Research Workshop

Today we were set a research in which we worked in small groups and conduct research into 'Mapping' (A map, maps, to map). The overall aims and rules were to cover as many research methods as possible, leave the building and possibly assign roles if needed. By the end of the day we were to gather all of this research in an interesting way and present it on A4/A3 printed sheet.

As a group we decided to go onto a journey into town and visit places which provide maps on the area; centre of town, corn exchange, markets, bus and coach station, the shopping arcades, bus stops and more general touristy areas in the town centre.

Below shows some photographs that I gathered of maps on our journey. I also gathered some leaflets of maps and bus routes which I found at the bus and coach station, this was useful as I can look closer at the details and icons that are used to key certain elements and locations.

Map leaflets

Additonally, whilst we were on our journey we decided to map our journey through using the Strava app, this was useful as we were able to use this as a design element for the A4 sheet. Below shows the images of our journey as a map view and a satellite view.

Furthermore, for our A3 sheet we decided to present our gathered research in an abstract and illustrative way to make it fun. The colours that we used take their references from the colours in the map leaflets that we collected. 

Additionally, whilst we were on our journey through town we took photographs of people looking at maps/people that were lost. The concept of the A3 research sheet focuses on the fact that in these photographs, the people looking at maps were often in pairs/couples. Illustrations were created inspired by the pairs of people in the photographs and used on the A3 design, our aim was to play on the concept of the comfort of being lost with someone. Furthermore, we also incorporated our map route lines into the design.