STUDIO BRIEF 01

“Most sign systems have the appearance of an objective, functional, almost scientific construction. However, under the surface one can find many subjective motives. Take for example the work of Paul Mijksenaar, designer of many iconic sign systems. In a text on his website, Mijksenaar writes about multilingual signs. After explaining why English should be the dominant language in all international airports, he continues by writing that airports in English-speaking countries should only use English and never a second language, because such usage of a second language would “patronize the traveller who doesn’t speak English, and who will never learn English if things are made too easy for him/her”. Here Mijksenaar shows his subjectivity: his view on multilingual signs is based on a personal viewpoint (the ideas that everybody should learn English), and not on the functionality of the sign system (the idea that everything should be “as easy as possible”). TASK:  A quantity of visual investigation/research Developmental work in sketchbooks / blog posts Vector typographic, pictogram and signage print(s) of your navigational system Produced at least one sign/supergraphic/etc. at actual size and document it within the appropriate context in Leeds Mock-ups (in Photoshop/Premiere/etc.) of the entire system in context Minimum of 6 design boards, presenting and discussing the following:  Brief Interpretation/Research Initial design ideas Design development Final design/Production Evaluation IDEA/RATIONALE: My initial idea for this project was to look at the idea of escape and adventure, therefore I firstly thought of the train and bus station to encourage people to escape out of Leeds but I also thought about encouraging people to learn and discover what is already in the city. Therefore, I am going to focus on internal and external escape within Leeds city centre and I have chosen to use the train and bus station, museum and art gallery.