Site 1 survey: Queens Park Brisbane City

Site 1 survey: Queens Park Brisbane City

Site observation 1

Wednesday 06/05 12:45 AM

• Queens Park is a small park across the road from the Casino at the top of the city. Many people were stopped here in suits and business wear enjoying their lunch in the sun presumably on lunch from their work in the city.

• With the amount of palm trees and open space there is an opportunity for a potentially large installation. Perhaps a beach in the middle of the city or something to that extent. While this space helps challenge the idea that society has too few invitations the space itself was still not particularly social with most people eating alone.

• This lane way is just past the park. It is interesting in that there is nothing really in this lane and no real reason to go down it other than exploration. Perhaps there is always an invitation to explore and adventure that people can choose to engage with or not.

Site observation 2

Saturday 09/05 around 2 PM

• Queens Park is not very big and settled in middle of city.
• Buildings surrounded but still has wonderful Open space for installation.
• The park grass grows very well here and has been manicured comfortable to sit and play.
• The view is good in this park, this might be a reason people stay and rest here.
• Several path across the park and have benches beside for people having rest.
• Trees can be seen in middle of the park, but not provide a large shade, people can enjoy the sunshine and have great field of vision, this will helpful in attracting more people around to installation. Otherwise, less shade also need to be considered to a disadvantage for attract people if it is too hot outside.
• Park connects with a side road, people may cross it to bus station on the other side.
• Queens Park is just beside Casino and people work in city nearby might have rest after working time.

People observation

• People rest on grassland

3 female talking (seems on 20 age)

1 female with 1 male together (seems on 30 age)

4 female, 2 male with 3 children (seems to be families play and rest on grass)

1 female with 2 male (having lunch)

2 male and 1 female (individual siting)

• People sitting on benches

2 female siting together (seems on 40 group wearing formal)

1 male siting individual (wearing suit)

1 male siting individual (eating something and use computer)

1 female siting individual (wearing dress)

1 female just leave individual (on phone call)

• People walk through (in 5 minutes)

9 male (7 of them wearing casual, 2 of them wearing suit)

6 female (all wearing casual or dress)

1 group of students with 3 boys.

Conclusion

The park is a convenient pass way for people, in weekend observing, 18 people walk through the park in 5 minutes in afternoon, none of them seems to be hurry and none of them running cross the park, furthermore, one male use the path across the park and walking on the grass and seems enjoyable. It seems have enough walkers having time to look at installation in weekend.

People resting in the park mostly enjoy their time, most of them do not have particular things to do by observing, and they might be easy attracted by installation.

On weekend, People enjoy their time may more interesting in “Society has too many prohibitions and too few invitations” installation here. Otherwise, on weekdays, people working beside hand having lunch hear may more interested in“Our modern built environment drains joy from our lives” installation. However, walkers may be attracted by any theme installation by people surrounded.

Site survey QUT GP Ferry Station

Observation Round 1

Fri 8/May/2015 3-4:00pm

l  The current ferry station is brand new design by Brisbane city council with same design language comparing with other ferry stations. It has original as major color and asymmetric design gives it a futuristic looking and provide more space and comfortable environment for passengers.

l  The pathway is from QUT S/Z block, cross the bridge and extent to over the river. All pathway are design for pedestrians’ priority purpose and almost all pathway are under covered.

l  For security reason, the 24hours camera deployed around ferry station and bicycle lane.

Observation Round 2

10/May/2015 7-9:00pm

l  Ferry Station itself has large space for our project installation, however, we should take consider about our equipment should be water-proof and with high capability of stabilization as its consist of half concrete and half float.   

l  The view is extremely beautiful as its can see the panorama of Southbank.

l  The surround area has lots of tree and undercover area, the light may require reset.

People observation

For round 1

During peak time of after-school and after work, it had heavy people flow from university or CBD companies to get ferry to back to home:

l  1 Group of students kept talking with joyful (QUT IT students, age between 18-25, male and female);

l  2 male businessman kept conversation with business suit (Telstra, age between 40-45, to Kangaroo point and Sydney road);

l  Several individual sitting around waiting seats and reject to talk (seems on 20 group with Asia face);

l  Several business man wearing suit from age group 30-50 said to take ferry easily avoid congestion on M3 & M5.

For round 2

Group of Elder Australia coupe from age 50 to have an evening exercise on Southbank parkland as well as bicycle rider and young couples (Totally around 20 people);

Two young couples finished shopping and on the way back to home located in the South Brisbane；

Group of young teenagers planned to watch the movie Avengers (asked school and got anticipated answer – UQ/just finished mid-term exam/accouter student);

One female on the way to work (nurse, St Vincent’s aged care, night Shift)

Conclusion

Thanks to the government, the ferry station is brand- new and design for friendly and comfortable public environment. Enough camera and lighting system attracted lots of people to do exercises and feel confident about their safety. Based on my observation, passenger normally choose ferry as its conveniences and did not affected by traffic jam. In weekend, people will take ferry to relax and enjoy beautiful viewing of riverside.

Besides looked around rive, people had nothing to do and easily created awkward silent which provide an opportunity for place installation to attract their attention.

Weekend, passenger is easier to have interested in the installation which create curiosity (invitations) for them. Project should focus on breach the prohibitions of ferry station and against the theory of “drains joy from our lives”. In small and close environment, if project successfully attract few people attention and create stirs, then will have every one’s interests. However, the project must be short and fun as time limited.

Concept 3: Thesis 2, AntiSocial Alarm. #Sketch to be added.

Anti-Social Alarm

Thesis Based on: "Public Spaces are Anti-Social Spaces"

Position Taken: This installation is supporting the idea that public spaces are anti-social spaces.

Context of Use: The installation would be installed on the platforms of the King George Bus station, where people queue for busses.

Technologies Used: Clear Perspex, red box, red button and switch, double sided tape to adhere to wall. Poster and marker for tally.

How will it Engage?: The anti-social alarm box will be placed in an obvious location near where users wait for the bus. The box will look similar to a fire alarm with the exception that the text of the poster above will read in-case of social interaction please break glass.

How can people reflect?: People are able to reflect by reading the small plaque underneath the alarm box which will ask people if being social is now anti-social and having fun is a bad thing in public spaces.

Scenario:

Users 1 is on their way home from a long day at work. He is running through the motions as per usual as he lines up for his bus with the rest of the regular commuters. As he is looking around waiting for the bus he notices an emergency button which seems out of place. Upon closer inspection he finds that it reads in case of social situation please break glass. He laughs to himself before zoning out on his phone.

Personally like this reverse thinking, to create bad joke or trick to create "huge" reflection on public space. Here are some doubts:
1. how to control the "huge" effection. If some serious poeple were frightened to call the police, it is hardly to finish the project;
2.Croweded environment if create some panic situation, the passergeners who are ignorant of fact may flee around and bring huge problem.

Love this idea, it will successful get people attention and easy to make them thinking about our thesis.
I suggest we make more alarm box just in case someone really broke it without check the poster.

Concept 2: Thesis 3 Sometimes Never Adventure Path #Sketch to be added.

Always Sometimes Never Adventure Path

Thesis Based on: "Society has too many prohibitions and too few invitations"

Position Taken: This installation will help to challenge this thesis by inviting users to take the road less travelled challenging their perception about a lack of options.

Context of Use: The installation would be installed on the top level of the King George Bus Station

Technologies Used: Self Adhesive Polyester tape with arrows and words. Post It notes, Poster, Markers

How will it Engage?: The word Always with an arrow pointing towards the escalator will be placed near the exit on the second level of the bus station. The word Sometimes with an arrow pointing towards the stairs will also be displayed. When people reach the top of the stairs of escalator there will be an arrow with the word never pointing towards the small security door exit. Users who are interested will follow the arrow to the door where they will find the button to open the door and a post-it note saying press me.

How can people reflect?: When people choose between the escalators and stairs they will being to start thinking about the decisions that they are able to make. The never arrow presents an invitation to an experience they may never have realized existed. When they reach the door to exit there will be a poster asking them why they choose the path less traveled. Markers will be available so that users can write down their response before exiting.

Scenario:

Users 1 is on his way into the city for a night out with some friends. As he is making his way up from the bus station he sees the arrows pointing to the escalator and stairs with the words always and sometimes. They decide the take the stairs to be different for a change. When they reach the top of the stairs they see the word never will an arrow pointing to a small corner. They are intrigued and follow the arrow to the small doorway. They see the poster and leave a brief message before continuing on their way.

I like the idea of create adventure story at bus station, it looks like design one ARG game on the public place. Here are some doubts:
1. the content need to update frequently for keeping more people engaged. And personally think, the final reward perhaps set a reward such as coupon etc;
2. need to ensure the pathway of game will not affect other or threat public safety;
3. the message left on the final spot may need to have a clear logic which allow next player to continue the game.
This idea probable easily to implement and bring immersive gaming experiences for participators. 

Site Evaluaton: King George Bus station 2nd Visit and analysis

Second Site Visit. Observation start Friday 3:20PM

Immediately noticed that large groups of high school students arriving into the city. The would take the escalator up from the bus terminal before taking the escalator in the picture below to exit on to the street.  Most likely relaxing after school / starting the weekend early with school not due back until Monday. These groups were the loudest of users passing through the bus station at this time, talking and sometimes yelling back and forth among the group.

The general flow of traffic was into the city at this time. There were also some young adults, potentially uni students or casual shop workings, heading out of the city and to the departure platforms below. The departures board drew the attention of most users leaving the city, prompting some to hurry or even run to the platform below. While most people were walking lackadaisically the departures board offered a sense of urgency for people.

Traffic flow became more even in terms of arrivals and departures which the arrival of more young professionals at 3:40PM. Presumably these people were heading home after a lazy Friday at work. The station itself was quiet, the clunking of the escalators and the bings and dings of the GoCard top up machine could easier be heard.

The area in the picture above could be good for an installation. There is power provided and it is easy to see when users enter the station as seen in the image below.

Alternatively in the area near the GoCard machines as these were relatively well used.

The station does have a staff member to assist users making their way through the station. She informed me that the station power points are not for public use and I would need to inquire with the department of public transport and main roads if we wanted to place an installation.

Studio Meeting Notes 07/05/15

Notes from Team meeting on Thursday 5th of May after studio session.

Came up with a new team name. Byte Design. 
- Crystal to update the team name on the blog.

Site Locations chosen.
- Site 1: Queens Park Brisbane City (Crystal to complete site Survey)
- Site 2: QUT Gardens Point Ferry Terminal (Aster to complete site Survey)
- Site 3: Southbank SOMEWHERE (Nicholas to complete site Survey, need to pick a specific location within Southbank)
- Site 4: King George Square Bus Station (Lyndon to complete site Survey)

Site Surveys to be completed before next team meeting on Monday 11th 

Also to be completed before next team meeting.
3x Concept cards per team member.

Monday meeting to discuss and refine concepts and site evaluations.

Ix Floor Panels #Lyndon Comments Added

Additional appendix：

Thesis based：1&3 

Need to choose 1 specific thesis. And then provide the stance which you are taking in regard to that thesis. Is this supporting thesis 1? In saying that the urban environment drains our joy so we need to add in more interactive fun things?

I feel like you are trying to do too much with the floor panels. They are displaying timetable information but they are also a game? I would suggest having it only as a game so that its purpose is a lot clearer.

Also how are people going to reflect on the thesis through the interaction with the game? Maybe it could ask users if they had fun or if they prefer playing to sitting by themselves.

I like the notification part when citycat is coming, but I suggest add some details of this flow game and be more specific in game rule, make sure people will participate because some one may thought it is silly to play in public place and the first people could make a great influence on the others.

Technic used：removable and water-proof panel,  projector, lighting system