How can graphic design be used to augment or alter environmental experiences?

Good morning. With my degree project, I want to answer how can graphic design be used to alter or augment environmental experiences.

At the beginning of the project, I spent time researching environmental psychology as a method of creating experiences. This included sensory perceptions and previous experiences that make up how you experience the environment around you.

At the beginning of the project, I spent time researching environmental psychology as a method of creating experiences. This included sensory perceptions and previous experiences that make up how you experience the environment around you.

To begin this, I wanted the spaces I would be designing to have a point and purpose. I chose to use these experiences to simulate the emotions felt individuals who struggle with reading comprehension and learning to read.

In that, I chose to get behind Literacy KC. An organization that certifies volunteers and tutors and matches them with adult learners. They provide free one-to-one tutoring for students age 16 and above. Almost half of students are ages 30 to 50 years old. These students are paired with tutors based on reading level and commit to one year of phonics-based sessions that include study skills, budgeting and other valuable topics.

225,000
Illiteracy is a serious and sensitive subject, but it is something that over 225,000 adults in the Kansas City area struggle with every day.

I chose three of the most prominent emotions that were recognized after researching Literacy KC; Embarrassment, feeling overwhelmed, and victory after learning to read.

EMBARRASSMENT

VICTORIOUS
I chose three of the most prominent emotions that were recognized after researching Literacy KC; Embarrassment, feeling overwhelmed, and victory after learning to read.

OVERWHELMED

My altered environments will be presented as Public Service Announcements by installing them in public locations and allow anyone to experience them voluntarily. This is visceral language applied to the environment.

OVERWHELMED
This is an emotion that over 225, 000 adults in the Kansas City area experience every day because they are not able to read. Without reading comprehension, many are able to get by but are denied of information that many people take for granted. Things like job applications, menus, street signs, prescription labels, billboards, mail and even this website are inaccessible. When you can read, you enter a new world of opportunities. Literacy KC certifies volunteers and tutors and matches them with adult learners from across the Kansas City metropolis area. They provide free one-to-one tutoring for students age 16 and above. Almost half of students are ages 30 to 50 years old. Students are paired with tutors based on reading level and commit to one year of phonics-based sessions that include study skills, budgeting and other valuable topics.

VICTORIOUS
225,000 adults in the Kansas City area function at the lowest literacy level. This represents the emotions felt by individuals learning to read. Without reading comprehension, many are able to get by but are denied of information that many people take for granted. Things like job applications, menus, street signs, prescription labels, billboards, mail and even this website are inaccessible. When you can read, you enter a new world of opportunities. Literacy KC certifies volunteers and tutors and matches them with adult learners from across the Kansas City metropolis area. They provide free one-to-one tutoring for students age 16 and above. Almost half of students are ages 30 to 50 years old. Students are paired with tutors based on reading level and commit to one year of phonics-based sessions that include study skills, budgeting and other valuable topics.

EMBARRASSMENT
This is an emotion that over 225, 000 adults in the Kansas City area experience every day because they are not able to read. Without reading comprehension, many are able to get by but are denied of information that many people take for granted. Things like job applications, menus, street signs, prescription labels, billboards, mail and even this website are inaccessible. When you can read, you enter a new world of opportunities. Literacy KC certifies volunteers and tutors and matches them with adult learners from across the Kansas City metropolis area. They provide free one-to-one tutoring for students age 16 and above. Almost half of students are ages 30 to 50 years old. Students are paired with tutors based on reading level and commit to one year of phonics-based sessions that include study skills, budgeting and other valuable topics.

GIVE?
Volunteering with Literacy KC is one of the most rewarding ways to give to the city. Visit literacykc.org or call (816) 333-9332 (x107) to get involved!

NEED?
Contact Literacy KC by calling (816) 333-9332 to test your literacy level and receive free tutoring sessions.

GIVE?
Volunteering with Literacy KC is one of the most rewarding ways to give to the city. Visit literacykc.org or call (816) 333-9332 (x107) to get involved!

NEED?
Contact Literacy KC by calling (816) 333-9332 to test your literacy level and receive free tutoring sessions.

GIVE?
Volunteering with Literacy KC is one of the most rewarding ways to give to the city. Visit literacykc.org or call (816) 333-9332 (x107) to get involved!

NEED?
Contact Literacy KC by calling (816) 333-9332 to test your literacy level and receive free tutoring sessions.

After each experience, the viewer will be prompted with an explanation of the emotion they felt in the space. This will give them the prompt to contact Literacy KC to volunteer.

I started the process with sketching, lots of sketching.

I started the process with sketching, lots of sketching.

And continued to think about the experiences through digital sketches until I reached the final 3 experiential spaces.

And continued to think about the experiences through digital sketches until I reached the final 3 experiential spaces.

EMBARRASSMENT

The first emotion is embarrassment.

Kansas City Public Library Plaza Branch

Since my audience is primarily towards literate individuals, what better place to talk about illiteracy than the public library.

The experience will be found to the left of the entrance-way to the library. There is a small rock garden and walkway that leads to the bus stop outside where transparent panels with slight openings will be placed to create a maze.

Here, everyone will be able to watch you walk through the maze (from inside and outside the library entrance.

Wait for the sound to start. When walking through the maze, each correct opening will include a sensor when passed through and produce a loud, WRONG as you find your way through. This will be loud enough for everyone to hear and see.

Wait for the sound to start. When walking through the maze, each correct opening will include a sensor when passed through and produce a loud, WRONG as you find your way through. This will be loud enough for everyone to hear and see.

Although you will be correct, you will still feel like youre wrong.

The clear panels are set up so that you wont know where youre going but you can still see where you need to be at the end and the rocky ground will encourage potential foot slips!

At the end of the maze, the explanation will be found and inform you about what you have just experienced. The visitor will then find their way to the sidewalk and continue on their way.

OVERWHELMED

The second emotion is feeling overwhelmed.

Union Station Overhead Walkway

This will be located in the union station walkway over main street but will only take up a portion of the hallway.

Here, the visitor will be confronted with an enclosed passage first with bold, saturated colors that will immediately shout at you as you enter the space.

Wait for the sound to start. you will hear muffled and intense conversation noise that is intended to overcome the visitor and submerge them in the passageway.

The floor will be moving as you walk through. One one end, you will be walking against it and on the other you will walk with it. This creates a constant struggle and sense of being uncomfortable.

The walls will include floor to ceiling video of facial expressions, focusing on features like eyes, lips, eyebrows in a view that is beyond common personal space. This is designed to invade your bubble

The wall video will vary speeds from very fast to slow movement that will provide varied movement within the space.

The wall video will vary speeds from very fast to slow movement that will provide varied movement within the space.

VICTORIOUS

The nal emotion is the victory that learners will feel once they begin to read and comprehend.

Library Parking Garage 2nd Level

This will be placed in the parking garage beside the plaza public library. Which is an open-air, concrete space.

Here, the walls of the garage will be painted a deep gradient from red to light yellow as the visitor ascends the stairs. At the top of this particular flight, one would be confronted with open sky as well as the explanation of the experience.

Wait for the sound to start. Each one of the 12 steps marks a point in the journey of learning to read from beginning to end and will be produced by a sensor found on the right-side of the step. As you climb the stairs, a word will sound. Step, spark, courage, memory, excitement, confidence, determination, stregthen, endurance, resolve, certainty, and finally, victory.

The gradient will move with you up the stairs to the next flight of stairs and give the library visitor a peaceful sense of accomplishment at the top.

How can graphic design be used to augment or alter environmental experiences?

From this point, I will be shooting my own imagery and video and recording sound before building the three final models in the next few weeks. Again, my objective is to create environmental PSAs that will call attention to illiteracy in Kansas City and, hopefully, spark empathy and initiative in the viewers.