A group of five students and myself conducted research on Center Hall, an Art and Design building, at Indiana Wesleyan University. We found that Center Hall lacked identity which was causing issues to students and staff as they made their way through the building. The lack of identity was creating a sense of confusion that conveyed a very lonely, dark and dirty atmosphere. My team and I decided we could fix that problem with better designed wayfinding. Our concept was to implement effective wayfinding in Center Hall to foster a growing community of artist and designers that would establish cohesion in the building with the identity of IWU Art and Design.
We first addressed the designs of the exterior entrance as it lacked purposeful design and direction.
before:
:after
We next addressed the experience after users enter the building by conceptualizing how a third space lobby would act as the users checked in.
We then focused on establishing effective wayfinding throughout the building by addressing
wall colors, highlighted galleries, track lighting, and cohesive signage.
After presenting our ideas to the Center Hall staff and the Art and Design division heads, my team and I considered the feedback and budget we were given and then configured a plan to implement our conceptualized designs. Later that summer we were able to see our concepts come to life. The images used above show the work we designed that are still apart of Center Hall today. My team and I successfully transformed the Center Hall building from a confusing dark and dirty atmosphere to one of clarity, cohesion, and proudly representative of the IWU Art and Design division.
