Placemaking Design

We’ve all been places we love and want to return to again and again. These spaces are exciting and engaging and they elicit a positive emotional reaction. At RSM Design, we have made our name designing the places that people love. Our work is deeply rooted in the user experience and we deem a project “successful” when people choose to spend time in the places we have a hand in creating.

The philosophy behind creating these experiences centers around placemaking. Placemaking refers to a collaborative process between us and the communities we serve with the end goal of creating a space that is authentic, engaging, and creative.

Places thrive when people have a range of reasons to visit, and we refer to this as the Power of 10. Every place should have at least 10 features that draw people in– whether it’s a cozy place to sit, a fun spot to meet friends, or an interesting attraction to observe. From small scale to large scale, these considerations make the difference between a spot that people simply pass through and a location that becomes an integral part of the community. These ten ideas branch out of just environmental graphics and include all disciplines that go into making outstanding public spaces, from landscape and architecture to developers and city planners.

1. A SENSE OF ARRIVAL

Knowing you’ve arrived at your destination is the first step in experiencing a space. This sense of arrival can be a huge, iconic gateway, such as the monument and arch at the Tustin Legacy, or a more subtle gesture such as different colored signage for every district in a master plan. Regardless of the scale, it should be clear to visitors that they have arrived where they meant to navigate to. This “a-ha!” moment is not only practical in the sense that it announces the beginning of a place, but it is an opportunity to mark the start of a brand experience that will be carried into and throughout the entire project.

2. THE HUMAN SCALE

Walking into a big space can be intimidating. Without signage or landmarks to help guide you, it can be easy to feel lost and confused. Humanizing the spaces we work in by focusing on the micro-scale inside of the macro-space has a profound effect on not only logistical wayfinding but also in creating spaces that are engaging and fun. Visitors will be able to discover a new surprise every time they walk through. It also provides an opportunity to spice up even the dullest parts of a project, like lamp posts, back entrances, water fountains, parking garages, or restrooms.

3. WHAT’S THAT SMELL?

Engaging senses outside of sight can be a valuable asset to a project. It’s common knowledge these days that scent can play a big part in affecting our mood (see: the rise in popularity of essential oil diffusers) and some developers have begun to take that into consideration in the planning of their projects.  RSM Design worked on the Hotel Zaza in Houston, Texas where the owner reached out to the luxury fragrance maker, La Labo, to engineer on of their scents, Santal 33, to be diffused throughout the hotel via the air vents. In this case, the scent was used to invoke a sense of luxe, but smell can also be used to relax, energize, or make us hungry (we’re looking at you, Cinnabon). Even utilizing plants like lavender in the landscape of outdoor spaces can help solidify the memory of a space in visitor’s minds.

4. MUSIC AS A DRIVER

Music and sound plays such a vital role in our everyday life. Even used in a subtle way, the right music can drive shoppers to stay longer in a store or restaurant. There are even services, such as Noon Pacific, which have begun specially curating playlists for public spaces and businesses to help drive activity. Even the soothing sound of a fountain can transform a typical shopping experience into a relaxing afternoon. While music can be a driver to attract visitors to a space, it can also be used subtly to deter certain activities from taking place. The managers at a retail property RSM Design worked on in Irvine found that after working hours, the public spaces around the building were being used for illicit activity, creating an unsafe environment and causing damage to the property. They began playing classical music outside the building overnight, and the activity stopped. It’s just not “cool” to break the law to Mozart!

5. “MY BENCH”

In many classical Costa Rican town centers, you can survey the area and see a plethora of different benches and seating options. While from a design perspective it may be more aesthetic to have a set of the same benches, from a wayfinding and placemaking perspective, RSM Design has found that a variety of benches makes it easier for people to identify their location and feel connected to a space. Finding “your bench,” or the one place you know you can always have a seat and know where you are.

6. SHADE

Shade can be easily planned into an outdoor space from just about any design discipline. From architectural awnings and canopies, to shade trees and umbrellas, there are so many ways to ensure that people are comfortable sitting and walking in the outdoors. RSM Design has worked on a number of projects where environmental graphics were directed to include shade. We have designed shaded wayfinding directories, patterns for glass awnings, and interventions such as playful canopies for parks, artful installations with shade, even bus stops that include overhead graphics.

7. SECURITY

Accounting for security in a space can mean something different to everyone. For some, having good lighting at night means the difference between feeling able to walk home and deciding to call a ride. Walking to your car in the depths of an underground parking garage can be made to feel much more inviting if the walls are painted a light color. Having clear directions and a safe way to navigate a larger area can turn a confusing and stressful journey into an exciting adventure. Even touches as simple as clear and legible regulatory signage can help visitors feel safe in case of emergency.

8. QUIET MOMENTS

The hustle and bustle of a crowded public space can be draining for some people. Although it’s rare to plan a space dedicated to solitary activities, it’s important to set aside some areas where it’s easy to sit down, take a breath, and have a quiet moment to yourself. These interventions can be anything from seating with a nice view, or a pond with beautiful greenery around it. Landscaping, fluid forms, even comfortable seating or calming music can create a sense of serenity within the chaos of a crowded space.

9. SHARED SPACES

When we think about creating a “shared” space, we consider two main angles. The first is the physical space and how different people from many parties and places will be able to co-inhabit the space. Designing a space that help communities bond over a shared experience not only breeds relationships and a sense of closeness, but also leads to the second angle of sharing– social media. Creating spaces designed to be shared on social media is a new phenomenon with the advent of Instagram and other photo-based platforms. When visitors post images and videos of themselves enjoying a project, it in turn drives more people to come and experience the project for themselves.

10. TURN THE ORDINARY INTO THE EXTRAORDINARY

Probably the most exciting part of our job as environmental graphic designers is the opportunity to turn ordinary, every experiences into something extraordinary. These moments can be big or small; an empty plaza can be made exciting by putting a huge dancing fountain in the middle of it, or a water fountain can have a nautical-inspired pattern on the splash tile; transforming light poles into yarn-bombed works of art, or putting inspirational quotes and images on the wall of a parking garage. Anything from bike racks, garbage bins, building facades, and regulatory signage is fair game for a little bit of fun, and these moments of delight are what help create memorable and lasting moments for visitors.

The neighborhood… the town center… the park… the school… the museum. These are destinations that we return to again and again. They are the soul of our community, the anchors for our memories, and the spaces for inspiration and learning. Creating these unique places requires a vision which combines an appreciation of the human experience, a clear understanding of the built environment, and the relationship between the two.

There are no templates in creating places that people truly engage with and appreciate, as every place is uniquely different. Each place offers insights into varied cultures, uses, or perspectives that require their own original recipe for design. It is essential for experiential graphic designers to translate the unique character and qualities of a place with relevance, resonance, and inspiration.

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DESIGN ACTS AS A BRIDGE FOR UNCONSCIOUS CONNECTIONS

The psychology of design is an essential ingredient in connecting people to place. More than simply decorating a space, environmental graphic design is critical to establishing the purpose of a space, the visitor’s place within it, and helping to shape the overall experience. While a visitor may never recognize that design is at play, the work environmental graphic designers do, is essential to establishing that unconscious connection.

Environmental graphic design is about creating a vocabulary of design elements that reinforce the architecture and help define the context for a place that people will connect with. Subtleties in design can have a huge impact. A different typeface can completely change the vibe of a place. A well-placed bench can bring moments of comfort and joy. A cool mural or graphic can inspire selfies to share with others. These are the emotional connections that drive people, the unconscious aspects that create resonance and transform a simple visit into a dynamic and memorable experience. This is the art of environmental graphic design at its most powerful.

ENVIRONMENTAL GRAPHIC DESIGN TRANSFORMS BRICKS, GLASS AND CONCRETE INTO A PLACE WITH SOUL AND STYLE

We create places for people to linger, we guide them to new destinations, and we facilitate shared experiences. The design is clearly more than an aesthetic overlay, going beyond making environmental elements look good, to express the essence of a place. The infusion of design profoundly connects the space to the people that will inhabit and visit the place.

Designers of experiential environments have a broad palette to work with—identity, typography, symbols, materials, colors, wayfinding, public art, for example—all the tools needed to root the environment in its place and make it meaningful to each person. A subconscious connection in forged by building an immersive experience that resonates more deeply than words.

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The creative work of RSM Design lives at the intersection of architecture and the human spirit. It is this unique blend that poses the best opportunities and inspires thoughtful and creative design solutions.

Stay tuned for parts 2-4 of this blog series

Authenticity of a story told using history, art, and cultural perspectives creates an emotional experience that has the power to transform communities by creating impressionable moments that engage and inspire.  

Many communities continue to embark upon a renaissance of arts and culture as an investment and asset for growth. We continue to see a resurgence of cultural districts paving a path for revitalization and civic pride. Museums, concert halls or public parks, all provide a curated experience that is unique to the narrative of each place. These biographies of place create a personal voice for each neighborhood to be heard.

The marriage of art and architecture through environmental graphic design aims to create tangible canvases that complement the curation within these cultural centers and public spaces. At RSM Design we engage the place by creating complementary wayfinding and environmental graphics systems that allow cultural centers to shine while providing guests subtle prompts that compel them to seek, and explore more.

RSM Design collaborates with clients, architects, and users to engage the guest  by layering the canvas with art, interpretive graphics, recognition, and history. We would like to share a few select projects that the RSM Design team is currently involved with that embody the importance of layering environmental graphic design into the guest experience.