User Exp: Final Poetic Wayfinding Experience

To recap, the problem was to create a may from the graphic design building to each of the shuttlecocks located on the lawn of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. The final form I created is a two-piece artifact. The first is a water bottle conveniently hung on a carabiner and the second is an envelope with a pair of scissors and an instructional card. The card will not only guide the user to all three shuttle cocks at the Nelson, but also provide instructions for creating their own shuttlecock, which all happens on the walk there. That is the poetic part. The user is asked to make small stops and perform a task which will make the user more involved. I included a couple images of the bottle that I created using cut paper, illustrating some directions. The bottle directions are also color coded in orange and the cut paper alludes to the action of cutting the bottle. Throughout the directions I use very descriptive words that little helpers in monitoring the user on their walk. I also reference other things along the way such as the Kansas City Art Institute. I'm pretty excited to user test this again! If we do...

UserExp: ADVENTURE AWAITS!

Below is my first attempt at the poetic adventure to the shuttlecocks at the Nelson. Right now it is a label that would fit around the water bottle and then as the user walks to the Nelson following the directions provided, they would be creating a shuttlecock. As suggested by someone last time, I tried perforating the bottle to eliminate the scissors, but it turned out to be unsuccessful as far as ripping the bottle and tearing all the perforations. So I'm back to using scissors. Now, I am thinking about treating these two things as separate artifacts. The water bottle of course is one, and a package holding the scissors, screws, and directions will be in a different packet.

Poetic: Concept Proposal

So my idea is based around creating your own shuttlecock. While thinking about this ever so poetic experience, I thought to myself well what would be something I would be interested in doing. The thought then occurred to me "Can you make your own shuttlecock?" I wasn't sure, so I looked it up on the internet and of course, there's an easy, cheap way to make a shuttlecock. The concept is to have a water bottle with a label that has not only the map, but a "how to" make your own shuttlecock instructional on the inside of the label. The user can then be hydrated on this hot day of walking to the Nelson and visiting the three shuttlecocks. When they reach their destination they can then transform their water bottle into a shuttlecock to play with "the rackets they brought."

quick mock up of the water bottle

small instructional example

I also had this idea of creating a map based upon the trees surrounding the path and I would make the trees pop ups. I would perforate the general shape of the illustrated trees and then make each one a pop up. They would all be connected to one specific board (that might fold) but would be able to see a large scale of the map which is guided by trees. Just another idea though.

ADONIS: REVISIONS

From the first initial critique, I wasn't completely satisfied with my artifacts, so I decided to revise them. The first piece I revised was my website. I took the advice to make the image a full bleed image, and now, the navigation resides at the bottom of the page. The five links are still the same five links; I didn't think they needed revising. Also, the color will be switching and cycling through the site, so that was another way I think to incorporate the other colors from the products.

As for the products themselves, I re-shot one of my photos and also reprinted them on transparency. I also revised the thought behind the size of my artifacts. I decided to change the size of my artifacts and make the matte clay and pomade the same size. I'm not sure why they were inconsistent in the first place, but I decided to change them back. I also decided to shorten the hairspray can. I again just wanted to make it consistent between the products and keep them all short and wide.

What I also seemed to miss last time was the ritual or activity or something that is beneficial to the user, so I decided to add a "how to" apply the product on the inside of the container. NO WASTED SPACE. I think it's a great way for when the user opens the product, he'll be able to see this instantaneous, very simple directions.

As for the magazine ad. I didn't revise the first one, I just wanted to create a second one. So, no changes there, just adding to my series.

Adonis: Persuasive Part 2

So the project of Persuasive Part 2 was to develop persuasive elements to support your acme products. Those three elements which we given to us was a full page magazine ad (magazine appropriate to user), a web banner for cnn.com, a landing home page with 5 links useful to both the product and the user.



For my full page ad, I decided to continue with the use of photography and paired it with the copy “Be the god you’ve always wanted to be.” hopefully, the use of this ad would drive men to check out the website and buy some Acme Adonis of course. I wanted to relate and reference the ad back to the Greek God Adonis. I picture this ad would be placed in magazines for men such as Esquire, Details and GQ.


The CNN banner ad is very similar in it’s use of photography and the copy “Be the God you’ve always wanted to be.”Because the banner is placed directly beside other image heavy headlines, I think mine fights for attention and doesn’t get lost within the page. I also tried to stay consistent within the product line as far as color palette, so on the first ad I used the yellow orange color and on this ad I chose to use the green, and on the website I chose to use the blue.


Within the website, I again used the photography to obtain most of the space. the five links will be able to inform the user on who and what makes up an Adonis, the benefits of using natural hair care products, the products themselves, a new personalized section, and a latest styles section. The personalized section would allow users to purchase products with their own image on the front, choose their color and everything, and of course it will cost a little extra.
The latest styles section would be for those beginners or guys who need some help, tips tricks and show & tell can happen within there.

The critique went pretty well in my opinion. It was suggested to either add a little more of the other colors or just white to my website. It seemed a little muddy in areas and just too much blue. I really like that suggestion and will revise it before I turn it in on Monday. Also during critique, there was a little debate on my use of the word "god". Some say good, some say bad, some say everyone will have a problem with something either way. I don't think I'm going to take the word out because I was intending to referent the Greek God, but I might revise the look of it. Someone during class said it's not a specific type of god if it is lower case, but if I use any capitol, it might reflect the wrong kind. That's the feedback that was given and I'm going to take all things into consideration.

Acme Adonis: Thoughts

HMMMMM.

I know that I didn't hit my target market dead on. If I had maybe a couple more hours, or even another week I feel like I could have come to a more complete set of artifacts. For one thing, I didn't fulfill the requirement of creating an artifact that participates in a ritual/activity and social culture.

Changes.

I am going to make some changes before the presentation of persuasive part 2. Some changes I'm thinking of are changing the basic color slightly to a nickel color. It has that aluminum look and feel, but I think it reflects the natural aspect a little more. (earth-like, tan- but the change is minimal) I also changed the size of my containers. I felt that they were all sort of random and had no relation to each other. I chose two containers (the matte clay and pomade) to be the same size. I don't see the point in the change of size from the beginning comps. Also, I would like to print on a clear surface or semi clear paper. I 'm going to see if it enhances the richness and overall look and feel of the product if the color from the container interacts with the label a little more.

I also have this random thought to illustrate all over a set of products. Now this is just a random thought, but where the product maybe not has a photography route, but a very illustrative route. Once again reflecting the individuality and personality the product allows the user to have. I think there's opportunity to reference maybe the Greek mythology and patterns/forms that are present within that time period. Just a thought.

Acme Adonis: The latest in Men's Haircare

This has definitely been a very long process on being comfortable with where my design has been heading. In the beginning I ran into some difficulties with my logotype, but in the end, I still feel that the one I have chosen fits. It may not reflect the universal meaning of the word Adonis, but I feel that it reflects an image of a modern day, updated version of an Adonis. Also, I like the natural organic like feel of the type. It has the look and feel of signature that can be very personalized and individual to each guy.










My product line has gone down a very interesting path. From the beginning I wanted to use photography because through my research in the stores, I found that photography was only reflective in hair coloring packaging. The target user I was pursuing is a 24 year old man who is quite busy with school and work, but still has time to "go out on the town" and hang out with friends. He's got a simple, clean, athletic personalized style that's very fashionable and "in the know".