Goals for 2/3 Group Critique

For next Tuesday (Week 5 of 6) we will have a Group Critique. It is expected that for Tuesday you will have prototype betas, your design will be very close to finalization, and you will be working to create your final artwork.

For Tuesday 1/27

Just a reminder that we are looking for good progress in your project evolution for Tuesday. We will have individual group critiques on Tuesday. This is Week 4 - The goals are Design, Artwork + Interface Development

Commuting Technologies

New technologies aimed to help commuters. Thanks to Molly for sharing this link.

Zombies Ahead

Great find from Amalia on Gizmodo!

FIAT eco:)rive

It was announced today that FIAT has taken a 35% stake in Chrysler LLC. Chrysler will benefit by gaining access to FIAT's fuel efficient car technology. Check out the FIAT eco:)rive website.

The concept and graphics are quite nice, note the careful attention to the interface design.

Wired 17.02 - Inside the GPS Revolution

The latest issue of Wired has a great feature story about GPS and location technology. I highly recommend picking it up this week. It is now online.

Phase 1 Schedule - Where we are headed

Phase 1

Week 1 - Big Picture + Inspiration

Week 2 - Concept + Research

Week 3 - Concept Finalization, Brand Identity, Wireframe/Information/Interface Concepts

Week 4 - Design, Artwork + Interface Development

Week 5 - Prototype Betas - Design Finalization + Final Artwork

Week 6 - Review 2/12 (Thursday)

Artimis visit Tomorrow - 9am

Remember we are visiting the Artimis Traffic Center tomorrow (Thursday 1/15). The map and directions are listed below in a post from last week on the blog. See you there!

Animating Traffic

Sarah has found a great user generated traffic animation (similar data to the BBC story of UK traffic). A video of the animation can be watched here on Vimeo.

The Science of Traffic

Thanks to Ben for this link

UK Traffic Animations

Amazing animations of both transportation (via GPS) and IP network traffic. Click here to watch. Thanks to Mike for the link.

Artimis visit 01/15

Map and Directions for the Artimis visit next Thursday:

From the East (UC) : Take 71 South or Reading Road to 3rd Street. Take 3rd Street past Paul Brown Stadium, Past Central Avenue. Just after next traffic light make a right turn up driveway. You will see a Blue Metal Sign that says "308 West Third" - go up the drive and park in the lot. Yellow and White modern office building.
We will meet in the lobby at 9am.



View Larger Map

For Tuesday 01/13 - Concept Design for Phase 1

Now with respect to your project: I hope that your drive-by's went well. For Tuesday, Start organizing your images for us to discuss and review on Tuesday. You will eventually select one particular location to situate your

Each group should start creating at least three ideas for the main concept of (Phase 1) of your project. You should also outline some specific goals that you would like to accomplish in the first phase of the project that support your concept.

Think both of the pragmatics of "Traffic" and the practicalities that should be accomplished through the web (dynamic) interface, as well as the blue sky, big concept possibilities that could also be addressed in the web interface. One idea could be integrating the concept of social networking, i.e. a "Dopplr" / Web 2.0, like concept, but applied to the scale of Cincinnati, for commuters, and people who just drive around during the day. There are many different profiles and scenarios for people who drive our highways, and you should aim to address all of these types.

Don't forget about the branding (Naming, Icon, Identity, Image) of the project and the look and feel you want to convey. The project besides the programmatic elements should of course have Design.

I think on Tuesday, we will do an informal round table group critique/discussion, with each of the five groups casually presenting their visuals and ideas. As always feel free to email with questions or if you want to run ideas by me before hand over the weekend.

Today's Followup

Thanks everyone for making it to the CAM today. I hope you enjoyed our visit. Many of you asked, how are we integrating the visit into the course. The objective of today was to act as preface to the quarter. I want to instill in you the deep seeded value of design in today's global culture, as well as creating a source of inspiration. You are all the lead designers of the future, the leaders who will be making the impact on tomorrow's culture. Design is a global language, and a global industry. If you speak and understand design, you can do just about anything, anywhere. Seeing design, and experiencing design is invaluable, and I encourage you all to take every opportunity possible in your day to day to advocate for and be educators of design to those who are not aware of its influence and impact.

Why Urban Design is Relavant

The way cities are designed have an impact on the way people live, work and navigate them daily. Check out this video on the impact that design has on cities. Thanks to Matt L for the link. Warning, the video is 22 minutes long, so have some time before you check it out.

Information Architecture - mapping web trends

Information Architecture designed web trends map...you may have seen it in Wired magazine (If you don't subscribe to Wired, I highly recommend it, it is only a $10 dollar a year subscription). This type of representation aides in visual ergonomics. Transportation maps are easy on the eye to navigate, aesthetically pleasing, and are generally simple enough for the masses to understand. Thanks to Molly for the link.

Teams

We have 5 teams for the project:

I think as your projects evolve, it would be interesting to create a name/acronym for your project (could be you team name), but for now.

TEAM 1
: Kristen
 / Molly
 / Matt B


TEAM 2
: Elisha / 
Julie/ 
Amalia
TEAM 3
: Sarah / 
Matt L
TEAM 4
: Ben / 
Chris / 
Rob
TEAM 5: 
Cristen / 
Mike

UrbanOmnibus

The Architectural League of NY has launched a new project about design and the physical environment of NYC. Check it out at UrbanOmnibus.net

Digital Billboards

A NYT article from two years ago addresses the debate of digital billboards. Check out an enlarged map in the article.

Bad design example

As mentioned in class today, sometimes design takes a backseat to other agendas. LA Live aims to be the Times Square of the West. Just because media displays can be used, doesn't mean they should be used. A great example of when a "public" space is degraded by the use of (advertising) displays.

The Comcast Experience

As discussed in class today, The Comcast Experience in Philadelphia with motion graphics produced by The Niles Creative Group.

Teams + Questionnaries

Hi everyone, Thank you to those who have sent their questionnaires. Just a reminder if you have not, to please send it as soon as possible. Also please make sure that you have your groups finalized before Thursday.

Class for Thursday 1/15

We will be visiting Artimis Traffic Headquarters next Thursday, 1/15 from 9-11am. We will meet at their offices downtown. I will post specific directions next week.

Class for Thursday 01/08

Assignment 01: 9:00 am - 10:30 am

Go out and document some of the existing VMS (vehicular messaging systems) on the local highways (photos, video, etc) with your design partner. I-71 has several (both north and south), Ronald Reagan Highway has some, I-275 has several. Check out the Artimis website for the locations.

Assignment 02: 10:45 am - 12:00 pm

We will meet at the Cincinnat Art Museum (main entry) at quarter 'til 11 to visit the China Design Now exhibit (that closes on 01/11). Student admission to this exhibit is $6.00, and apparently no sketching is allowed in the exhibit.

RUOK + Driveby

Reposted from the 12/7 email

RUOK

Driveby

Some introductory inspiration + links

Electroland

Aimer la Ville

Doshdosh - Infographics

Good is

Smashing Magazine - Data Viz

Cool Infographics

First day of class is Tomorrow

Hi everyone. Hopefully you have received the syllabus, questionnaire by now, as well as this blog address. Please complete and email the questionnaire by the end of class tomorrow. We will start class tomorrow at 9am. See you then!