http://kylejay.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/survey-results.pdf

We conducted our survey online through a website callled zoomerang, which provided us with online space and database to collect 100 participants answers. The survey focused on visual language in public space and had variety of questions ranging from visual mediums which caught peoples attention, to the design aspects of the medium and the preferred visual language which they would like to see in public spaces. The methods of answering the question ranged from rating scales, multiple or single answering tick boxes to sections where participants could comment. Our survey gained a lot of interest and curiosity with 181 responses, which showed us our subject matter was a relevant area to research.

The visual medium, which most caught the eye of participants, was advertising. A lot of the individual responses were medium placed around train lines and stations and big billboards placed on busy roads which gives us an idea of when people notice the visual language around them. When people are not busy and are bored, they actually have time to briefly look around the area. From these responses the visual language, which overwhelming stood out was graffiti because it’s saturated all over Melbourne.

The aspect of the design which made these examples successful was mostly the creativity and originality which received 35%, followed by the message, which received 25%. By no surprise we found that half the people didn’t like the advertising they had seen recently in public because they had seen it too much or it just wasn’t in their personal taste.

We included images of each category of public visual language, which included street art, public art and advertisements in public space. Trying to summarise general categories with three or four pictures might not have been practical but it helped participants familiarize themselves with the subject matter more.

Participants preferred to see street art and public art more than advertising, which is important information we can use to help us produce an outcome. The aspect which is most likely to attract people’s attention was creativity and originality which received 58% and surprisingly, aesthetics only received 11%.

Our initial thoughts about society being to overloaded with advertising was also emphasized through the results of the survey with 79% of participants agreeing

Overall the we found that the public like to see and appreciate creative and original mediums in public space. Whether it is public art, street art or advertising, it needs to be original for it to have a greater impact. While analyisng the survey results we also found the placement of the visual medium is also an important factor.

How people react, interpret and interact with visuals?

Different meanings when altering or changing visuals

Interaction with visual

How visuals effect people (feelings, emotions)

What people are not used, unfamiliar, new, different, unusual

How people react to new forms of visual

Reacting to change (Like/Dislike)

Letting peoples imagination come out

A form of inspiration to the public

Engaging viewers’ curiosity and imagination, the opportunity to get people thinking, may change and create an improved or more creative society, pushing boundaries. A form of inspiration to the public

How technology is making us efficient

Design should be making us creative

Research Methods Ideas

- Survey – What images engage with people the most

- Interaction with imagery and visuals in public spaces – Experiments

- Public experiments and local University experiments

- Example. Posters have a pen attached with a section for comments and thoughts

- Recording data by observing in public places ‘ real world’ in discretion

- Online interaction tests

- Raising questions on blog or website and recording comments

- Feedback

Description

A LED light connected to a 3 volt battery placed inside a balloon, which was then filled with helium. A long piece of fishing line tied to the balloon stops it from floating away. The end piece is tied to a object on the ground and the end result looks like a floating lit balloon in the night sky near a train station.

Aim:

To find out how effective LED’s and lights are when used with visual objects wanting to capture attention. Finding out how people react with different types of medium they usually don’t see within the public space by observing their body language. This experiment was also a chance to promote the idea of creative thinking and whether this visual piece gained interest from the public

Results:

When the LED balloons became increasingly visible as it got darker more people started noticing them. There were a lot of fascinated people looking at the balloons while waiting at the train station. The fact that most of the people were standing and waiting on the platform was definitely a factor to consider as they had spare time to stop and have a look around but the balloons certainly gained a lot of attention floating and blowing in the wind above a building in clear view of the night sky. It even bought a slight smile to some faces.

Conclusion

This experiment emphasis a theory researched earlier about the ‘unusual’ element of attention getting. The LED balloons were unfamiliar and different, therefore gaining some attention. Different types of visual medium within the public can definitely effect peoples emotions as the LED floating balloon put a smile on some faces. It was actually satisfying to see people react to the balloons in a positive way because of the smiles it brings. This makes me wonder if more art and advertising within public space got a positive reaction would it be a happier society.

It has come to a point where people don’t expect truth in advertising. Companies have certain ways of manipulating the truth by the language they use to describe their product or service. As consumers are becoming increasingly aware of this strategy they are having more and more trouble trusting what they see. A lot of advertisements don’t particularly sell through truth but on perception. How they perceive the product or service is what really draws the consumer in.  Visuals play a big part influencing our choice ex. Burgers from fast food restaurants are stacked up perfectly looking delicious on advertisements but when we actually decide to buy this burger, it looks nothing like what was advertised and we are utterly disappointed. There is a fine line between false advertising but agencies know exactly how to work around it.

Alternatively, the cold hard truth has been used in past advertisements and campaigns such as the TAC advertisements and the images on cigarette packets. These shock horror visuals certainly get our attention with confronting messages and create fear in our mind when we first see them but studies have found it doesn’t necessarily work over the long term. Ray Black brings up valid argument when saying  “People won’t put themselves into those scenarios because they don’t want to be part of a horror story.” from Shock. Horror. FCUK…. Many of us choose to ignore the truth and not face the harsh reality. We are also beginning to see more brutally honest advertisements which create humour and work very effectively, giving a no nonsense and honest reputation to a company. This highly appeals to many consumers in this highly manipulative and untrusting advertising world we live in today.

References

http://www.bandt.com.au/news/62/0c01d762.asp

Shock. Horror. FCUK….
Ray Black

I have been looking at visual language in the public and something which interests me in particular is some creative street art. The idea of engaging peoples curiosity and imagination has the opportunity to get people thinking. This may change and create a more creative society which would definitely be for the better. A form of inspiration to the public can have a lot of positive effects to a number of different areas throughout the community. This type of clever art can also make us smile and laugh making us happier people, even if it is only for that short period of time.

Here are some examples I have found:

 http://www.woostercollective.com/3d/

http://www.xmarkjenkinsx.com/outside.html

 http://www.woostercollective.com/3d/

 http://www.woostercollective.com/2007/05/the_return_of_crateman.html

http://www.xmarkjenkinsx.com/outside.html 

http://www.xmarkjenkinsx.com/storker.html