SPATIAL // PROJECT III, FINAL

Meditation has long served humanity as a way to achieve consciousness, an opportunity to self-reflect, and a moment to relieve stress, shed the world, and be still, even if its only for a slight moment. When thinking of a fast-paced, business driven location, New York City seemed like the perfect domestic place to serve as a strong juxtaposition for Meta, a monument to meditation. The big apple has long been a symbol of the United States and has become the epitome of an urban jungle. The experience a patron will go through is one of serenity and self-reflection through the architecture, lighting, and sound of the monument.

Meta Monument Presentation by McKenzie Marston and Ivan Alonso

SPATIAL // WEEK 2 PROJECT III

SPATIAL // PROJECT 3, CONCEPT

So far Ivan and I have discovered our concept for our monument. We did some mind-mapping and met in the middle with our interests and what the feel, emotion, and purpose for our monument will be. We want the monument to be a place for meditation, but not based on a religion or cause. Just a place for people to migrate to in order to find focus and peace.
We talked a lot about creating an interior space as well. How can a place affect a person's emotional state by just using the environment, color, and structure. We see this form being placed in a large open space like a dessert. This idea reminded me of Anish Kapoor's Leviathan in Paris inside the Grand Palais. This installation created a feeling that was so overwhelming, but also so very personal and peaceful all at the same time. Another space is Jame's Turrell's, The Light Inside at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston.  Just by using light and space, you feel transported into the completely different space and this experience can affect a person's spatial perception. 

SPATIAL // PERSUASIVE FINAL

Fundamental Course, Project 2 by McKenzie Marston

Dieter Rams was a minimalist. He strived to design products for people in which the design was simple, concise, and to the point. Rams was ahead of his time and his designs proved that. In representing his ten principles we stripped away some of the information and only kept what was necessary. by pulling out the key component from each principle we wanted the viewer to understand where Rams was coming from right when they walk into the space. They will see the words, useful, unobtrusive, and innovative, for example.  We placed these words by the appropriate artifacts on the walls. We wanted to get straight to the point and keep Rams in mind while doing so. 

SPATIAL // WEEK 10

As this project comes to an end we are beginning to wrap things up. I knew that our concept needed to be pushed a bit more and the concept we developed has a lot of more depth. We liked the idea of contrast. Rams is a minimalist and keeping with that idea we are using minimal graphics, but they have a large presence within the space. 

Using contrast, we are taking his electronics and making them graphic elements on the walls and within in the design. One of the principles that Rams used was unobtrusive. He thought that his designs should modest and restrained. Our designs are going to contrast that principle. We want the artifacts to be blown up and huge on the walls. By using yellow as one of our primary colors, it becomes an  overwhelming experience. I think even though Rams wanted to create products that followed these rules and because he was ahead of his time– I find that today, some of his products can seem to break his rules depending on how you look at it. Because some of them are so minimal and different from what we see today it makes them stand out and become that work of art he didn't want them to be. 

Right now, we are currently calling it Fundamental Course, but since our form and concept have changed a bit from the last time we came up with that- I am not sure that fits very well anymore. 

SPATIAL // SELF ASSESSMENT

I was not 100% sure what to expect of this class. Spatial design is not something I ever considered or paid a lot of attention to. I knew it was important and that it can easily make or break the way the audience can experience either a exhibit or getting from point A or B, but now I find myself noticing signs and how easy it is to find something wherever I go. The best part for me so far is realizing how much a simple sign can direct and lead someone. Actually putting yourself in the viewers perspective and creating a new experience for them is so important. We might anticipate one thing, but once in the space it can completely change. I like that as designers we have the ability to completely change or help a large clean exhibit space to a parking lot. I think that finding the most appropriate solution is definitely problem solving. This idea of taking a blank slate and filling it with content in the best way to get the audience the best experience. (It's a tricky task! I feel like it's a giant puzzle!) 

SPATIAL // WEEK 6, PROJECT 2

For project 2 we have decided to focus on Dieter Rams. I think we were both inspired by his principles and the challenge to visualize those through a spatial experience. 

CONCEPT
For our concept we want to channel these design principles. Rams was a man of minimalism, reduced, and honest designer. While watching the video of him we both pulled out the quote, "Not outstanding design, but better design." This then led to thinking of the yellow button on his calculator. He only called attention to what needed to be called out. Everything had purpose and meaning.  Keeping things minimal through the design and throughout the space by using this yellow button or circle as we have it, it will be used as a graphic symbol throughout the space to call out the moments.
Right now we are calling the experience "A Fundamental Course." This names stems from Rams' theories. He used only what was essential to a product. We are only showing the fundamental moments in these principles. He had a less is more moto and we want that to come through in the design. The person walking through this experience is walking through a growth or course showing them the beginnings and theories that he based his designs off of.  

FLOOR PLAN / NARRATIVE 
We want to create the story through his creations. When walking into space 5, the first portion of the space, Rams will be represented along with his principles listed on the wall. 
From the top floor to the bottom there a progression that the viewer goes through. Starting with the ten principles at the beginning, moving into the larger space the principles along with the explanation text and parts of his designs that represent that principle. Then as the viewer goes upstairs where they will view the actual objects where these principles have been put to use in his designs.

FLOOR PLAN

DIGITAL SKETCHES

TEN PRINCIPLES

1) good design is innovative

2) good design makes a product useful

3) good design is aesthetic

4) good design makes a product understandable

5) good design is honest

6) good design is unobtrusive

7) good design is long lasting

8) good design is thorough down to the last detail

9) good design is environmentally friendly

10) good design is as little design as possible

SPATIAL // PRACTICAL 1

Kansas City Art Institute is a place for creatives to pursue their artistic freedom, growth, and expression. They can aim their future in any direction they choose. The base of our design and intentions lie within the passion and creativity found in the students, the energy and vibrancy of the culture on campus, and the depth and complexity of the art making process.

We wanted to use textures and colors that would adapt as KCAI changes and grows. The materials we are using to embody the depth and complexity of KCAI are perforated metal, painted metal and Plexiglas glass. The metal has a square pattern punched out for the perforation. We liked highlighting the color choices peaking out as a viewer sees it from different angles.  From a distance the signage appears as one solid block but when examined upon closely you’ll notice that it’s not just one piece of material, but rather a layering of several materials. This reinforces the fact that nothing is as simple as it seems, which we can all agree is true in the creative process.

Creatives have the ability to mold their life into a successful career in unconventional ways. This ability means we can craft success in infinite amounts of ways, which way will you let KCAI lead you?

Practical 1 by McKenzie Marston

SPATIAL // WEEK 4

KCAI Spatial Design by

Well, this past week has been about expanding our concept across the board with cohesion and refining it. We have been exploring how the use of perforated metal is to be used in this project. It is primarily used on the site identifier, and will be featured on the directional signs. We have been discussing how much of this material we should incorporate into our system, while we want it to be a cohesive system, we don't want to over whelm the campus with this material, so we've decided that we incorporate the metallic quality into other places, like street signs and interior directional signage.

We have also been working on the pattern that is going to be used through out our system. We created a set of arrows for our signage and have expanded on this since last week. The KCAI websites' welcoming message is "Do Things Your Way" and it felt right to use these arrows to get at this idea of choosing your own direction so we have created a pattern that will be used appropriately in our system. Right now they are featured on the street banners, but we have yet to decide on what other element to feature them on.

SPATIAL // WEEK 3

OUR "DIRECTION"

We began superimposing graphics on the wall and finalizing the combination of materials for the signage. We decided on perforated metal overlaid on a color field with the addition of plexiglass as the base for type. Currently, the signage disappears into the environment. It is overlooked, shy, and lacks personality. We want our signage to be integrated, but eye catching.  Our goal is to give assertive direction so that visitors can make their way around campus successfully. Our signage is tailored to the space to take full advantage of the structures that already exist.

street signage

 

SPATIAL // CONCEPT IDEAS

We began mind mapping to see what KCAI is really about. We decided on two different concepts that we are now branching off from. The current essence that our school has works, but we believe that starting fresh will allow us to push the design conceptually and it will become a more thoughtful process.

One direction we see ourselves going in is inspired by the history of KCAI. This institute has such a rich history and we don't know that a first time visitor can really see that by a first time visit to our school. By incorporating imagery from the past as well as small moments of history where necessary the experience would become much more engaging for the viewer. This idea also stems off the notion that KCAI has progressed to become a unique and diverse school. Over time our school has had many additions which symbolize the need for advancement and expansion. Being a school for the arts and design– a visually stimulating design needs to be created and adding imagery would definitely add to that idea.

After  mind mapping we had a multitude of adjectives describing KCAI and it's students. But for this concept we wanted to focus on the students. That is what makes a school the school that it is. The students and their individuality. The words showmanship, diversity, and community stood out to us. As art students we are all here to create art and design work the best of our abilities. We are a diverse group stemming from places all over the country and world. And of course the one thing that brings us all together is KCAI. It becomes our community. These three traits: showmanship, diversity, and community, have this idea of direction. The direction of one's self within a community or from a certain community. We think first time visitors should be able to recognize this. With this concept we would like to incorporate moments of narrative again on the signage. Things that as students and faculty know, but probably things a first time visitor might not. For example if a visitor is at Vanderslice being directed to the Baty House that sign might read, "8 minute walk until Baty House."

 

 

We believe there is a lot of opportunity to educate our audience in these somewhat subtle ways when visiting our school. Being able to share a part of ourselves, a part of our school in a graphically interesting and stimulating way.