Study Task 01 - Interventions

In our video we firstly tested diversions, in our studio space, to see if people would go around the diversion or take their way through the diversion. It would also make people pause or stop as they thought about how to get around, as there was a sudden change in their surroundings. This was explored through taping up one side of the door, therefore people would either have to walk under or through the tape, or open the opposite door to go around. This would show if people saw danger or a reason in the diversion or whether they would be ignorant towards it, and lazy as they just took the easier route. Secondly, we again, were trying to create a diversion by creating a sense of danger, we taped rectangles with a cross through the middle onto the floor, to see if people would walk around them, we also placed a green arrow directing the route with which people should take, creating a diverted pathway across the floor, this experiment was carried out within the city centre down Briggate street, in the arcade. Finally our third idea was to create a connection, we were testing wether people would walk across a connecting system across a road, that they hadn't seen their previously. Between two pavements we created a zebra crossing, creating a safe pathway between a road, to see if people would walk around and divert it or walk along it. The basis of the whole experiment was to see if they were paying attention to their surroundings, and existing and new sign systems. 

In our first intervention we used rectangles with a diagonal line through to show danger, to see if they would move away from the danger. However nearly every ember of the public chose to ignore the sign, and continued to walk over it. After analysing Frutiger's idea of symbols, when the square is elongated into a rectangle, it is no longer as symbolic, only when two squares are joined does the rectangle regain meaning and authority. To do it again, if we placed the tape down in a square, and then place the square on it's side therefore it becomes oblique it then gains intention. When placing the arrow, Frutiger says that a vertical line sows clearer expressions, therefore using both vertical and horizontal would be confusing. If we used a cross within the box, Frutiger says that this would lead to a protective gesture, therefore stating that the area is protected an shouldn't be walked upon. 

In our second intervention we used lines to create a diversions. Horizontal lines provide a better subconscious reaction the vertical lines. Similarly to our third intervention, we used horizontal lines to create a zebra crossing. The horizontal lines are better to be used in a danger zone, as we are more likely to see them in our peripheral vision, therefore it is safer to use this across a road. Although people chose to not walk across it anyway. Vertically parallel lines actually draw attention away from the sign, therefore in would probably have been more effective to only use horizontal lines close together within our second intervention. 

In evaluation when within our first intervention, a triangle would have been more appropriate as Frutiger says that a triangle with the apex at the bottom of the shape, causes a sense of alarm. Therefore it may have caused more people to react to it then they would have read the sign and avoided it instead of walking across. The second intervention was successful, which shows placing something at eye level, and using Frutiger's analysis of horizontal line shows that subconsciously people pay more attention. Also making something physical causes people to stop an pause as they can't physically get around it and it forces them to look and take notice. When placing signs and symbol on the floor, people pay no attention, they don't take care where they walk, as it is not in their immediate view, it's not on their radar. When watching our videos, it was taken note, that children interact with physical signs and symbols when they are placed at their eye level. It was also said that because people take the same route, some every day, when something changers, they either don't take note or they get annoyed and choose to ignore it, in our fast paced lives people don't want to take diversions or pay attention, they think they know best. 

Here I have applied Frutiger's analogy that an upside down triangle with the apex facing down, causes alarm in people, therefore it is used in road and traffic signs which need to be seen instantly and provoke an instant reaction. Also red is the colour associated with danger along with yellow, therefore this will cause more attention than say a square or a circle.