Disrupting the Proper
Camden Town Wayfinding System
Camden Town Wayfinding System
Abstract:
This project presents the Wayfinding System, designedwith a unique (hedonic) approach which will help users find their destinationsaccording to their Moods, Desires and Cultural Aspirations thus making the veryprocess of shopping more exciting and enjoyable.
Camden Town is a sea of entertainment with its 25 yearold history and it still continues to be one of the most exciting places beingthe fourth most popular visitor attraction in London. It is an Urban Adventurefilled with wonderful surprises, whether you are in a mood to eat, shop, relax,learn, experiment or simply discover something new. It’s an eclectic gatheringof fascinating people and markets. A lot of culturally diverse people withdifferent aspirations and moods visit the markets in Camden. There are fivedifferent markets with a variety of shops, stalls, restaurants, cafes, bars,pubs, clubs and many more colorful and interesting places to hang around.
Camden Town is a sea of entertainment with its 25 yearold history and it still continues to be one of the most exciting places beingthe fourth most popular visitor attraction in London. It is an Urban Adventurefilled with wonderful surprises, whether you are in a mood to eat, shop, relax,learn, experiment or simply discover something new. It’s an eclectic gatheringof fascinating people and markets. A lot of culturally diverse people withdifferent aspirations and moods visit the markets in Camden. There are fivedifferent markets with a variety of shops, stalls, restaurants, cafes, bars,pubs, clubs and many more colorful and interesting places to hang around.
Introduction:
“Space occursas the effect produced by the operations that orient it, situate it,temporalize it, and make it function in a polyvalent unity of conflictualprograms or contractual proximities.”
Based on this philosophy in this project a wayfindingstrategy is developed for Camden Town where the orientation of the place wouldfunction in a unique way based on the situation created by the signage solution.
Studies suggest that though the most important role ofa market is to facilitate consumer shopping, the goals of all the shoppers arenot the same.For someshoppers convenience of getting in & getting out quickly and easily andfinding the merchandise they seek is important while for some serious shoppers,information and demonstration is crucial.
Utilitarian shopper focuses mainly on completing atask of finding things in a rational and efficient way, while hedonist shopperprimarily enjoys the very process of shopping. This project supports theconcept of hedonic shopping .Moreover hedonism is also the key to enhanceenjoyment through experiencing the shopping space and sensorial excitement.
“Space occursas the effect produced by the operations that orient it, situate it,temporalize it, and make it function in a polyvalent unity of conflictualprograms or contractual proximities.”
Based on this philosophy in this project a wayfindingstrategy is developed for Camden Town where the orientation of the place wouldfunction in a unique way based on the situation created by the signage solution.
Studies suggest that though the most important role ofa market is to facilitate consumer shopping, the goals of all the shoppers arenot the same.For someshoppers convenience of getting in & getting out quickly and easily andfinding the merchandise they seek is important while for some serious shoppers,information and demonstration is crucial.
Utilitarian shopper focuses mainly on completing atask of finding things in a rational and efficient way, while hedonist shopperprimarily enjoys the very process of shopping. This project supports theconcept of hedonic shopping .Moreover hedonism is also the key to enhanceenjoyment through experiencing the shopping space and sensorial excitement.
Research:
The Desires and Moods mapping derive incorporatesconventional design research approach however also employs a subjective elementintroducing a personal aspect. A derive should encourage the observer to losepreconceptions of a space. The brief ‘disrupting the proper’ intends to disruptthe normality of a space, continuing with the theme, the derive should disruptour views. The chosen space for this project is a long established and busymarket place, which already after knowing this single fact conjures up an ideaof what to expect.
Using a Derive introduces a different way ofresearching which allows the observer to gain information unlikely to have beenfound using regular research techniques. The idea of derive is to get the mostfrom the research of a certain space or place above the data gathered fromquantitative and qualitative observations. It is important to research alocation objectively using traditional research methods for example speaking toresidents, documenting sounds and image; video, it is however more fun to tryunusual approaches in research and data collection.
The Desires and Moods mapping derive incorporatesconventional design research approach however also employs a subjective elementintroducing a personal aspect. A derive should encourage the observer to losepreconceptions of a space. The brief ‘disrupting the proper’ intends to disruptthe normality of a space, continuing with the theme, the derive should disruptour views. The chosen space for this project is a long established and busymarket place, which already after knowing this single fact conjures up an ideaof what to expect.
Using a Derive introduces a different way ofresearching which allows the observer to gain information unlikely to have beenfound using regular research techniques. The idea of derive is to get the mostfrom the research of a certain space or place above the data gathered fromquantitative and qualitative observations. It is important to research alocation objectively using traditional research methods for example speaking toresidents, documenting sounds and image; video, it is however more fun to tryunusual approaches in research and data collection.
There is no hierarchy in the various considerationswhile making the signage system. But, there is a set order created to structure theexecution of this system design. The standard ways executed to collect andorganize the answers to the basic questions in this signage project are asfollows:
A list of categories and subcategories under which allplaces will be listedA set of plans of the site with approximate locationsof categorized areasA database of all the stalls and shops in the market According to the environment and characteristics ofThe Stables Market the following categories are defined. All the commoditiesavailable in the market are classified under the given Moods and Desires. TheCultural Aspirations category is defined keeping in mind its significantculturally diverse community.
A list of categories and subcategories under which allplaces will be listedA set of plans of the site with approximate locationsof categorized areasA database of all the stalls and shops in the market According to the environment and characteristics ofThe Stables Market the following categories are defined. All the commoditiesavailable in the market are classified under the given Moods and Desires. TheCultural Aspirations category is defined keeping in mind its significantculturally diverse community.
The shops in Stables Market according to the Moods andDesires can be classified as follows:
The priority of visual appearance versus content (orfunction) is continuously debated in design theory. The credo of the Bauhausvision on design was: ‘form follows function’, giving aclear priority to the development of the functional aspects of the design workand trying to avoid all unnecessary decoration. Later, the Bauhaus credo wasmetamorphosed into: ‘Form follows fun’. All emotional aspects of any work of design werealso considered to be ‘functional aspects’, equal to the more obvious functionsof a product.
Creating visual novelty is almost exclusivelyconnected to visual design and art. Presenting something ‘not seenbefore’ is veryeffective in drawing the viewer’s attention. Novelty can easily generateexcitement and attraction. It is an important initiator for communication.Thus this visual design aims to provide a unique designsolution to meet a unique set of constraints.
Creating visual novelty is almost exclusivelyconnected to visual design and art. Presenting something ‘not seenbefore’ is veryeffective in drawing the viewer’s attention. Novelty can easily generateexcitement and attraction. It is an important initiator for communication.Thus this visual design aims to provide a unique designsolution to meet a unique set of constraints.
Brochure Design: Moods + Desires
Based on the data collected a playful and interactivewayfinding brochure is designed to enhance the journey of the visitors in adifferent way by catering to their moods and desires. The brochure is designedin such a way that one can find their destination not only for any one mood anddesire but also in combination with each other.
Brochure Design: Cultural Aspirations
According to the observations made, one can comeacross 16 different cultures in the stables market. The brochure has beendesigned keeping in mind the vastness of the market. The brochure illustratesall the different locations of various cultures in the market at the same timemaking the visitors aware of the cultural diversity.
According to the observations made, one can comeacross 16 different cultures in the stables market. The brochure has beendesigned keeping in mind the vastness of the market. The brochure illustratesall the different locations of various cultures in the market at the same timemaking the visitors aware of the cultural diversity.
Since ancient times, signage has always been presentin the form of more or less constant physical marks in the environment. Technological developmentshave created alternative solutions to wayfinding with the help of virtual‘signs’. The differentproduction methods by which signs can be manufactured are extremely wide.
‘Updatability’ is-and has been for a while-the buzzword for manytechnological developments in signage. The digital revolution has generated ever more productsthat ease updating of individual signs and that can become part of completeelectronic networks. Moreover, the ‘digitization’ of our livesis continuously changing the way we communicate with each other, and hence theway we convey information. Powerful devices thatwill change signage systems dramatically are already on the market, and willundoubtedly be further developed.
The most drastic change is the ‘personalelectronic travel guide’ which are widely available now days as an ‘androidapplication’. Keeping thisin mind in this project an androidapplication is designed for Camden Market which will be easily available todownload.
Introduction for the Camden Town Android Application
‘A lot of culturally diverse people with differentaspirations and moods visit the markets in Camden. Whether they are looking toexplore or just out to look at Camden in a new way, a downloadable wayfindingsystem is developed to tackle their moods, desires and cultural aspiration.
This tour will help the users find anything andeverything whether they wish to be Creative, Nerdy, Morbid or they desire toGlamorize, Interact and Rejuvenate. This application will also cater to theirexploration of different cultures.’
In these kinds of applications users can ‘communicate’with one sign the way they do with a computer. This means that not all usefulinformation has to be displayed completely on the screen at the same time, asis the case with all other signs. The users can interact with the screen toextract the information that is relevant to them. Interactive signs can provideaccess to a complete built-in database of information. A lot of information canbe put into a relatively small device. The information is stored inside thesign in a digital format. That implies that there are no longer constraints insize of content or forms of output. The sign can show visible and / or audibleinformation in as many languages as needed. These kinds of features can be really useful as thetarget audiences for Camden Market are mostly visitors and tourist fromdifferent countries with language barrier.
‘Updatability’ is-and has been for a while-the buzzword for manytechnological developments in signage. The digital revolution has generated ever more productsthat ease updating of individual signs and that can become part of completeelectronic networks. Moreover, the ‘digitization’ of our livesis continuously changing the way we communicate with each other, and hence theway we convey information. Powerful devices thatwill change signage systems dramatically are already on the market, and willundoubtedly be further developed.
The most drastic change is the ‘personalelectronic travel guide’ which are widely available now days as an ‘androidapplication’. Keeping thisin mind in this project an androidapplication is designed for Camden Market which will be easily available todownload.
Introduction for the Camden Town Android Application
‘A lot of culturally diverse people with differentaspirations and moods visit the markets in Camden. Whether they are looking toexplore or just out to look at Camden in a new way, a downloadable wayfindingsystem is developed to tackle their moods, desires and cultural aspiration.
This tour will help the users find anything andeverything whether they wish to be Creative, Nerdy, Morbid or they desire toGlamorize, Interact and Rejuvenate. This application will also cater to theirexploration of different cultures.’
In these kinds of applications users can ‘communicate’with one sign the way they do with a computer. This means that not all usefulinformation has to be displayed completely on the screen at the same time, asis the case with all other signs. The users can interact with the screen toextract the information that is relevant to them. Interactive signs can provideaccess to a complete built-in database of information. A lot of information canbe put into a relatively small device. The information is stored inside thesign in a digital format. That implies that there are no longer constraints insize of content or forms of output. The sign can show visible and / or audibleinformation in as many languages as needed. These kinds of features can be really useful as thetarget audiences for Camden Market are mostly visitors and tourist fromdifferent countries with language barrier.
Conclusion:
The most important role of a market is its ability tofacilitate consumer shopping. In order to generate the best shopping experience, everymarket / mall should provide something unique. In this project the Wayfinding System designed willserve as a tool for triggering more enjoyable environmental behavior in Camden.
Keeping in mind the vastness of Camden in this projectthe system is designed for Stables Market. In future this wayfinding systemwill be incorporated in all five markets in Camden making it a truly excitingplace.
The Moods + Desires and Cultural Aspirations brochureswill be available for the visitors and tourists at all the markets in the formof physical wayfinding. This system will also be available on the Camdenwebsite and as an android application for the benefit of the visitors in theform of digital wayfinding.
Though the moods and desires are very subjective and variablethat changes from person to person. In this project classification is donekeeping in mind the peculiarities of Camden. In future this system can beimplemented in accordance with the user research by psychologists for more accurate implementation.
Keeping in mind the vastness of Camden in this projectthe system is designed for Stables Market. In future this wayfinding systemwill be incorporated in all five markets in Camden making it a truly excitingplace.
The Moods + Desires and Cultural Aspirations brochureswill be available for the visitors and tourists at all the markets in the formof physical wayfinding. This system will also be available on the Camdenwebsite and as an android application for the benefit of the visitors in theform of digital wayfinding.
Though the moods and desires are very subjective and variablethat changes from person to person. In this project classification is donekeeping in mind the peculiarities of Camden. In future this system can beimplemented in accordance with the user research by psychologists for more accurate implementation.
