Prototype >> more

Prototype Design:
The initial prototype was an experimentation in color, placement and type of chalk used. We covered several steps with brightly colored chalk and discovered that only children reconized the chalk and commented on it either verbally or by touching it with their hands. Dogs, people, parents pushing strollers, or people with bikes all tracked through the chalk without hesitation or recognition. We found that the chalk traveled anywhere from 10-20 feet from the initial color block and depending on the smoothness of the surface (stroller wheels) could travel even further.

Design Iterations and Prototypes for 3 users:
Three (3) different users would shape the design of our prototype in the following ways:

1. child – A childrens’ game could be created to engage children to jump over and walk around certain things within the park.  It would be interactive in the same way as a hop scotch game.

2. group of foreigners – The design for tourists consists of national flags of the residents of New York.  We anticipate that almost every country would be represented.  The flags are drawn on the ground in the morning.  As people walk over them, the different flags and boundaries would blend to become a uniform shape/color.

3. businessman / businesswoman – This group might be the most difficult to interact with the prototype because they are more likely to avoid the chalk.  So in knowing this, we could use the chalk to re-direct this audience and force them to move through the space in a way we decide by creating barriers or boarders.

The following are sketches of the south end of Union Square as we documented in our observations. Based on the observations of seating and walking areas we have devised a layout for the final prototype. We hope to put down enough chalk that people will travel through more than one line of chalk and create an overall pattern in the square.

Union Square:

Sitting Areas:

Walking Areas:

Combined:

Chalk Layout: