Public+Space+Projects

=Public Spaces Project=

Goal
To research and conceptualize an alternative solutions for Toronto's public spaces using interactive media.

Background
“Public space is at the heart of democracy. It’s where people interact, teach, learn, participate, and protest.” (spacing.ca/about.htm)

[|Spacing] is an online and print magazine that reports on urban issues affecting the city of Toronto and it’s inhabitants. This publication is indicative of a heightened interest and awareness of Torontonians in regard to public spaces; environments where people co-exist through the building and sharing of culture.

Public spaces offer free access, not limited by socio-economics of the participants unlike privately managed, publicly used spaces like malls, stores and office buildings.

Public spaces are where people work, learn, play and live.

Approach
Students are asked investigate a self-chosen issue in regards to public space. Supported by the documentation of field data each student will stake out an area of investigation based on their own interests and accessabilty. First hand documentation of people, places and objects will require direct interaction and observation by the individual. Photographs, observation notes, interviews and artefact collection are some of the ways to capture and further analyse your chosen area of interest. In other words, limiting yourself to internet and other published secondary sources might be a good place to start, but you will need to hit the streets to directly engage with public spaces to succeed with this project.

Understanding Phase → (30% of project grade as an individual)

 * Exploration and organization of research area in visual and textual form
 * Documentation of graphic and written material to articulate findings
 * Organize and present research material
 * Deliverables - Research Topic and Annotated Panorama

Structure Phase → (30% of project grade as a group and individual)

 * Exploration of design issues, audience, and public space concerns to addressed
 * Articulation and visualization of design concept
 * Present in a enticing and cohesive visual form
 * Deliverables - System Diagrams and Concept Maps

Visualization Phase → (40% project grade as group and individual)

 * Visually communicate identity of design
 * Represent significant behaviours of system with appropriate documentation
 * Representation of selected design features in an visually-refined interactive format
 * Deliverables - Interactive Presentation and Research Website

At the end of the Structure and Representation phases, a peer evaluation will be conducted as a reference for part of project grade.