Client – Port Solent

Brief

Create an art installation for visitors to interact with, which is off the main path location.

• Ways to find out what’s going on in Port Solent.
• Encourage visitors to location.
• Artwork must reflect location.
• Must be outside, so has to be weatherproof.
• Easy to access / connect.
• Stay longer at location.

UX – Users 

Port Solent Visitors

• Families – Events, Day out, Shopping, Eating out and Playground.
• Couples – Day out, Dining and Night Out.
• Friends – Events, Shopping, Eating out and Night out.

Events held monthly in Port Solent including: Car shows, Kids clubs, Comic Con and Markets.

Locals: Stop for a coffee and relax next to the Marina. 

Opening Times: Shops, Restaurants and coffee shops open for breakfast, lunch and dinner plus nightlife.

Access to Tech: Mobile phones & Tablet users.

Research

Wants, Needs and Objectives.

Feedback from visitors to Port Solent Marina.

• Easy access to best deals for shops and restaurants.
• Map showing the location of the shops and restaurant deals.
• Map of other locations like the playground, events and markets with times and dates.
• Happy to interact with mobiles to find information.

Like the idea of an Interactive art installation.

Objectives:

• Look into different ways to showcase the information.
• Ways to interact with artwork – Use of mobiles to access information.
• Materials to use for artwork.

Ideate and Prototype

Brainstorming and Experimentation / Testing

Key Problems visitors have finding information which needs a solution.

• Website only shows what shops and restaurants are onsite, not location or deals.
• Clients problem is visitors not visiting shops and restaurants off the main walk way.
• Location for artwork hidden away, and needs to bring visitors to that location, to help shops etc in that area.
• Reason for visitors to stay longer at location.

Possible Solutions include:

• Artwork reflecting the objectives: Families – Shops & Playground links
•  Couple – Eating out with links to deals.
• Someone sitting on a bench reading a book – Link to art galleries, authors etc..

Create a prototype test one first and get feedback before creating the whole set.

Final Solution

Interactive Art Installation.

Design process from prototype feedback:

• Drawings of each objective – Family shopping, couple dining out and a kid sitting on a bench reading a book. (Artwork created in Illustrator)
• Cut them out as stencils ready for spraying onto walls. ( Spray cans were used as the medium due to its weatherproof qualites, and it’s art relation to graffiti art.
• QR codes for interating with artwork for information. ( Mobile phones mainly)

Solution:

• Encouraged visitors to venture off the normal path and Interact with artwork for deals and information.
• Visitors stayed longer at location, taking photos along side the artwork.

Reflection: Awaiting Port Solent to update website for links to deals and maps. Had to link to standard website until finished. Apart from that it was a success with visitors interacting with the art in different ways.