Workshops on Visual representation of words
In my graduation thesis “Redefining identity of the RingA10 in Amsterdam” I have organized multiple participatory sessions in order to reestablish the associations of the RingA10. In one of the workshops we tried to focus on translating words into visuals. This brainstorm session did not only broaden our perspective on the space of the highway but also resulted in a toolbox of forms that I have later on used in the design.
How to draw “Speed”?
From the distinguished attributes of the highway, we have chosen the notions of speed, traffic and transport as the starting points of the workshops. Then in the process of metaphorization the words have been transformed into more abstract ideas in order to provide as big creative potential as possibe. During the workshop session, participants were asked to represent the chosen words using visual techniques. How would you draw “speed”? If you could use only lines - how would the “traffic” look like? Which colours would you use to express “transport”? These are a couple of questions I asked the participants to reflect on.
Results
This resulted in 150 drawings, 150 individual interpretations of words, that were combined and analyzed in order to find a common bedrock for the new identity of the Ring A10. This also let me understand how people imagine the RingA10, what is the visual interpretation of the associations with that space and what the new identity of the RingA10 should be based on. The process was time consuming because it required looking at each proposal individually simultaneously trying to find a common pattern in all the drawings. This led to forming a specific design strategy that consists of 4 points that gave directions to any further design decisions.
Linearity and Continuity
Internal Character
Metaphor of motion
Shouting Dominant
