OUGD505 - Module Evaluation

OUGD505 - Module Evaluation

For Studio Brief 2 it was initially quite difficult to work out what to do the project on and pinpointing the specific focus within that topic, however once decided it was good to do the project on something of interest. Refining the subject matter down to a focused question was really important to help come up with ideas on what the brief could be, similarly considering what the ideas aimed to achieve in relation to the original question was important. The City Patch Project took my interest for nature and allowed me to considered it in a different context that I had not thought of before, making it interesting to research this further and allowed me to learn new things during the project. Thinking about how the branding could be distributed and applied to a range of outcomes was interesting and making the membership pack meant that I was designing things that I hadn’t done before. Researching quite heavily had its pros and cons. I felt more informed when designing the outcomes however at the beginning it was difficult not to get too bogged down in it and to refine it down to work out where the project was going.

For Studio Brief 1 choosing Ambient music, which I didn’t know anything about at the beginning of the project, helped me keep an open mind on the topic and when thinking of ideas. It was interesting to work in a three-dimensional way again as I like to make and produce things. The physicality of the design meant that I had to think more about materials and how they would look together rather than on screen as this never looked like the finished thing. Working in a three-dimensional way allowed for more experimentation with forms, and materials as well as digital elements which I think created quite a fun, quirky and playful object. Using quotes from articles was the most helpful to the project as it gave visuals for a subjective topic. The project as a whole was quite conceptual which allowed me to be looser with ideas and the three-dimensional aspect of the brief led to some more experimental approaches.

In both projects I learnt new design skills and production techniques. In Studio Brief 2 layout and cover considerations were the most difficult parts of designing. Combining type and image for covers and in experimentation was challenging however after researching other magazine covers it was found specific types of images are used with more background to allow type to stand out against imagery. Also, I learnt that images didn’t always have to be combined with brand elements instead they can be separate but still work together. In terms of the layout of the newsletter, although having the grid system, it was difficult to place imagery and content so that it didn’t look too structured and so that content still linked with the relevant images. Considering the importance of negative space and not over-complicating a design helped to create more refined outcomes. In terms of production methods in both projects new things that were learnt were creating packaging nets, laminating, using clear vinyl and joining Perspex. Making the nets allowed me to consider forms that could be created from a flat design. Laminating was found to be an easy process and created an effective protective covering to the folder which will be useful in other printed projects. Previously I have made wooden boxes, which are joined with glue however Perspex had to be welded together with another product. Clear vinyl produced more vibrant designs than expected however in other projects it needs to be considered that the colours will change.  

      

Overall, I think I managed my time quite well considering the module was balanced with Responsive at the beginning and COP at the end, however there was still quite a lot to do at the end of the project.  

OUGD505 - Studio Brief 2 - Final Designs and Evaluation Against the Brief

Final Outcome and Evaluation Against the Brief

The branding for the City Patch Project reflects a sense of the contrast between green spaces and the city environment through colour and type, whilst the idea of a patch is reflected in the shape of the logo, which plays on the projects name. The logos square shape reflects a physical patch with the lines around it representing the stitches that hold a patch in place. All of the designs are square in format to reflect the patch shape. The grey outline around the green patch in the logo reflects a sense of green space within the city. The green and grey colour scheme reflect a sense of urban and green spaces within the city, with tints of both colours being combined to complement each other, creating contrast and a vibrant aesthetic. Using Basic Sans as the logotype combines organic elements with the geometric, reflecting the angularity of the city and curves of nature. The typeface has a playful aesthetic which is used throughout other elements to create consistency. The use of the patch ornament is used throughout the designs is used as a way of integrating the branding into the designs in a subtler way without using the logo all of the time.

The project aims to protect, increase and maintain green spaces. To reflect the idea of protecting green space the green space is represented using diagonal lines creating a sense of a designated space / area. The idea of increasing green space is reflected in varying imagery. Imagery which extends off the page creating a sense that green space extends beyond the city, which when combined with square images and negative space suggests that there is room for growth of green spaces within the city.

The membership pack will be posted so the 20 x 20cm square format makes the pack compact and can be posted as a large letter rather than a parcel. This allows it to fit through a letter box so it can be posted in normal mail, reducing cost for the client. The use of varying stocks in the pack create and allow for different effects. The thicker stock of the certificate makes it feel more substantial and official, whilst the thinner stock of the booklet and map allows for easier folding. The folder was laminated for extra protection creating a durable cover.

The design appropriately represents the variety of green spaces within the city through the use of varying sized imagery within the square grid which reflects how the patches are all different in size. The patch ornament which can be found at different scales throughout the designs reflects the same concept.  

The target audience is 20 – 29 year olds who have an interest in wildlife and nature and / or value and use green spaces. The use of Basic Sans as a typeface creates a contemporary and playful aesthetic whilst the use of a vibrant colour scheme and large images creates a visually appealing design for target audience. The tone of voice within the design is colloquial and friendly making it appropriate for the audience.

The patches are promoted through the use of lots of imagery which varies in size and allows the patches best features to be highlighted. The grid system and margin within the design allows the images to be framed, whilst the off-white paper, which has a more natural appearance, allows the imagery to contrast and stand out on the paper.

The design encourages people to get involved through the use of colloquial language in headers and titles which creates a friendly and positive tone of voice. The use of capitals within the design creates a sense of action suggesting the project has impact, however Basic Sans and its subtly curved aspects creates a friendly sense.

To reflect the local aspect of the project and create a community feel to the design each pack would be tailored to the area that you live. This making the project more relevant to the audience as it will provide them with information that they can act on easily within their community which is more likely to motivate people to get involved.

It was considered that to be more sustainable the design could be printed onto recycled paper, however this could affect the quality of image printing. The typesetting the body text could be improved if dealing with actual content as all hyphenated areas would be removed, however the text box size allows 5 – 8 words per sentence which is similar to other magazines looked at and the body text point size is legible when printed. When the design was printed the dark grey used in the colour scheme was over saturated and looked almost black when compared with test prints on other printers so the colour may have to be brought down a shade for it to accurately print. Also the vinyl car sticker which was printed onto clear acrylic, changed the green, however this is because of the transparency of the vinyl. This would have to be produced in a different way in order to get the same colour. 

All images within the final printed outcome are my own

Membership Pack 

Newsletter

Map

Certificate 

Wildflower Seeds

Car Stickers

Stickers

OUGD505 - Time Management

Time Management 

- Having monthly calendars pinned up allowed key dates, submissions, workshop slots and key things to do to be noted down. This provided a visual reminder of how much time there was left before deadlines etc.- Each day to do lists were created, initially these were quite general just suggesting which work to do however later in the module this was key to making sure lots of things needed to be done in a short amount of time.- The last week before the deadline was set aside for the production of the two briefs, which just about allowed space for mistakes and problems in the process, allowing them to be rectified.

OUGD505 - Studio Brief 2 - How can we best utilise green spaces within cities? - Areas that help people and biodiversity

Utilising space best for both people and biodiversity 

Key research was considered and solutions to these problems were considered

Creating Wildlife Corridors / Stepping stones

- These allow wildlife to move from place to place
- Allows wildlife to reconnect with the wider environment 
- Includes things such as ponds, woodland and watercourses 
- Create city islands which would be pockets of greenery within the city 

Community / Neighbourhood Green space 

- Provide basic ingredients for mini habitats, so the community can create small green spaces in their area. This planting event would provide the fundamentals of green space creating pocket patches for wildlife 
- Renting out public space to people with no garden allows people to look after patches, improves the city and helps biodiversity because their habitats are being protected
- having a personal connection with something motivates people to do something 

Increase accessibility to green space

- Green spaces need to be within proximity for people to use them
- Allow people to experience things within nature 
- By showing people where spaces are and what features they have they are more likely to use them 
- Green spaces could be connected by a trail around the city which would create tourism and encourage the use of the green spaces 
- having a personal connection with something motivates people to do something 

Enhancing streetscapes

- Streets are spaces for social interaction and people are more likely to spend time in spaces if they are attractive  
- streets provide space for social interaction
- To enhance the quality of the city environment vegetation should  e encouraged near buildings
- Businesses could improve streetscapes by including window boxes , green roofs , walls and facades as part of a green scheme
- Urban seating with habitats for wildlife and people will bring both together allowing for the integration and increase of wildlife within the city 
- people move to cities for different reasons e.g. culture and experience
- create urban experiences that people want  

Enhance spaces for wildlife

- The fundamentals of a habitat should be included e.g. understorey and canopy vegetation such as leaf litter, logs, long grass, ponds and streams  
- Protecting current green areas and habitats is important. These could be emphasised to make them attractions.
- It can be difficult to protect existing green space from development 
- Funding is being cut, if green space is not used then it will be built on 
- High land prices mean developments and urban infrastructure have pushed nature out 
- it can be difficult to introduce biodiversity because of limited space
- where healthy habitats exist these should be retained
- it needs to be considered what kind of habitats appeal to wildlife and people 
- Adopting a space would allow for the protection, maintenance and renewal of plots This would be a community project in which people volunteer to look after the patches.

OUGD505 - Studio Brief 1 - Ambient Music - Production

Production 

Making the Acrylic box 

To create the box clear acrylic was used to allow the sand to show through the sides. The design for the box was made on the makercase website which allows you to create box plans by entering the dimensions of the desired box. Choosing the finger slot join on the box would allow all of the pieces to slot together using minimal glue to form a box. The largest tab size was chosen so there was less gluing needed. 

From the plans that were generated the top piece of the design was not needed because the compost heap would be open. All of the upright section pieces were then modified to be flat on the top creating a smooth top.

The pieces were then bonded using special glue for plastics which acts as a weld between the two surfaces.

Making the Vinyl stickers

The symbol designs were placed within a white circle to represent how each of these things were recorded as found sound. Adding an extra layer to the Illustrator file with the corresponding sized circles around each of the pieces would allow the design to be cut after printing. The designs were printed on white vinyl to allow the lines within the symbols to stand out. Printing onto white vinyl allows a design to be printed with the same quality colour as any other print allowing the designs to be vibrant and bold. Once the designs were printed on the vinyl these were then put on the vinyl cutter and the stickers were cut out as circles.  

Making the other elements

 

The laser cutter was used to cut out some white acrylic shapes, which the stickers were then applied to. This also allowed the other symbols to be cut out all of which were non instruments that Brian Eno used to create sounds from. These were cut from black acrylic to match the black of the symbols on the stickers.

Combining all the elements

It was found when the sand arrived there wouldn't be enough to fill the box that had been created, also if the design had been filled to the top with sand it would have been very heavy and the joins between the plastic may not have held this all together. Instead it was considered filling the centre with styrofoam in layers so that the design could be made up in sections and elements placed inside the compost heap more easily. This would allow the design to be much lighter and mean that the layers could be created to whatever thickness wanted around the outside of it.

The coloured sand was layered in varying thicknesses to create different sized layers. Using the rough compositions created for each of the sides of the compost heap the symbols were placed in the compost heap as the layers were built up. This meant creating little islands around the symbols to hold them each in place then the whole layer was filled up.

OUGD505 - Studio Brief 2 - City Patch Project - Production of Designs and Material Considerations

Production of Designs and Material considerations 

Printing the Newsletter, Certificate, Map and Seed Packet 

Originally the designs were going to be printed on recycled stock however it was said by the technician that it is difficult to get hold of this kind of stock that is also suitable for printing images on as well. Instead for all of the designs an off white stock was used to create a more organic appearance rather than a clinical bright white. The use of this stock still allowed the imagery and colours to contrast against the background which was particularly needed in the newsletter which was content and image heavy. 

The newsletter was printed on thin stock to create a booklet aesthetic. The design was then bound using staples to create a cost effective and simple binding technique appropriate for a small booklet / zine publication. It was considered that different areas would have different content in their newsletter so would be produced locally by patch volunteers. The designs for the zine / booklet for patches across the country would be the same however changes would be made to the content that goes into the design. Due to the zine / booklet being produced specifically for an area this means there would be a lower print run making digital print more cost effective.


The map and seed packet was printed on the same stock as this allowed the designs to be easily folded down. There was some cracking on the seed packet imagery however this was not overly obvious. The certificate was printed on a heavier stock to make the design feel more substantial and official.

Printing and Producing the Folder

The size of the net meant that the design had to be printed on a different printer to the other designs which used different paper. The folder need to be printed on a thick stock as this would need to be strong enough to support the contents of the pack. However, it was found that after a certain weight the papers available start to crack when folded. To minimise the risk of this the folder was laminated on the front which allowed the paper to be better supported when folded. This also created a protective surface for the folder cover making it more durable. 

When all of the designs were printed however it was found that the grey which had printed accurately elsewhere was heavily saturated by the printer in digital print. This meant that what was previously grey looked black which was not ideal. 

Printing the stickers

 

To create the car sticker and other stickers the designs were printed onto white vinyl. Using white vinyl would allow all the colours within the design to stand out and the quality of the print would be the same as if printed on any other paper surface. Adding a black outline around the stickers on a separate layer within the digital file allowed the printed designs to then be put through the vinyl cutter which cut the stickers out. The car stickers printed on the clear vinyl came out more vibrantly than expected however the green was a different colour to the original which is seen within all the other printed material. 

OUGD505 - Studio Brief 2 - How can we best utilise green space in cities? - Research

How can we best utilise green space in cities?

Further Research in relation to key questions and topics 

Green Space Overview 

What does biodiversity need from a green space? 

- suitable habitats for biodiversity are needed within urban green spaces 

- guidelines on how to reverse loss of biodiversity or increase it is lacking 

- research examined the responses of bats, bees, birds, beetles and bugs to three attributes of urban green space vegitation that can be controlled

- increasing understorey vegitation and native vegitation led to positive results. There was a 30 - 120% higher rate of bats, native birds, beetles and bugs from a 10 - 30% increase in understorey volume and 10 - 140% across native animals when native plants were increased by 10 - 30%.

- increasing the the density of large native trees had a neutral effect

- increased understorey cover and native plantings in urban green spaces can improve biodiversity outcomes

- urban green spaces are very fragmented, small and isolated patches of green space

- only 13% of urban tree cover is within patches bigger than 0.25 hectres

- the amount of urban green spaces is a good indicator of of biodiversity

- evidence suggests that patch size and quality are important in driving plant and animal populations in cities 

- studies on birds have suggested 10–35 hectares of continuous green space are required to support most urbanized species with forest bird species (avoiders) requiring larger areas

- most city parks fall considerably below this size range  

- Modeling studies predict that adding just a small amount of additional green space (150 square meters) to small neighborhood parks will considerably increase bird species richness

-  little understanding of thresholds in patch size for other animal groups or plants

- The ability of green space to support biodiversity can be moderated by urban intensity and structure

- animal species need a variety of habitat types to provide resources for themselves

- a variety of green spaces can help towards this 

- there is little understanding as to how green spaces are used by animals 

- requires different habitat types within an urban area and whether these can be met within a single green space or not.

- less mobile species might acquire all required resources within a single patch, whereas others must move across larger areas, such as some bee species

- At the landscape scale, the diversity of green spaces within urban areas increases plant species diversity

- the presence of diverse resources across green space types explains the presence of diverse animal communities

- At the local scale, habitat heterogeneity within green spaces increases the species richness of multiple taxa  whereas vegetation structure and complexity enhance the diversity of urban forest bird communities

- planting to suit the area can reduce maintenance costs and bring in the right kind of animals e.g. wet lands should be planted with plants that live in wet areas

- rather than  lawns mixed with exotic species which need time and input, native vegetation can offer more support to ecosystems  

- Biodiversity is not only an issue of the quantity of species and their habitats, but of the quality of areas and processes.

- integrate biodiversity goals directly into urban planning
- habitat structure is important to animal biodiversity and includes understorey and canopy vegetation, leaf litter, logs , long grass, wetlands, streams, ponds etc
- the composition of plant species in green spaces is a determinant of biodiversity e.g. insects and animal richness
- both native and exotic plants can contribute to biodiversity
- cities are located on areas of high biological diversity however urbanisation has significant effect on land use changes leading to habitat loss and fragmentation

Defining the difference between green spaces
- urban green spaces can be public or private land
- differences in ownership have an effect on the composition and distribution of green spaces in the urban landscape

Regenerating disused space

How are disused spaces being used? 
- parking lots, former industrial sites / brown field sites and abandoned infrastructure like railways are being converted into new green spaces 
- the parklets of San Francisco have improved street life and encouraged more active lifestyles
- in Seoul in Korea, freeways have been taken down to provide space for people plants and animals. The Cheonggyecheon project stream restoration project has had a variety of benefits 
- The High Line Trail in New York has used a disused railway line as a new green space which has become a major attraction 
- under utilised and abandoned spaces such as railway corridors, empty lots, street verges or power line easements could make good parks 
- unused land within cities e.g the banks of railways, can provide corridors between larger areas and enhance biodiversity habitats 

Why are they not being used? 

- some spaces are privately owned 

- under utilised parks are seen as assets to be sold

Improving current space

How do / can they cater for both people and biodiversity? 

- green spaces allow interaction between city residents 

- by promoting quality green space within cities biodiversity can be protected and enhanced and brought closer to people in cities
- urban bird habitat can be improved by retaining large trees, increasing the proportion of native vegetation and improving habitat complexity with understorey and overstorey canopy vegetation, leaf litter, logs and long grass
- grassed areas allow space for recreation
- lawns negatively affect native biodiversity as they provide little habitat for wildlife 

What spaces are most important for people and biodiversity? 
- underground food webs need to be considered so that beneficial predators can be preserved by providing them with food
- different compositions of leaf litter in parks create differences in species richness
- earthworms decrease in soils covered with gravel and increase in soils covered with bark mulch without plants
- amphibians can survive in urban waterbodies e.g. wetlands, streams, garden ponds, etc

How can they be maintained?

- there should be a balanced system of protection, sustainable use and management of local, regional, national and European levels

Do city green spaces meet the needs of people and biodiversity?
- the walkable quality of the street environment requires destinations and attractive spaces that encourage people to spend time in their streets and local amenities
- density needs to be appropriate, in the right location, appropriate height , good land use mix and good design for it to create compact and attractive walkable urban neighborhoods
- Green infrastructure should go beyond just parks and consider greening solutions such as green roofs, walls, facades and increased greening in streetscapes
- there is limited research into the benefits of urban green spaces for non human organisms because there is a focus on individual species which have narrow geographic ranges making generalisations difficult
- the vegitation and structures that make up green spaces can contribute directly to species diversity
- green spaces can provide habitats for other organisms
- green spaces are important for the conservation of native species
- some species are disadvantaged by urbanisation whilst others can survive
- population density has an effect on the distribution of green cover and fragments green space
- high population densities lead to more hard surfaces and less impermeable surfaces where plants can grow
- there are large scale benefits for human health and wellbeing, ecosystems and biodiversity
- pleasant and well maintained environments in city centres increase the amount of people going to visit 
- evidence suggests that people are happier with public green spaces and will use them more if they have natural elements. A study in Chicago found that people in apartments used public spaces more if they were natural rather than manmade. This also increased more socialising with neighbours 

What is good quality green space?
- environmental psychology literature suggests people prefer natural scenes in cities compared to scenes that include built elements
- quality features include focal points e.g trees, connected pathways and seating, nature and the absence of litter and graffiti
- building fewer higher quality parks was preferable to building a larger number of smaller lesser parks
- high quality parks include grassed areas, amenities, dog related facilities, gardens, walking paths, water features and wildlife
- studies have suggested that people prefer different kinds of green space. Landscape preferences are based on values, so people who are more environmentally focused / have ecocentric values prefer wild landscapes whilst people with human centered values like more managed landscapes
- preferences for messy biodiverse areas can be improved by adding a frame such as a fence around the outside to show the area is cared for
- to appeal to a broader audience and meet the needs of a wider group of people a range of places need to be created within green spaces
- sites need to be planned at different scales according to the city, region, neighborhood and site.
- they should be considered as part of an interconnected system rather than individual sites.
- a good quality of life is influenced by the quality of the urban environment
- different green spaces have different purposes
- people value green space from different reasons and green spaces need to reflect the needs of the community both now and in the future 
- the benefits of green spaces are related to its proximity, accessibility and connectivity  


How can the benefits of these spaces be communicated?

- community awareness and knowledge help inform planning 
- areas of native plants should be kept as they create a local identity and sense of place 
- cities are seen as poor areas for biodiversity, however in some areas the diversity of plants and animals can be higher in cities then in surrounding area
- the spaces need to be quality and be maintained 

Do people feel connected to nature in green spaces? 

- there are poor or uninformed perceptions of 'nature' 

- 'nature' for many suggest places far from cities and the opposite to the places they live in 

- there is a focus on preserving these places and less emphasis on looking after the urban landscape where most people live 

- ecosystems in any area are connected

- the management and selection of plants in green spaces has implications for the pollination of vegetation and food production 

- urban wildlife habitats provide a focus for local communities, who also become attached to the spaces.
- The Greenwich Open Space Project in south London evaluated the attitudes to nature in peoples lives. It was found that accessibility to nature was highly valued and being able to experience different things within nature. It was also found that for people just the knowledge of the natural area existing provided satisfaction for many.

How can street spaces be better used? 

- encourage vegetation near buildings with planting on balconies, in window boxes and on roofs

Making spaces multifunctional

How are city spaces made multi-functional?

- green spaces were originally just seen as places for single use

- Green infrastructure has more benefits

- green spaces can have multiple functions at a fraction of the cost 

- e.g. a restored wetland will help with flooding and also provide homes for wildlife

- compatible land uses can be combined to create land management combinations that support land uses the same area

How do they work for both people and biodiversity?

- design and delivery of open spaces that enable and promote the health and well being of people and the environment is a challenge for planning in cities

- there is more focus on a denser urban setting which puts pressure on public and green spaces
- public health research aims to understand the health benefits of open space and how this can be considered in land use planning, while environmental research focuses on the benefits of patterns in land cover types e.g. vegetation type
- the availability of neighbourhood green space, streetscape vegitation, landscaping and paths allows for social interaction and is associated with an increase in perceived community and social cohesion

Connecting spaces

How do we connect spaces? 

- wildlife corridors are useful for enhancing biodiversity 

-  evidence has shown that landscape connectivity enhances biodiversity in fragmented urban habitats

- Landscape genetic techniques have confirmed that connectivity can increase gene flow between urban green spaces

- models of networks suggest that even small patches within a city have the potential to connect populations of highly mobile and small animals

- it is unknown whether continuous connections between spaces or stepping stones which enhance connectivity through less space are more effective 

- evidence suggests that corridors may be more effective than stepping-stone habitats for multiple taxa but these results were based on only two cities

- Corridors may enhance plant and animal biodiversity, as has been shown in forest ecosystems

- engage businesses that can help with biodiversity e.g. railway companies that have land along their tracks

- natural features can act as wildlife corridors or stepping stones  e.g. pond, hedgerows, woodland strips, watercourses, manmade corridors such as fish ladders on rivers or eco bridges over motorways

- corridors and stepping stones allow species to get past barriers 

- these help plant species spread and provide more space for animals to connect and find resources 

- green bridges - and eco ducts reduce accidents with animals and cars  

- protected areas support green infrastructure 

- natural and semi natural areas are needed to connect green and blue spaces to create a network

Why is it important to connect spaces? 

- Urban environments are part of larger ecosystems but are often are isolated 

- reconnecting cities with the wider environment has an effect on people within the city and local wildlife populations 

- For instance they allow animals (e.g. birds, foxes and bees) to move between core green areas
- restored habitats can help reconnect or enhance existing natural areas e.g reed beds  or wild flower meadows

Improving individuals space

How can people improve their own green space to benefit them and biodiversity?

- promote residential gardens, both decorative or vegetable gardens are more diverse than plain lawns 

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