OBJECTIVE
We are focusing on the impact of spatial design in constructing social and cultural norms and promoting interaction among people. Our team aims to solve the problem we have in our community. We are using human-centered and evidence-based design to create a system or a tool based on what we observe from people. Our topic area requires us to be out in the field to collect data from real users and people who frequently face problems as such. We want to create a design which will create an impact for people on a daily basis; we want to design things that matter for people.

DURATION
April 9 - June 7, 2018 (59 days)

TEAM
Jan Eric De Castro, Jayne Chong, Arvin Dagoc, Heitor Schueroff, Young Ho Suh

TOOLS
Autodesk Fusion 360, Adobe Illustrator

SKILLS
Interview, fieldwork

PROBLEM DEFINITION

How do we maximize the use of tables/seats and encourage social interaction in Price Center
(most populated eat area in UCSD)?

Problem observed:
~ 10 people sitting by themselves
~25 open seats not being used

FOCUS & RESEARCH AREA

A section in Price Center, because we were given a chance to prototype in that area.
All students who utilize Price Center during lunch, rush hours.

STAKEHOLDERS

Primary Stakeholders: Anyone using the table/seat space at PC: Students, faculty, etc.
Secondary Stakeholders: PC/University Centers Management and Staff

FIELD OBSERVATION FINDINGS

• Many different types of people in PC - some there to study, busy so they dine and dash, etc.

• Maxing out space difficult, you have to Tetris together groups and individuals.

• Individuals don’t want to sit with groups and vice versa.

• Seats displaced, uneven distribution of table space and seats (empty table/no seats vs. Not enough table space/too many seats)

PERSONA

IDENTITY MODEL

INFLUENTIAL FINDINGS

• Some people want interaction but are too shy to initiate it 🡆 Encourage people to interact with use of games or topics

• Problem of uncomfortability of asking others to sit with them - think that people sitting by themselves own table 🡆 Comfortable for strangers to sit next to each other and feel welcomed

• Comfort when there’s clear delineation 🡆 Clear delineation to guide where people should sit

PROTOTYPES & ITERATIONS / SKETCH

Opportunity to work with UCSD University Center’s Director who was in charge of Price Center. We worked with him to implement any prototyping in exchange for data to improve the Price Center. We provided him a sketch where he was able to utilize his team to help us implement a feasible prototype in the real world.

INTERVIEW VALIDATION

“I love this new layout. There’s more available seats in this area.”

REALITY: We actually had less chairs than the original layout.