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

I have found an answer to, how can graphic design be used to alter or augment environmental experiences.

The spaces I will 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.

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Literacy Kansas City In that, I decided to get behind Literacy KCAn organization that certifies volunteers and tutors and matches them with adult learners. 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. (CLICK) 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.

Embarrassment

Overwhelmed

Victory

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

These three emotions will take form through altered environments that will be presented as Public Service Announcements installed in public locations so that anyone can experience them voluntarily. This is a visceral, visual language applied to the environment that attempts to identify with inward feelings.

Each of the experiences will be constructed right outside of the Kansas City public library plaza branch. This will emphasize the fact that illiterate individuals are (usually) not found inside the actual library ...but holds the concept of reading due to the close proximity of the experiences.

Here are the primary materials that already exist at the location.

Embarrassment

The first emotion felt by illiterate individuals is usually embarrassment that they cannot read. This environment is found right outside the entrance to the library in a small stone garden that is placed there now. The space is framed by a small staircase that leads to the bus stop beside the library.

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Each of the panels will be made from solid, 1" plexiglass and form a maze for the visitor to walk through. Since the panels are transparent, the visitor will be confused as they try and find their way through the space.

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Each of the panels will be made from solid, 1" plexiglass and form a maze for the visitor to walk through. Since the panels are transparent, the visitor will be confused as they try and find their way through the space.

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At each opening a sensor will shout the words, "WRONG" and "NO" when they pass through. This will make them think they are going the wrong way even though this is the only way throughmaking them embarrassed. Not only will the shouting be loud, but the visitor will remain in public site through the whole experience. Onlookers will be able to observe (and hear) every move through the space.

At the end of the maze, (CLICK) I will install a large-scale, wall graphic in place of this library graphic that is currently on the stairs leading to the bus stop. This will simply state, "Literacy Kansas City" to let the visitor understand the purpose of the maze environment as it connects with the public library.

Overwhelmed

Overwhelmed is the second emotion

I have moved this experience from the tiny hallway I had first planned on placing it in (found inside the library) and moved it to the parking garage elevator. Placing the "overwhelmed" experience inside the elevator of the garage will involve the physical lack of control as the visitor goes up or down.

Inside

Outside

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The walls of the elevator will be covered floor to ceiling in small, 1' x 1' screens that will simultaneously show close-up shots of emotions on unidentifiable faces. This would mean 140 (1 foot by 1 foot) total screens.

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The ceiling of the elevator will be painted a bold pink. Both doors will be painted an intense yellow.

The outside elevator doors will have the words, "Literacy Kansas City" on it that the visitor will see before they enter the space. Since the elevator is such a tight space, I don't want to make the visitor panic. To prevent this, the purpose (literacykc) will inform them before entering the elevator.

Some will be seen at a fast pace, some slow and will include a strobe-like effect with flashing white on various screens. I have changed the exposure on the video to brighten each screen and create more of an overpowering presence in the elevator. This will contrast with flashing black on the screens at certain times

The sound of multiple voices talking at once will play once the doors have closed and the elevator is moving up or down and explanation text will be applied to the yellow, inside doors.

Here is the video that will be individual played at different loops across the screens.

Victory

Victory is the last emotion students of literacy kc feel.

This will appear in the stairwell of the library garage.

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The text includes the top, 100 classic books in the United States and remain jumbled and illegible until the top of the staircase.

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Learning to read is dicult. Over 225,000 people in the Kansas City metropolitan area are not able read and comprehend. is experience is designed to simulate the emotions that adult learners feel every day. Make a dierence at literacykc.com

Both the text and sound are attempting to symbolize the experience of learning to read and achieving your goal at the top of the flight of stairs.

The visitor will experience this process (CLICK) by physically stepping up the stairs.

(CLICK & WAIT) As the visitor walks up the stairs, they will trigger the sensor placed on each step after the first step. " step, spark, courage, memory, excitement, confidence, determination, strengthen, endurance, resolve, certainty, victory!"

The window at the top of the stairs will also be covered and the stair climber will see the words, "Literacy Kansas City" with the sky showing through the surface in the background.

The wall text itself will be applied to the surface of the garage in black vinyl over a painted, dull white (to show the connection to reading pages in a book) on the concrete wall.

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

Through literacy kc and three, key emotions, I have PSA environmental experiences that have answered my question and draw attention to the serious issue of illiteracy in Kansas City.