Task 2 YSP

Brief: Using own drawings and notes, create a map that uses only signs to document your journey. Translate own drawings into simplified signs. Recreate maps in tape/vinyl on a wall using signs only.

At the Park

Initially started documenting as much information about the route taken at YSP. Focused on mapping: 

• Sound, as the wind was the dominate sense i noticed when arriving at the park, created sound drawings using various shapes to represent the noises at different spots around the park. 
• Heart rate, and how many steps taken, keeping track on our bodies and how they altered throughout route.
• Overall route, rough sketch on where we went, and what we saw.

Developing Ideas

Experimenting with map documentation, deconstructing and reconstructing sound drawings, playing around with layout and how it affects the overall image. 
 - layering sound images was an interesting visual, but communicated very little.
Creating basic symbols for each map made on walk, being very literal with interpretation, as well as more abstract. 
 - successes and weaknesses within all approaches. 

PROGRESSING TO FINAL IDEAS

Taking research from map documentation and turning into a series of icons/symbols to represent the route taken at YSP. 
Focus has moved onto the way our bodies were during the walk, mostly onto heartbeat, relating to the intensity of our route. Used basic symbols from things we saw along our walk and combined with the heartbeat. 
 - Became confusing and hard to replicate in tape.
Developing a symbol for intensity created more issues than originally expected. Needed to create a system to represent various intensity levels for each point on our route. 
Asking questions:
'What does an intense symbol look like?',
'Why does his symbol look intense?',
'What does a calm symbol look like?',
'Why does it look like a calm symbol?',
'What does it look like in a row?',
'How many cirlces?',
'What size of circles?'.
Product was a large set of icons, each expressing a different version of intense/calm. Putting all these symbols together was a struggle. It became too cluttered, and confusing to look at. Needed to simplify icons.
Circles came into our icon by looking into contour lines on regular maps, more lines means more intense uphill, therefore more full circle equates to a more intense feeling.


ARRANGEMENT

We placed our circles on a 6x6 grid, we wanted it to reference a map. Placement of circles to represent our route was created by a drawing of the route by memory, then cross referencing the route with the heartbeat to determine the intensity of our walk.
We were unsure on whether to make the map using negative space or not, we put both pieces on the window and felt they were equally effective. We decided to have our map on the window so the viewer could see through to the outside, providing more context to the idea of  map.

Critique

"It is clear by the key and rationale that your map links to the heartbeat, and circle sizes are linked to your physical state throughout the journey. However we don't understand your use of negative space or why some circles are hollow and some are partially filled in." 

    - Our key mustn't have been clear enough as the circles which are filled in represent a higher level of intensity during our walk, and those with more empty space are representative of a calmer period. 
    - To improve on this our key should be easier to understand, and include a more in-depth explanation of the icons within the map.
    - The use of negative space wasn't a fully thought trough idea, we thought the use of both positive and negative space was a design element to consider, however we didn't conclude which worked best with our concept. Something to consider during next design projects.

"It is very abstract and non-linear map, so breaks standard conventions of an objective map. It is done in a grid with a border which does follow traditional maps."
    - The combination of traditional map qualities and more unconventional ideas allow the audience to understand the basics of the map, but retain interest as there are elements that can't be understood from face value. 
    - This increases the importance of the rational, and key. To improve on this I would pay more attention to these elements, and improve my communicative skills to allow the icons to have more impact.

OVERALL REFLECTION

• Allow time for more focus on key, if unclear the rest of the work won't be as effective.
• Distinguish differences between maps, make it clear that they are aspects of the design to be considered.
• Experiment more during initial design process, allow for more ideas later in project. Don't be afraid to make things that don't look good at the start, they may have potential.