William Whyte's key points in chapter seven are the space availability and whether empty or crowded spaces attract people, location of the space, and sittable space, how it is designed. Whyte talks about what makes people want to sit, depending on the height of the seat, how close is it from other seats and how movable the seat is. Some people like having seats that are close enough to have a conversation with someone, and sometimes even closer when it is too noisy in a place.
Products are made to appeal a person, so it deals mostly with visceral and reflective designs. Urban spaces are suppose to be more of a behavioral design. It is designed for people to feel comfortable when they walk around. What's similar is it involves pleasing people, attracting people to visit the place more often, and making them want to come back.
Checklist:
-space
-sitting space
-location
-Does seating stand in the way of people who are walking
-If the place is too small
-the height of a seat
-is it comfortable and inviting
-what kind of seating
-benches
-chairs
-how much seating
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Downtown Kalamazoo
Downtown Kalamazoo is very nice and inviting, but I think people might walk into the Kalamazoo Mall and wouldn’t know they did, because it is not a big building that has stores inside. It is an “outdoor mall.” The streets have benches, which invites people to sit, have meetings, eat lunch, or just relax for a while. There are nice shrubs around, makes the street look environmentally friendly, very clean. The stores have nice merchandise displayed in their windows. Some have big clipboards that say the word “sale” to attract costumers, and restaurants have lunch specials. There is one-way parking for cars. On wider streets, there is parking on both sides. Cars pass by at a slow speed, because there are a lot of people walking around, so it gives the drivers time to look into stores and see something they might like. The “Main Street” looks pedestrian friendly. I don’t think there are any potential threats. I know that some security officers walk around at night.
Recommendations:
1, Costumers might pass by a store that could have been interesting for them, but wouldn’t know because there are no signs protruding out to catch their attention.
2. They should have more lights, at night they should have neon lights, especially restaurants.
3. Get rid of stores that are abandoned, not being used. For example: Dragon Inn, not very attractive, everything looks deserted. It is right next to a really nice restaurant. Can make costumers keep walking and not stop by the restaurant.
“The shade trees and planter boxes? Lovely, he says, but they block shoppers' view of shop windows and signs. Those handsome groupings of benches and tables? They seem inviting until Gibbs points out that they often attract teenagers and other loiterers, who scare off shoppers. The elegant Victorian streetlamps, the expensive trash cans, and the distinctive granite paving stones--"so beautiful that people will stare at them as they walk by the storefronts," Gibbs says--are little more than money down the drain. Their costs must be amortized over many years, but long before they have been paid off (and before the town can afford to replace them) they will be old-fashioned, marking the entire street as out of date and out of step.”-Gibbs
This passage relates to Downtown Kalamazoo, because the most a person sees besides the stores are people sitting on the benches, having a conversation or eating lunch. Benches are really inviting, it gives time for costumers, mostly old people, to sit and look around what stores they want to go into next. I disagree with Gibbs point of view of not having the benches outside. There isn’t much blocking going on on the street where pedestrians walk by. Some stores have signs out their doors with sales signs on them, which attracts the costumers. It is a good idea for it to be in their way, because they will stop, look at it, and then walk into the store.
Recommendations:
1, Costumers might pass by a store that could have been interesting for them, but wouldn’t know because there are no signs protruding out to catch their attention.
2. They should have more lights, at night they should have neon lights, especially restaurants.
3. Get rid of stores that are abandoned, not being used. For example: Dragon Inn, not very attractive, everything looks deserted. It is right next to a really nice restaurant. Can make costumers keep walking and not stop by the restaurant.
“The shade trees and planter boxes? Lovely, he says, but they block shoppers' view of shop windows and signs. Those handsome groupings of benches and tables? They seem inviting until Gibbs points out that they often attract teenagers and other loiterers, who scare off shoppers. The elegant Victorian streetlamps, the expensive trash cans, and the distinctive granite paving stones--"so beautiful that people will stare at them as they walk by the storefronts," Gibbs says--are little more than money down the drain. Their costs must be amortized over many years, but long before they have been paid off (and before the town can afford to replace them) they will be old-fashioned, marking the entire street as out of date and out of step.”-Gibbs
This passage relates to Downtown Kalamazoo, because the most a person sees besides the stores are people sitting on the benches, having a conversation or eating lunch. Benches are really inviting, it gives time for costumers, mostly old people, to sit and look around what stores they want to go into next. I disagree with Gibbs point of view of not having the benches outside. There isn’t much blocking going on on the street where pedestrians walk by. Some stores have signs out their doors with sales signs on them, which attracts the costumers. It is a good idea for it to be in their way, because they will stop, look at it, and then walk into the store.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
"What Main Street Can Learn From the Mall"
The criteria Robert Gibbs uses to evaluate “Main Street” is to first visit the place and observe how it is set up. He tells them his views and points out feature by feature how the design actually hurts the town’s businesses. Gibbs compares Clematis Street with a better example in the same area (Palm Beach’s Worth Avenue). Gibbs main points into making “Main Street” into a mall would be:
-Nice floors
-Should follow the malls example in dealing with the public’s fears-Keeping the area clean, having visible police around
-Not to have anything on the street that distracts the costumers from looking at the stores.
-The benches can attract people that make other people uncomfortable to walk by that street.
-Retail planning should begin far from the selling floors.
-”No-left-turn rule”
-Size of windows
-Do not locate store next to restaurants because of certain smells that stick to the clothes.
-Be aware of sunlight direction-stores should be luminous, have enough light to see the merchandise.
I think “Main Street” should be a mall, because they have all the components, but they just need the adjustments that Gibbs suggests to make it look more presentable enough to attract customers. “Main Street” can be one of the outdoorsy malls.
Checklist to judge “Main Street”
-Clean area
-No distractions that may cause customers to not walk by
-Enough light to show the merchandise and attract costumers during daytime and nighttime
-Security
-Make it look a little bit classy enough to attract people with money
-Nice floors
-Should follow the malls example in dealing with the public’s fears-Keeping the area clean, having visible police around
-Not to have anything on the street that distracts the costumers from looking at the stores.
-The benches can attract people that make other people uncomfortable to walk by that street.
-Retail planning should begin far from the selling floors.
-”No-left-turn rule”
-Size of windows
-Do not locate store next to restaurants because of certain smells that stick to the clothes.
-Be aware of sunlight direction-stores should be luminous, have enough light to see the merchandise.
I think “Main Street” should be a mall, because they have all the components, but they just need the adjustments that Gibbs suggests to make it look more presentable enough to attract customers. “Main Street” can be one of the outdoorsy malls.
Checklist to judge “Main Street”
-Clean area
-No distractions that may cause customers to not walk by
-Enough light to show the merchandise and attract costumers during daytime and nighttime
-Security
-Make it look a little bit classy enough to attract people with money
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Frayed
Store Analysis
The name of the store is “Frayed.” It is located at the end of Academy Street, across the highway. It is next to “Rice Kitchen” Chinese restaurant and is across the street from Dino’s Café. “Frayed” sells clothes that usually college students would wear, ages 18-25. They sell both men and women clothes. They are mostly known for their “Bang-on Custom T-shirts.” Costumers can pick out any type of t-shirt and choose any design the store has and they can make it for them.
The store has glass windows, so anyone in a car, or anyone walking from far can see what kind of clothes they sell. “Frayed” has mannequins displaying their fall clothing. It helps bring in costumers, because of the designs the clothing has and the combinations of colors. The sign that displays the name of the store is huge and has big font letters. The color of the background is black and the font is white. At the bottom of the name the words “Bang-on Custom T-shirts” is written with a red background and black, white and yellow letters.
On the inside of the store, you can see three big plasma television screens showing music videos; alternative rock and hip-hop music. There are speakers all around the store especially at the entrance so when the costumer walks in, they would hear it and get drawn more into the store. And they wouldn’t leave right away. They would take their time in shopping, because they wouldn’t want to miss the song. The music is perfect for any teenager, it is “hip” music that everyone listens to.
When the costumer walks in, the first thing they see is a table of t-shirts, which makes sense since the store is known for customizing t-shirts. They give examples of the t-shirts that display funny statements, pictures, signs(peace sign) or celebrities. Around the table, there are other tables and racks that display clothing with really nice designs and different colors. On the right of the store, women can get attracted by a section where they have all of the jewelry. On the left of the store, they have the little section where the t-shirts are made. The t-shirts are on racks and behind the counter, the designs are displayed against the wall. There are more designs in three other binders on top of the counter. There are red, fancy, stool chairs around the counter that welcomes the costumer to sit down while they look through the binders. At the back of the store, there are three fitting rooms. The doors are made out of wood, and the handle is a belt cut in half and nailed into the door in a handle shape. On the outside of the fitting rooms, there are two black leather chairs facing the doors with a table in the middle that has magazines for anyone to read while they wait for the person to come out to show off the clothes.
The floors are beige with red orange swerves around the store. It is not very smooth, but it does not really matter much because the costumers would be too distracted by the music videos and the clothes.
There are picture frames displayed young people having fun and wearing the clothes they sell. On some of the tables, there are signs that have little descriptions about the clothes on the table.
The cash register is located up front to the right of the store. The cashier asks the customer for their name to enter them into their system, because they have a raffle for shopping sprees every month. The cash register looks like a bar, it has chairs around it so the customer can sit down while the cashier is ringing up the clothes. On top of the counter, there are more accessories and gift cards.
The image the store projects is any teenager or college student can enjoy shopping at the store because of the music and the clothing is trendy. All the clothes matches with each other, they are set up in a way that anything around it can be combined with another piece of clothing.
When a customer first walks in , they go straight to the table that displays the “Bang-on t-shirts.” Then they are attracted to everything else around. I think it is hard for a customer to choose what they want because there is so much the store offers, that it is hard to choose only one or two things, or what the customer came into the store for.
I found the store “Frayed” very interesting, because many of the students at Kalamazoo College have the style of clothing that the store has. The way it is displayed is understandable but it is one of those stores that the wallet carriers wouldn’t want to walk into.
The name of the store is “Frayed.” It is located at the end of Academy Street, across the highway. It is next to “Rice Kitchen” Chinese restaurant and is across the street from Dino’s Café. “Frayed” sells clothes that usually college students would wear, ages 18-25. They sell both men and women clothes. They are mostly known for their “Bang-on Custom T-shirts.” Costumers can pick out any type of t-shirt and choose any design the store has and they can make it for them.
The store has glass windows, so anyone in a car, or anyone walking from far can see what kind of clothes they sell. “Frayed” has mannequins displaying their fall clothing. It helps bring in costumers, because of the designs the clothing has and the combinations of colors. The sign that displays the name of the store is huge and has big font letters. The color of the background is black and the font is white. At the bottom of the name the words “Bang-on Custom T-shirts” is written with a red background and black, white and yellow letters.
On the inside of the store, you can see three big plasma television screens showing music videos; alternative rock and hip-hop music. There are speakers all around the store especially at the entrance so when the costumer walks in, they would hear it and get drawn more into the store. And they wouldn’t leave right away. They would take their time in shopping, because they wouldn’t want to miss the song. The music is perfect for any teenager, it is “hip” music that everyone listens to.
When the costumer walks in, the first thing they see is a table of t-shirts, which makes sense since the store is known for customizing t-shirts. They give examples of the t-shirts that display funny statements, pictures, signs(peace sign) or celebrities. Around the table, there are other tables and racks that display clothing with really nice designs and different colors. On the right of the store, women can get attracted by a section where they have all of the jewelry. On the left of the store, they have the little section where the t-shirts are made. The t-shirts are on racks and behind the counter, the designs are displayed against the wall. There are more designs in three other binders on top of the counter. There are red, fancy, stool chairs around the counter that welcomes the costumer to sit down while they look through the binders. At the back of the store, there are three fitting rooms. The doors are made out of wood, and the handle is a belt cut in half and nailed into the door in a handle shape. On the outside of the fitting rooms, there are two black leather chairs facing the doors with a table in the middle that has magazines for anyone to read while they wait for the person to come out to show off the clothes.
The floors are beige with red orange swerves around the store. It is not very smooth, but it does not really matter much because the costumers would be too distracted by the music videos and the clothes.
There are picture frames displayed young people having fun and wearing the clothes they sell. On some of the tables, there are signs that have little descriptions about the clothes on the table.
The cash register is located up front to the right of the store. The cashier asks the customer for their name to enter them into their system, because they have a raffle for shopping sprees every month. The cash register looks like a bar, it has chairs around it so the customer can sit down while the cashier is ringing up the clothes. On top of the counter, there are more accessories and gift cards.
The image the store projects is any teenager or college student can enjoy shopping at the store because of the music and the clothing is trendy. All the clothes matches with each other, they are set up in a way that anything around it can be combined with another piece of clothing.
When a customer first walks in , they go straight to the table that displays the “Bang-on t-shirts.” Then they are attracted to everything else around. I think it is hard for a customer to choose what they want because there is so much the store offers, that it is hard to choose only one or two things, or what the customer came into the store for.
I found the store “Frayed” very interesting, because many of the students at Kalamazoo College have the style of clothing that the store has. The way it is displayed is understandable but it is one of those stores that the wallet carriers wouldn’t want to walk into.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
The Science of Shopping
The most important points that were mentioned in the article were when a shopper is in a store, they want to have the option of choosing what they want, buy it and get out. And they want to see everything laid out for them so it is easy for them to choose. The shopper also has to see the designer’s point of view and understand what they are trying to say based on their clothing and how they it laid out throughout the store.
A lot of tips are also given to people who plan to open a business. The person has to be aware of where their store is located, how is it presented on the outside and on the inside. They have to make sure that they make the shopper feel comfortable in their store and make sure that they are providing most of the shoppers with what they want.
I personally go for what I am shopping for. If I go shopping for fall clothes, I go into the stores that have it displayed at the front of the store. Sometimes, I go in when I’ve been to the store before, and know how the store is laid out. For example, H&M is known for having one of the best fall clothes at a good price, so I always aim for that store. But others that are unrecognizable have to have it displayed outside their windows. If I am not shopping for anything in particular, I go into every store possible, because you never know what you can find. I always find something that I really like in a store that I never walked into, and the store ends up being one of the “it” stores on my list.
I like it when the stores put compliments together with things that I might need with a product. In the article they gave an example about shoppers buying a pair of jeans and then getting a belt to go along with it. And also women trying on clothes sometimes would try on accessories that are right next to the fitting room. I like it when they do this, because it makes it easier for me than to go around the store just to look for it. Even though I go around the entire store anyways, I would like to be lazy and have the compliments at the moment I need them.
Checklist:
-Where the store is located
-How is it presented on the outside
-name of the store
-colors
-clothing on display
-What type of clothing is placed on the front
-is it drawing shoppers more into the store
-what type of clothing is at the back of the store
-Are the shoppers having a hard time choosing what they want
-What kind of shoppers are going into the store
A lot of tips are also given to people who plan to open a business. The person has to be aware of where their store is located, how is it presented on the outside and on the inside. They have to make sure that they make the shopper feel comfortable in their store and make sure that they are providing most of the shoppers with what they want.
I personally go for what I am shopping for. If I go shopping for fall clothes, I go into the stores that have it displayed at the front of the store. Sometimes, I go in when I’ve been to the store before, and know how the store is laid out. For example, H&M is known for having one of the best fall clothes at a good price, so I always aim for that store. But others that are unrecognizable have to have it displayed outside their windows. If I am not shopping for anything in particular, I go into every store possible, because you never know what you can find. I always find something that I really like in a store that I never walked into, and the store ends up being one of the “it” stores on my list.
I like it when the stores put compliments together with things that I might need with a product. In the article they gave an example about shoppers buying a pair of jeans and then getting a belt to go along with it. And also women trying on clothes sometimes would try on accessories that are right next to the fitting room. I like it when they do this, because it makes it easier for me than to go around the store just to look for it. Even though I go around the entire store anyways, I would like to be lazy and have the compliments at the moment I need them.
Checklist:
-Where the store is located
-How is it presented on the outside
-name of the store
-colors
-clothing on display
-What type of clothing is placed on the front
-is it drawing shoppers more into the store
-what type of clothing is at the back of the store
-Are the shoppers having a hard time choosing what they want
-What kind of shoppers are going into the store
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Isn't It Ironic?/Powerful Packaging Design
Packaging is important, because it is the visceral design of the product. It is what catches the attention of a buyer. It is also what helps the buyer recognize the product, because of its unique appearance. Packaging is also important for the brand manager of a company. They would want the product to stand out from other products that are the same. For example, there are many different ketchup companies, so it is important to be different and stand out from those other companies.
Packaging is not really important for me unless if it is really pretty or pink and that would look good if I want to put in my dresser, or a place that is very visible and can catch the person’s attention when they come into the room. Tiffany & Company might be something I would want to have in my dresser. Tiffany & Company has a very simple visceral design. Their packaging is always the same baby blue color that has the name of the brand on the bag. The box where the jewelry is in, is the same color as the bag. The name of the brand is displayed in the jewelry also.
Tiffany & Company is a very famous jewelry store. Anyone walking around with a small blue bag would know that it’s from Tiffany’s.
Hellman’s Mayonnaise has an iconic packaging. It went through the same thing with the Heinz Ketchup. It has been a great product for many years. The packaging is in a clear plastic container that has a unique, round cylinder shape with a blue cap. It also comes in squeezable bottles, which is easier and faster for the person to make a sandwich. The label is yellow and blue and the name “Hellman‘s” is in capital letters. The product itself is recognizable and it is the only mayonnaise I get, because it tastes better than the others.
A product that has made it hard for me to use because of its packaging is a box of Christmas lights. They come in a box, but after it is taken out of the box, they are wrapped around a plastic thing that makes it hard to take it out because the lights interfere with the plastic thing. Others are just wrapped around and the lights stick to each other, and it’s hard to be careful to not rip them apart from each other, which would cause them to break. Once it does break, the lights are useless, so because of packaging, you can’t use to product.
Packaging is not really important for me unless if it is really pretty or pink and that would look good if I want to put in my dresser, or a place that is very visible and can catch the person’s attention when they come into the room. Tiffany & Company might be something I would want to have in my dresser. Tiffany & Company has a very simple visceral design. Their packaging is always the same baby blue color that has the name of the brand on the bag. The box where the jewelry is in, is the same color as the bag. The name of the brand is displayed in the jewelry also.
Tiffany & Company is a very famous jewelry store. Anyone walking around with a small blue bag would know that it’s from Tiffany’s.
Hellman’s Mayonnaise has an iconic packaging. It went through the same thing with the Heinz Ketchup. It has been a great product for many years. The packaging is in a clear plastic container that has a unique, round cylinder shape with a blue cap. It also comes in squeezable bottles, which is easier and faster for the person to make a sandwich. The label is yellow and blue and the name “Hellman‘s” is in capital letters. The product itself is recognizable and it is the only mayonnaise I get, because it tastes better than the others.
A product that has made it hard for me to use because of its packaging is a box of Christmas lights. They come in a box, but after it is taken out of the box, they are wrapped around a plastic thing that makes it hard to take it out because the lights interfere with the plastic thing. Others are just wrapped around and the lights stick to each other, and it’s hard to be careful to not rip them apart from each other, which would cause them to break. Once it does break, the lights are useless, so because of packaging, you can’t use to product.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Biggest Mistakes in Web Design
This article explains that websites are suppose to be a behavioral design, because people only use websites to get what they need quickly. Websites should also be a visceral design, because the page has to look very easy to use, and make sure that it would have the information that the majority of the people who go into it are looking for. It cannot have too much information, but just the most important things.
I think that the most important points in this article was making a website that any person would want to use with ease, and no interruptions with advertisements or other offers that were never asked for.
List of important design factors for a webpage
1. Whatever I need from the website, I need it to be right in my face
2. No obstacles to getting where I want to be
3. It has to be easy to go back to it so I would remember how I got there
I think that the most important points in this article was making a website that any person would want to use with ease, and no interruptions with advertisements or other offers that were never asked for.
List of important design factors for a webpage
1. Whatever I need from the website, I need it to be right in my face
2. No obstacles to getting where I want to be
3. It has to be easy to go back to it so I would remember how I got there
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