Wayfinding System Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design University of Michigan
Table of Contents Proposal
3
History
4
Typography
5
Color
7
Grid
8
Iconography
9
Map
10
Materials
14
Entrance Signage
15
Locational Signage
20
Directional Signage
38
Donor Wall
41
International Experience
43
Proposal This book details my process of researching, designing, and producing a comprehensive wayfinding system for the Stamps School of Art and Design at the University of Michigan. Historical and physical research was at the core of my design process. By analyzing the intersections of visual communication and architecture, this system will assist and empower students and visitors alike to navigate this environment as well as cultivate an identity for it. The development of identity will lead to a more inclusive, unique, and memorable experiences for all visitors of the building. It is important to establish a wayfinding system for the Stamps building as it has many flaws in the current system. The existing wayfinding system lacks vital information and is unclear and inconsistent. Since Stamps shares a building with the Taubman School of Architecture and Urban Planning, which is a main cause of the inconsistencies. I considered inclusion and how to demarcate space in my design process so that I would not make visitors feel othered or unwelcome. Everyone should have the ability to experience the space around them and feel a sense of belonging where ever they are located in Stamps. Stamps currently breaks ADA in some spaces and does so inadequately in others. Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design must hold itself to high standards in not only their curriculum, but the implementation of design in their own building. Introducing a new wayfinding system into the Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design is a necessity to enliven and organize the space and to guide and welcome visitors and students alike. The architecture, curriculum, and history of Stamps informed my choices in typography, color, and material to create a unified, branded wayfinding system.
3
History Art and design education has a long history of developing in a variety of units at the University of Michigan. It began in 1910 as the Department of Fine Arts in the College of LSA. In 1931, the College of Architecture was created. Then in 1938, it expanded to include design. As of 1954, it was called the College of Architecture and Art. This new department of art was a distinct unit in the College, with its own administration, faculty, and staff, but with shared deans.
In 1996 it was renamed the School of Art and Design. Finally, the current name of Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design was deemed in 2012 because of a $32.5 million gift from 1966 alumna Penny Stamps.
In 1974, art and design education was separated from the College of Architecture and Urban Planning to form the newly named School of Art. The new name was accompanied by a move to north campus, a new building, and a new dean, George Bayliss. He had a vision for a curriculum that would explore new media and employ community outreach programs, use exhibitions and lecture to disseminate knowledge, and emphasize interdisciplinary education. Amid a national recession in the 1980s, the Board of Regents sought to cut spending and proposed to cut the school's budget by 25%, a cut that would be a "massive blow resulting in a 40% reduction of faculty, a significant reduction in undergraduate enrollment, and an insurmountable hurdle to resourcing students with the facilities needed to create strong work"¹ Ted Ramsey, a notable professor, organized a series highly visual protests. On March 7, 1984 "over 300 School of Art students convened for the first in a series of protests."¹ They dressed in all black with the word “ART” on their chests. They marched slowly and silently, clapped in unison. All in order to show "deep discipline, dignity, and commitment" for supporting the art school" and its intellectual value in the university. ¹ ¹ “The 1983 School of Art Protests: How A Visual Community Fights Back | Stories | Creative Work.”
Art students marching. John Collier for The Detroit Free Press. ¹
Art students gather in the Diag for the March 9 protest. ¹
4
Typography
AA
Futura PT is a geometric san serif typeface with sharp, crisp edges, and long ascenders; it is functional and beautiful. This rigid structure speaks to unseen elements in the architecture. This typeface compliments the history of Stamp's Bauhaus inspired curriculum. It embodies their ideology of the importance of function and lack of decoration. While designed in German by Paul Renner in 1927, it was uniquely modern and contrary to the Nazi’s highly decorative old typeface style. Futura quickly transcended beyond Germany, to others nations, and to becoming the first typeface on the moon. It became an international symbol of the future and international, something Stamps curriculum champions.
Futura PT Book Futura PT Book Oblique Futura PT Medium Futura PT Medium Oblique Futura PT Demi Futura PT Demi Oblique Futura PT Heavy Futura PT Heavy Oblique
Futura PT Heavy 500pt
Futura PT Book 400pt
Futura PT Book ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789 ! ? @ # $ % ^ & * () {} [] + -|\ / ‘ "
5
Color The colors are vital in distinguishing Stamps spaces, Taubman spaces, and shared spaces. I was inspired by the Bauhaus's use of primary colors. I wanted to continue nodding to the Bauhaus as a source of reference both in the Stamps curriculum and in the wayfinding system design. The main colors are altered primary colors. The secondary colors are tints of the primarys. This palette cultivates an identity for each school and for the building as a whole. They add vibrancy and a sense of history to the building.
Stamps Blue 1 #007586 C88 M40 Y39 K9 R0 G117 B134
Taubman Red 1 #f04947 C0 M87 Y73 K0 R240 G73 B71
Stamps Blue 2 #abcad7 C32 M11 Y11 K0 R171 G202 B215
Taubman Red 2 #efc4b7 C4 M25 Y22 K0 R239 G196 B183
Shared Yellow 1 #f7c744 C3 M21 Y84 K0 R247 G199 B68
Accent Cream #eeeae1 C6 M5 Y10 K0 R238 G234 B 225
Accent Black #212b2b C77 M62 Y64 K66 R33 G43 B43
Shared Yellow 2 #f4de98 C5 M10 Y48 K0 R244 G222 B152
Color panel from the colors seminar with Ludwig Hirshfeld-Mack, from the publication “State Bauhaus Weimar 1919-23� Courtesy of Elmhurst Art Museum
6
Grid The curtain wall of windows on the exterior of Stamps inspired the grid of all the designs. It is a modernist style that spans multiple floors of glass windows, allowing an abundance of natural light in. Each sign designed in this 2:1 ratio to incorporate the geometric nature of both the architecture and the typeface I chose, Futura.
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Iconography Icons were designed based on the modernist architecture and the geometric structure in the typeface, Futura PT.
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Map The map serves an important role in contextualizing your location in the building and but also navigating it. The map is positioned at a large scale on the wall adjacent to the main entrance, and is also available at a letter size so that it becomes handheld and portable. It is color coded consistently with the wayfinding system. Color serves as a critical visual cue for users in quickly distinguishes Stamps spaces, shared spaces, Taubman spaces, and general spaces such as elevators and restrooms.
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10
11
11"
8.5"
Directory
Directory Shared Spaces
Stamps School
Shared Spaces
Stamps School
Senior Studios 1000
Art & Architecture Auditorium 1104
Info, Finance, & Communications 2000
ECHO 2144
Media Center 2115
Fibers Studios 1068, 1075-B, 1076
Woodshop 1251
Video Studio 2006
Digital Print Lab 2125
Art & Architecture Auditorium 2104
Design Studios 2030, 2040
Classrooms 2125-B, 2147
Woodshop 2230 CAPS Psychologist 2208
Maskell Metal Studios 1069
Taubman College
DigiFab 1071, 1072, 1074
FabLab 1217
Administrative Offices 2038, 2055
Print Media Studios 2135, 2142, 2143
Instructional Studio 1108
BT Lab 1221
Computational Media Studio 2216
Sculpture Studios 1258-A, 1258-B, 1259, 1260, 1262
Multi-Purpose Studios 2023, 2043, 2044, 2057, 2058, 2062
Router Room 1234
Ceramics 1269, 1270
M.U.P Lab 1240
Studio Suites 1 1410-1450
Painting Studios 2063, 2094 Video Classroom 2114
Studio Suites 2 2410, 2420, 2430, 2440 Digital Work Commons 2450
Taubman College Help Desk 2106 Administrative Offices 2150
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Materials
Setacryl Locational and directional signage will be made with setacryl, a recycled acrylic product. It is 8-10 times more durable than glass, easier to work with than traditional acrylic material, and is light transmissible. It is able to be crafted in a wide range of custom colors and transparencies.
FSC Certified Wood Floating shelves and other wooden signage components will be made of FSC Certified Wood. The Forest Steward Council, FSC, is an organization that advocates for responsible forestry practices. This wood is environmentally, economically, and socially responsible and sustainable.
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Entrance Signage The entrance signage acts as a quick index that allows visitors to engage with an overview of the building and as a location to pick up a handheld, more detailed building directory and map. The entrance is also a key spot for placemaking. It serves to welcome people into the building by speaking to the namesake of the school, Penny W. Stamps and house a posting board for upcoming events at the school. 48"
.25"
48"
15
96"
.25"
48"
16
96"
.25"
48"
17
18
19
Locational Signage Listed is the room number, room name, and braille. Underneath the main module is an interchangeable slot for a weekly schedule of the classes occurring in that space. Spaces for Stamps use only are teal, Taubman's are red, and shared spaces are yellow. General shared use spaces such as restrooms and elevators are black. .25"
11"
11"
8.5"
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
11"
11"
.25"
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
Studio Locational Signage This system aids students in navigating where studios are, how to access them, and how to use their equipment. Stamps has many procedures in place on how to check out a space, make an appointment, or acquire the proper training necessary to use certain equipment.
16"
.25"
11"
.25"
11"
33" after hours access form
8.5"
34
35
36
Faculty Office Locational Signage Wooden floating shelf will hold modular name placards for when two professors share one office. When the office is not shared, the additional space can be used for displaying books or other creative materials of the office owner's choice.
11"
.25"
.25"
6.3" 11"
6.3"
For when two professors share one office
For when one professor has their own office
37
38
Directional Signage The directional signage features two modules that references the window curtain of Stamps. Geometric arrows direct visitors to their destination. There is also braille provided on each sign for visually-impaired users.
38"
39
19"
.25"
40
41
Donor Wall Instead of a donor wall that quantifies how much is donated, I wanted to emphasize instead why donors gave, prioritizing personal voices over monetary values. The modular design allows it to be ever-growing as donations are received. I strived to create a design that went beyond displaying a financial hierarchy. It is placed in a highly visible, high traffic central hallway.
66" 1"
6"
48"
6"
42
43
International Map This is a large scale map where students can place a pin where they studied a abroad, a key requirement to the Stamps curriculum. It allows students to engage in their own future and shows past experiences of students that highlights certain parts of the world. Materials: painted press board, vinyl lettering, pushpins; foam board mounted printed photographs. .25"
10'
5'
.25"
36"
18"
44
45
Designed by Maddie Fox December 2020
