OUGD502 - Studio Brief 2 - Wayfinding / Pitch - Initial ideas based on Research

Initial Ideas based on Research 

For the next session we agreed to come up with some ideas individually based on everyones research so we could then discuss them in the next meeting. 

Initial Ideas / key points Mindmap

- walls need to encourage people to put things up more 

- materials from each of the courses could be used to form typography for each of their titles 

- signage could be hung as their are lots of high ceilings 

- projected mosaic shapes in different colours could reflect a stained glass aesthetic without blocking out light. This would also light up areas making studios brighter 

- to reflect aspects of the Arts and Crafts movement a pattern could be created for each course, also characteristics of the movement such as tiles with patterns, simple forms, nature as inspiration could be developed.

- using plants within the building so they grow from materials could be an interesting way of integrating nature within the building. 

Initial Ideas Sketches 

One idea was to play with the use of stained glass in the Arts and Crafts Movement instead making this more contemporary and relevant to the university by using the mosaic shapes from the branding in different colours in the stained glass. These stained glass panels would be placed in the large windows round the university however not in large sections as natural light would need to get through as well. Having larger shapes in the panels will make the use of the mosaic shapes more subtle whilst also letting more light through. 

Having reflective metal on walls opposite windows would increase light and the reflective qualities would allow the space to look bigger. Using the mosaic pattern again would be subtle with the use of this material. The mirrors could be individual pieces that are high up and reflect the sky which will bring the outside in, or could be whole walls creating large feature pieces.

For the wayfinding it was considered that strip lighting could be used to create 'trees' that have branches that point you in the direction of each of the courses / areas. Creating a tree / climber aesthetic would tie with the focus on plants in the Arts and Crafts movement. These 'trees' would be seen at main focal points within the university e.g. corridors and staircases etc. This idea could be further refined through the use of neon lighting which would form a 'tree' in a more angular way. The length of the branches would determine the distance the course is away from the sign, whilst a different colour could be used for each course. 

The wayfinding could go along the ceiling rather than on the walls however follow similar principles to the previous neon wayfinding. The lines could twist over each other to create a more organic design or just be straight to fit in with the neon lighting idea. Having the wayfinding lights on the ceiling would allow the spaces to be lit as well as acting as wayfinding. 

Encasing strip lighting within a metal could allow designs to be added to the lights which would combine decorative arts and crafts elements with lights creating a functional and aesthetic design. The metal could have a leaf pattern cut from it which would allow light to come through and reflect the plant aspect of the Arts and Crafts movement.