LIBERTY PARK
Experiential Graphic Design: Wayfinding and signage family for Liberty Park Harrisonburg, VA.
Liberty Park is a small urban park in downtown Harrisonburg, VA. The park is known as a “pocket park” which are common among urban downtown areas where land is quite expensive. Pocket parks are a way to add public spaces to intercity development without large-scale redevelopment. Pocket parks are the only option for creating new public spaces without large-scale redevelopment and are often part of urban regeneration plans that provide wildlife.
Year Completed: 2021
The Goal
To re-imagine an exterior signage program for Liberty park that improves the sense of place and thoughtfully engages the Harrisonburg public with the park through a concept appropriate to the subject matter or an observed “pain point.” Considerations were given toward urban planning concerns, scale, materials/materiality, typographic scale, selection, and readability, branding and fabrication knowledge.
Applications
A collection of data, schematic designs, design development, mock up documentation and scaled illustrations all housed in a spiral bound book.
S.O.W
Experiential Graphic Design
Wayfinding & Signage Design
Concept Material Fabrication
Brand Series Development
Schematic Design
Typography Development
Print Design
Programs
Photoshop
Illustrator
InDesign
Considering the semiotics and it’s psycho-geography.
PAIN POINTS OF THE PARK
1. Other than that wooden sign, there is no clear signage on the exterior inviting or informing community members about the park.
2. There is no clear entrance and exit signage directing people in and out of the park.
3. Once you are in the park, the signs are hidden behind trash cans and protrude from the ground at a very low height.
4. The materials used in the signage hinder the readability.
5. There is no clear sign for parking.
6. Once people are in the park, there isn’t much informing them on what their purpose or function is in the space. (e.g. Sit here, don’t sit here, be apart of gardening etc.).
PAIN POINTS OF THE PARK
1. Other than that wooden sign, there is no clear signage on the exterior inviting or informing community members about the park.
2. There is no clear entrance and exit signage directing people in and out of the park.
3. Once you are in the park, the signs are hidden behind trash cans and protrude from the ground at a very low height.
4. The materials used in the signage hinder the readability.
5. There is no clear sign for parking.
6. Once people are in the park, there isn’t much informing them on what their purpose or function is in the space. (e.g. Sit here, don’t sit here, be apart of gardening etc.).
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Liberty Park lacks an emphasis on a clear foundational purpose and doesn’t clearly invite community members to function in a certain way. Because of this, there is a miscommunication that it is a park that serves a certain purpose for a certain person. The park doesn’t have it’s “thing”. My goal is to redefine the purpose of the park, the purpose of the member and encourage a safe community gathering that becomes a place of refuge, a place of rest and a place of renewal. Therefore, I hope to define the parks anatomy and emphasize it’s community garden opportunities in a fashion that is clear and inviting.
USER NEEDS
1. A site place-making ID from each entrance that emphasizes location and the soul definition of the space; namely that it’s a park.
2. Vehicular ID from the street directing drivers to park or direct walkers to the entrance of the park.
3. Wayfinding signage informing the parks overall layout (seating, trash/recycling/compositing, garden area, gazebo, all interpretive signage).
4. Clear interpretive signage: Rules of the park, user functions, gardens function, interactive statements, permanent and temporary signs, emphasis on environmental sustainability and awareness.
USER
The target user for these designs will be those in a collegiate setting and those who are desiring to be active participants in the downtown area. I want those familiar with garden upkeep and are passionate about ecological sustainability to help encourage and educate those unfamiliar with urban gardens.
These users would collectively help take care of the garden and share it’s produce which encourages community partnership. Whoever is in need of a flower or a tomato can freely come and take whatever they desire with an expectation that they would consider the care of the park.
These users would be able to access the park via any form of transportation (vehicular; car, bike, blades, bus and by foot).
