Ellen Lupton said “Urban public space is a stage for viewing the field of graphic design in it’s diversity. A mix of voices, from advertising to activism …”. My project on this urban public stage is a rhetoric for safety.
The stage in focus is the alley – Morton Street – that connects East Preston to West Mount Royal Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland.
The first step was to conduct a Public Life study of an area (West Mt. Royal avenue around University of Baltimore, Student center) and profer solutions to possible issues.
I began to study the area and taking important notes using ChalkTalk which framework is an augmented design thinking process. It helped bring to live macro and micro interactions with the public space.
I began the study by observing West Mount Royal Avenue (WMRA), when I noticed the high possibility of accidents occurring at the point where Morton street (the alley) cuts the sidewalk and opens into WMRA. I observed the speed at which cars access WMRA and how the pedestrians (walking dogs, jogging or walking briskly) were not bothered to watch for a vehicle passing through the alley.
All these and more, led to brainstorming for solutions to decelerate impending chaos.
The solution is meant to nudge people (pedestrians and drivers) into a behavior that drastically reduces the chance of an accident.
Its important to note that the end result of a speeding car through the alley and abruptly stopping isn’t only an head on collision. It can also result in severe health issues for pedestrians with high blood pressure.
The first idea was to install real road bumps.
The second was to create a crosswalk.
The first idea was realistic, of value but expensive for this project.
The second idea was feasible, of value and affordable.
The second was to create a crosswalk.
The first idea was realistic, of value but expensive for this project.
The second idea was feasible, of value and affordable.
I chose a yellow and white crosswalk because this alley is located in an urban school area. White crosswalks are for general spaces. Yellow crosswalks are for school areas.
After spray-painting the crosswalk with a flattened out cardboard box used for packaging stacks of A4 papers; I took time to observe the effect of this solution on vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
My observation spanned two hours. Four cars noticeably decelerated as they approached the crosswalk while two just sped through.
