Jam Session
My senior studio class was charged with designing an installation for this newly constructed staircase within our campus building. We talked to faculty, students and staff who use the space, and heard three main sentiments:
1. This staircase is beautiful. Don't ruin it!
2. I always get caught up in the spiral and miss the floor I'm supposed to get off at.
1. This staircase is beautiful. Don't ruin it!
2. I always get caught up in the spiral and miss the floor I'm supposed to get off at.
3. The College of Human Ecology is one of Cornell's seven undergraduate colleges. It is made up of a variety of studies that impact the human experience, including biology and psychology in the context of health & society, analysis & design of physical environments, fiber science & apparel design, and policy analysis & management. Many people on campus and off need an explanation about why Human Ecology's diverse list of majors all belong together in one college.
In response, we created a minimal intervention that highlights the stairs beauty, and communicates Human Ecology's unique value...
Stair as Jam Session
Jam sessions fuse independent elements to reveal the beauty and energy of the whole, creating a whole that is greater than its parts. Our jam session uses light, architecture and people as its instruments.
Stair as Jam Session
Jam sessions fuse independent elements to reveal the beauty and energy of the whole, creating a whole that is greater than its parts. Our jam session uses light, architecture and people as its instruments.
We came up with three ways this could work, abstract to literal.
Detail Perforation
Detail Tri-Color
Wayfinding
During our research, we found that people often miss their destination floor when using this staircase, and continue on up or down until it becomes apparent that they've gone too far. To combat this problem, we created an installation in the void that communicates about spaces within that floor, as well as the number or name of the floor itself.
Our first prototype demonstrates the idea of diverse hanging pieces creating a unified, communicative shadow.
Hanging pieces could be formed by words that define spaces or programs on the level.
Wayfinding graphics created for use in another part of the same building play along with this idea of meaningful parts creating a meaningful whole.
Thought Swap
This idea began as a simple, literal exhibition of the power of collaboration between Human Ecology disciplines. A collection of hanging headphones could feature podcasts that discuss real-world collaboration among topics like health, design, and policy.
This idea began as a simple, literal exhibition of the power of collaboration between Human Ecology disciplines. A collection of hanging headphones could feature podcasts that discuss real-world collaboration among topics like health, design, and policy.
the original sketch
For our first presentation, we mocked up a "thought swap" corner, with a bench, headphones, and a printed "ticker screen", displaying the name of the streaming podcast. We left the installation up after the presentation, and a couple of days later, a response appeared:
Responding to our ticker that asked "What's wrong with our food system?", the flyer stated, "Well, for one thing... There's no full-service, wholesome grocery store... in Collegetown". Someone had taken the time to create and print this flyer specifically for our installation.
We wondered if there were more opinions to be shared, so we posted more Human Ecology relevant questions with a clear method of interaction:
We wondered if there were more opinions to be shared, so we posted more Human Ecology relevant questions with a clear method of interaction:
Inspired by the response, we incorporated a permanent space-based discussion method into our concept.
Pegboards could hold question printouts as well as blank squares for community interaction.
Magnetic glass would allow magnets to hold paper contributions, as well as writing directly on the wall with dry-erase markers.
