3 in the morning (can't sleep, don't feel too good at the moment), so will try to throw out an idea for the Havana group, especially since I might not be able to make it into college on Thursday the way I'm feeling.Please feel free to reject the whole idea, mangle, or use any part of it as the group sees fit. I'm sorry if I'm not physically with the group in the next few days, but I will try to contribute via our shared blog. You can either read through my whole thinking process, or skip the drivel and just read the coloured text for the condensed nub of the final idea:--------------------------------------------------------------------------
A selection of 3 images, either seperate or as one animated gif.
* 1st image - showing students in drab quad not knowing where to go.
* 2nd image - showing quad with central design and colour-coded pathways to departments, etc. Maybe show the new, supporting logo too if one is made.
* 3rd image - showing how new quad and colour coded system helps students to find direction(s) (!)
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I don't know about the rest of you, but one of my strongest initial experiences of Farnham was of people milling around or walking aimlessly because they didn't know where to find room P513a or such and such corridor. And that alot of the college, especially the quad, was quite drab for a place that was supposed to foster and uphold creativity.
I thought, especially since we have such a short delivery time, an image or two to three images turned into an animated gif might be relatively easy to do.
My initial idea, which was a bit twee, was of having an animated gif. First image in it would show students in the quad not knowing where to go, looking at maps (yeah, I know they weren't provided on the first day, but it was just to set the scene). That image dissolves into a picture of the solution - some sort of colour-coded system that helps people to navigate to the correct department or room (maybe on the floor or walls as in some American hospitals). Then the last image slowly appears, of students in the quad confidently knowing the direction to go in.
The last idea got me thinking. Farnham wants the MA students to be reflective, open learners, and ones that take a particular pathway but interact with other disciplines. Research a specialism but take a broad multidisciplinary approach.
It also wants MA students to forge their own direction in research. That sits oddly with an initial experience of students not knowing where to go as soon as they arrive in college.
So I thought. How about rebranding the Farnham logo. Take all the room colours (6 or 7?) and make a square background with 7 horizontal stripes of the different colours. Each stripe blends into each other so you have roughly fourteen colours - just about enough for the number of MA pathways. Then the University logo sits on top. Merging colours signify the distinct pathways and that the University offers a broad range or courses, but also the fact that the pathways themselves are interelated strengthened by their multidisciplinary natures.
Then I thought. Make a circle around the logo instead, and let the colours merge around the logo. Same idea but emphasizing the interelated, interlocking circular nature. And fitting around the 'C' logo quite nicely.
That got me back to the boring quad and the colour-coded directional system. Turn the quad floor (or walls or both) into a riot of colour. Make a multi-coloured circular band around the quad encompassing all the department or pathway or block colours. Colours spin off the central circle (or vortex, etc) and take you down a path to your destination. (Each colour might have a label as it peels off the central hub).
"The central hub". That's what the quad should be. A central hub where people meet and mix and chat and then move off to other places. At the moment it's a bit grey and featureless. With the coloured system, it would be a bright centre that reflects the interconnected nature of creativity in general and creativity in Farnham specifically. The colours in the hub could imitate the circluar band around the Farnham logo, or could be a completely novel design. Visitors to reception on asking for directions would just need to be directed to the hub where they could easily find where they need to go, but also get, at a glimpse, a better understanding of all that Farnham has to offer.
So the 2nd image in the gif, would be showing the quad with the new central design and colour-coded pathways (photoshop, anyone?).
The one or two images could be shown seperately, not put together in one animated gif.
The idea in bullet points again:
A selection of 3 images, either seperate or as one animated gif.- 1st image - showing students in drab quad not knowing where to go.
- 2nd image - showing quad with central design and colour-coded pathways to departments, etc. Maybe show the new, supporting logo too if one is made.
- 3rd image - showing how new quad and colour coded system helps students to find direction(s) (!)
