Critique of a Public Space - Crossgates Mall

This is a picture of the front Crossgates mall

Crossgates mall is one of the biggest malls in the Capital Region of NY and very popular for the area. There is other malls in the Area such as Latham Square, Colonie Center and Clifton Park Center but Crossgates seems to the centralized being that it is in Albany. 

http://www.shopcrossgates.com/index.php?page=directory-map

The above link can actually tell you what the reference codes are on the floor plan above

Crossgates' basic setup is simple yet elegant. It is design to be open to allow for visual stimulation when looking around to decide where to shop or just take the guided tour that besets you. Like all malls there are a plethora of shops to navigate to. The mall itself has 2 floors and is setup in an east to west type fashion.  The top of the 2 images above is located near the movie theater. The graphic design that particular wing is  to allow for gazing over the railing and seeing what is playing in the movies along with the times also to help draw focus to the tiling on the floor. The area above the ticket booths is very large and open to allow all of that to happen. 

The above image is displays an escalator which is located in 3 spots within the mall, east wing, west wing and middle of the mall near the food court. There are also steps in between each of the escalators to help with quicker travel instead of walking to a escalator to get up. In the middle near the middle escalator there is also an elevator for "lazy people" ;-) and handicapped individuals. Though escalators can be consider just as lazy, I suppose it would be a case to case basis. 

Located throughout the mall located with the busy walking areas are directories that can provider an information map for people that need to find out where they need to go. It also can create a mental map for individuals that are familiar with the mall itself. very helpful

Lastly, throughout the mall are advertisements posted on the back of the above directories, hanging in the middle area suspended for everyone including both floors. The signage is big enough to catch the eye of anyone scanning the area for pleasantries. The store signage is all flashy and eye catching but still sticks to the orientation of the brand label of that particular store IE Old Navy as seen in this picture. There are signs throughout the whole mall indicating where to go if you are lost, have issues, need to report something stolen, etc. In most cases the mall itself has almost everything covered. As far as what could be done differently design wise is the middle booths on the bottom floor. Sometimes there are multiples of the same booth throughout the mall and can be a bit obnoxious when passing them. There can be so many center booths that it can almost make the customers feel overwhelmed and feel pressed to buy something. When a customer goes to the mall they are there for an experience whether it's just to walk about and take in the surroundings or just to get to a store and get out. They do not need to be overwhelm with all the information available. The point of information design is to make it very plausible for a customer to enjoy their experience at Crossgates mall.

Secondary Design Tool

In information we need to utilize many tools to be successful and maintain the interest of the party we are doing the project for. These tools can vary from something very simple like the SQVID tool that I previously talked about to some version of a concept map. Concept maps in whole can allow someone to help generate ideas, easily manipulate complex structures such as in-depth websites, help combine older ideas with newer ones, as well as help walk someone through the understanding of the main concept and whats stems from it.

Above is an example of a negotiation concept and its inner workings. The map allows you to see things clearly without losing the key point behind each stem or leaf. Something like this is similar to a stem and leaf plot from Math. The only issue that I see with something like this is that you do not want the information as a whole to overpower the main thought by having or expressing too much information. The whole purpose of information design is to make it presentable and understandable to the client. Concepts are a great tool to help to do that.

As far as using this in a blog/my blog, it's implication is actually built in to the design tool. You as the user choose how to setup the blog and rearrange it according to how you like it and how you think people will like it. This in turn in a concept map at it's very base level. This kind of design tool is very helpful. Anyone remember when stuff like this didn't even exist? Have fun explaining that information to someone without it ;-)

Ref.
http://designing.flexiblelearning.net.au/gallery/activities/conceptmap_a.htm

Graphic Tools and Dan Roam

http://vimeo.com/38273833

The above link is a narration of seeing with our eyes closed by Dan Roam. In this presentation he talks about the SQVID tool in a matter of practical application. For example, he uses a scenario of being on a beach on a tropical island and running into a local with a local fruit in their hand. You try the fruit and then you want to thank the local but have no common language. So, he wants to share his favorite fruit (apple) with the local. So using the tool, he goes about describing this apple to the local.

This in turn is a great way to elaborate an idea with someone that is unfamiliar with it or for instance you are doing a presentation and want to define your idea using this tool. Now applying this to my blog in theory would be a little more difficult but as long as the presentation is within the parameters of the tool it will work. I am not fluent with blogging as it is not my forte but I am always willing to try to make things easier to understand and the layout more applicable.

Design Process

Are there any steps you would add to the process? 

For a project to be successful you need to start somewhere and that somewhere is ground zero. There is a basic set of steps that need to be assessed before you can start. As the workbook states, you need to outline what the process is, what kind of team members you will need for the project, project leads aka point people, and a timeline for when the project needs to be completed. Aside from those aspects, for Information design I personally do not believe you would need to add anything as you have covered your primary bases. You will need to account for setbacks maybe such as a recovery team to help chip in when something goes south or is lagging behind. This can be accounted for within the timeline. 

How do you think the process can be improved?  

This is not so much as an improvement as much as an addition. As the project being discussed, costs and manpower will also need to be accounted for. For instance, if someone is sick one day can someone else pick up that designers slack which is mentioned under planning for the long run within the design workbook. Constant updates need to be well available to all members of the team. If one team is ahead of schedule can we reassign them to a different portion of the project? Will they need training before hand? This also needs to be accounted for.

What do you believe to be the most important step of the process?

I believe that the most important part of any project is the timeline and accounting for fluctuations in the proposed schedule. The timeline will always fluctuate depends on circumstances and this always needs and should be updated and available to team members. Testing out the project  whether through a database, a well constructed blueprint, or some type of funnel design such as the one for "It's all good" within the Information Design Workbook (p. 72.) is also essential as we need to know if the project can function in the real world. As long as everyone is working at the same pace everything can go by smoothly.

What this really comes down to what the client wants, what the client feels needs to be added or changed, and if they are happy. No matter how good you might think the project may be, if the client doesn't like it, it may as well be garbage. They are the ones buying the product (when I say product I mean the completed Design Project). A lot of what goes into play as far as my particular interest in this field would be a Graphic designer. So ensuring the graphical portion of this information display i.e. fonts, signs, mapping, etc. would be my primary concern.

Screen script

INT. SMALL GATED COMMUNITY

The camera provides a wide panoramic view of the community. As it starts to pan closer to a white suburban driving through en route to their house the viewer will be lead along by a variety of activities. 

Off to the left you will see a couple of young kids in their early teens, playing with water from the sprinkler while the father sits in a comfy fold-up chair sipping a tasteful mixed drink.

To the right you see a family doing yard work. Father mowing grass. Mother clipping the hedges and the son and daughter picking up after them.

Two houses down, summer music playing as if to ensure that this is a peaceful community and showing togetherness.

The camera pans back to the white suburban as it rounds the corner within the community and heads up to the house it belongs to.

The house is white with pale green shutters with a fall green paint brushed upon the  porch to accent it. 

CUT  TO:

INT. WHITE SUBURBAN

Inside you take notice of the over joyful family of 3. 

The father well distinguished within the community with a sincere smile upon his face, filled with laughter

The mother singing back to her daughter a song that came across the radio.

The daughter in the backseat laughing and joyously singing along.

The daughter reaches into the back storage area and grabs a freshly bought snack from their trip to the grocery store.

TRANSITION TO:

INT. CAR GARAGE

The mother steps out of the car as does the daughter. The mother leans into the car window.

MOTHER

I am going to go in and set stuff out for dinner. DO you feel like grilling tonight? It is so beautiful out Hun.

FATHER

Yea we can do that. I'll have the kids help me bring in the groceries.

MOTHER

Okay, sounds good.

She smiles and walks inside.

The daughter is standing patiently by the trunk of the suburban. 

DAUGHTER

DAD! Open the door! 

The daughter giggles.

FATHER

(LAUGHS)

Yeah. Yeah. I'm coming. Make sure you grab as much as you can so that way we can help mom with groceries and such. Then we can grill up some food! I'll be right behind you. 

The daughter grabs a few bags and carries them to the door of the garage and waits.

The father grabs the rest, shuts the door and walks over to her and opens it up to walk inside.

CUT TO:

INT. KITCHEN

The camera catches the husband and daughter walk around the corner into the kitchen. The mother silently sitting at the kitchen table with her head down.

FATHER

Hey Hun, you didn't get very far. Are you tired?

Silence...

The daughter walks over and pats her mother. She takes notice of a distinct puddle of blood under her mother's head. She gasps and as she went to scream and yell at her father she turns and sees a person behind him about his height...

DAUGHTER

DAD Beh...

The figure reaches out and across his neck with his left hand and makes a rapid small incision from ear to ear.

With his right hand before the daughter can scream he quickly raises his FN-FNP-45 with an attached silencer and gracefully pulls the trigger and ends the subtle scream for help.

The father gasps and chokes on his blood protruding from his neck. He falls to his knees groceries in hand and then collapses on the floor

The figure walks into the view of the camera and seems melancholy. Almost as if it was a sign of remorse. He reached down grabbed a freshly bought gallon of milk and sets it on the table. He turns around and looks at the father. He stares at the glassy pool of blood and turns his head slowly. He walks over to the cupboards begins his search for a bowl. He finds one in the third cabinet down from the fridge. He sets the bowl on the table. He sits down at the seat to the right of the mother. He takes his finger and slides it oh so gently through the extending puddle and drags it towards the bowl.  

Part of a second figure peers into view of the camera.

FIGURE #2

(Silently)

Oh... my... god... That was amazing. You are like an artist. This will be a night to never forget brother. 

He sets his hand on his friend sitting at the table.

FIGURE #1

(Puts hands to his head and begins to shake it.)

Nothing will ever be the same.

Camera starts to slowly back away at an angle towards the ceiling over seeing the carnage while FIGURE #1 sits  with his hand on the table and his right hand upon the pistol which also has a place on the table.

CUT TO:

BLACK

Two weeks earlier...

Short Sound Composition

I tried to play an intro to a song I first learned on guitar. I am not good by any means but that meant something to me.

Sign-Posting/Wayfinding

I use this picture as a statement to show that all theories are not cut and dry like most people like to think they are. The sign above for instance gives direction and graphical information to allow the tourist or local for arguments sake as this picture is from Antwerp, Belgium. People interpret information differently as well they should. Not all people are of the same ethnicity nor do they all speak the same language. With that being said, we need to start appreciating that theories are exactly that, a theory. Times have changed and will keep changing and we should not segregate theories as a lot of them intertwine. 

Pros!

The pros of sign-posting is that sign-posting allows us to interpret information presented to us in a way that will allow us to make an ethical or logical decision to do something. That something can be lead in the direction going in a certain direction or just appreciating the surroundings that the sign is pointing too. That leads me into Wayfinding which is also a part of this. Now, I know that sign-posting is a part of Wayfinding but honestly they operate on the same level. Under Wayfinding we build  a cognitive map that allows us to navigate through the information given to us to a destination. Can't sign-posting do that as well? Essentially they are in the same bowl.

Cons!

The cons of this is there is no universal language to do this in. There will always be someone that will not understand what the information is trying to tell them. Pictures are easy to understand as images; which can be information design; are universal but words are not. Another con of this is the designer is assuming this is what the viewer wants to see. Not all viewers will see the same thing that most others may. It then comes down to the logistics of what is correct and what is drawing the line. Where is the target audience? It's hard to do that with Sign-Posting.

Utilization!

As far as utilizing this in my blog, I would like to say that I would however I do not blog as much as maybe I should. Nor do I use Facebook. For dealing with media, I really don't use a lot of it. Kind of sad really.

My post word capped.. that is sad.