticed it was so quiet that I could hear low to minimal noises like shopping carts rolling, scanning noises from the register and could even hear people conversing.The merchandise was displayed under the headings in which they fall.The floor was pattern with blue and light blue tiles, grey and white tiles, and brown and tan tiles. There was blue signs above each isle and blue or reds signs within each isle.The cashier are was very large. They had a self-checkout section and a regular checkout section.
3.Meijer tries to project a consumer centered enviornment through its simple structure.The signs in Meijer, for example, are placed pacifically to help the consumer find its way through the store.Each sign has a legible script and others have images that reflect the products being sold in that area.
4.Customers in Meijer interacted to the store's elements in different ways. Some customers that walked in with a shopping cart, strolled through each isle carefully looking at certain products. The customers that didn't have a shopping cart, came in and brought what they needed and left. Most of the consumers looked and touched the products they were buying and others did so because they were interested.
5.The interesting part about the design of Meijer was the subheadings in each isle. Where I am from, stores only have the big sign in the center of the isle to help guide the consumer and once you find the isle you have to scan the whole isle. In Meijer, I could look down each isle and see in words wher the flour, sugar ,or etc was located.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Egg Container Experiment
The Egg Drop experiment wasn't a quick and easy task for me , considering I didn't have any experience with egg drop experimnets in previous school years.It took a couple of meetings before Joe and I were able to come up with a design that we could build out of the limiting supplies we owned. When Joe and I first met to discuss the how we were going to design the container, we talked about and wrote down ideas.We decided to use a cardboard box with a small closed container in the middle holding the egg in place and soft material to surround the egg. The idea of the box stayed the same but some components changed. We cut the box down to a smaller size and instead of the closed top container we used a Bigby's coffee cup.
Joe and I took a couple of days to build the design, because we decided to modify the design for a better survivorial rate.After we finish builing the egg container, we decided to decorate the box to make it appealing to the eye.Since we used black tape to piece the box together, we went for a black and orange "K College" theme.
Watching the egg containers fall from the second and third story was really fun, especially when watching the egg container made by my partner and I.Our egg container survived the fall from the second story but did not survive the fall from the third story. I was impressd by the fact that even though our egg cracked from the third fall the design on the outside didnt show any signs that the egg was broken. Our container did open from the impact of the first fall, which could have been a determining factor to why it didnt't last the second fall. Overall, I was pleased with the egg container's success rate but if I could design it all over again, I would add components from the other groups designs to make our egg container better.
To read my partner Joe Jones blog post about our Egg Drop experience visit his blog at http://joejones2014.blogspot.com/
Joe and I took a couple of days to build the design, because we decided to modify the design for a better survivorial rate.After we finish builing the egg container, we decided to decorate the box to make it appealing to the eye.Since we used black tape to piece the box together, we went for a black and orange "K College" theme.
Watching the egg containers fall from the second and third story was really fun, especially when watching the egg container made by my partner and I.Our egg container survived the fall from the second story but did not survive the fall from the third story. I was impressd by the fact that even though our egg cracked from the third fall the design on the outside didnt show any signs that the egg was broken. Our container did open from the impact of the first fall, which could have been a determining factor to why it didnt't last the second fall. Overall, I was pleased with the egg container's success rate but if I could design it all over again, I would add components from the other groups designs to make our egg container better.
To read my partner Joe Jones blog post about our Egg Drop experience visit his blog at http://joejones2014.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
The Science of Shopping
1.The article "The Science of Shopping" introduced a variety of important points on the behavior of shoppers in a store.I felt like the most important point was that the markerters and retailers have to conform to the desires of the sellers. The author talked about Paco Underhill, the man behind the consumer study, and how he is hired to place cameras in the stores to study the patterns and signs of the customers. He reports back to his clients with an analysis on the customers behavior to help the client make improvements in sales. Paco's analysis helps the markerters and retailers because it breaks down the the behaviors by gender and age.The breakdown gives the retailers the opportunity to satisfy the need of men and women both young and old.
2. I believe I am greatly influenced and affected by a store's design. I will leave a store If I feel there is little to no space to manuever. Just like Paco Underhill mentioned in the article, if I was bumped on my backside I would leave the store immediately.Mainly because a brush on the backside is unexpected when shopping that it seems to interrupt my comfort zone.I am also influenced by a store's lighting. Hollister, for example, has a dim dark lighting throughtout the store. I personally will not buy anything form inside the store because the lighting makes it difficult for me to actually see the clothing. However, because I like the style of clothing Hollister sells, I will instead buy clothing form the online shopping site. I think I am influenced so much by a store's design because I have certain expections for each type of store.
3. To analzye a retail store, I would use the following checklist:
1. Lighting- Does the store has a dim light setting or bright fluoresent lighting?
2.Scent-Does the store have a perfume/cologne fragrance, scented air fresheners, or no scent at all?
3.Space- Is there enough space to manuever? Are the isles narrow or wide?
4.Arrangement- Are the products grouped into sections they are associated with? Can you distinguish each section?
2. I believe I am greatly influenced and affected by a store's design. I will leave a store If I feel there is little to no space to manuever. Just like Paco Underhill mentioned in the article, if I was bumped on my backside I would leave the store immediately.Mainly because a brush on the backside is unexpected when shopping that it seems to interrupt my comfort zone.I am also influenced by a store's lighting. Hollister, for example, has a dim dark lighting throughtout the store. I personally will not buy anything form inside the store because the lighting makes it difficult for me to actually see the clothing. However, because I like the style of clothing Hollister sells, I will instead buy clothing form the online shopping site. I think I am influenced so much by a store's design because I have certain expections for each type of store.
3. To analzye a retail store, I would use the following checklist:
1. Lighting- Does the store has a dim light setting or bright fluoresent lighting?
2.Scent-Does the store have a perfume/cologne fragrance, scented air fresheners, or no scent at all?
3.Space- Is there enough space to manuever? Are the isles narrow or wide?
4.Arrangement- Are the products grouped into sections they are associated with? Can you distinguish each section?
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