PROJECT OVERVIEW
Project Type: Academic Jan 2020 - April 2020
Timeline: 1 Semester
Role: Designer
Tools: Traditional Research Methods, Microsoft Word, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Sketch-Up
This work builds on the ideas explored in my thesis by developing an actual design process. Drawing inspiration from the sublime art movement, I utilized empathic design techniques to enhance a landscape and create an inexplicable feeling of enlightenment or awe in the viewer. This emotional connection between the viewer and the design cannot be easily defined or categorized but is often absent in contemporary design arrangements. By emphasizing the emotional impact of design, this project seeks to create designs that leave a lasting effect on the audience and inspire them to see the world in a new light. Ultimately, this work represents a continuation of my exploration into the inspirational design and empathic techniques. It exemplifies how these concepts can be applied to create genuinely impactful strategies.
I chose Grange Park based on its history and location, as it met the requirements discovered in my thesis. Grange Park has a historical past and a unique art culture, surrounded by the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) and the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD). This site already has a connection that I am looking for and that I researched, but I thought it could be enhanced. The site recently underwent a facelift, and the redesign is aesthetically pleasing and functions well. I wanted to pick a place with its own story, so I could make my constraints and go about this emotional process. In addition to this story, Grange Park is in a prime location within walking distance of the downtown core and surrounded by a close-knit neighbourhood. The site has an area of 22,320.27m2, ample space for me to work with and implement my solution.
As Toronto continues to grow and develop, public spaces need to act as functional spaces and connect with people. This design was proposed to enhance Grange Park by looking at traditional methods of sublime and picturesque art movements and theories on the beauty within the landscape. This will create a direction where all public spaces within Toronto should be designed to connect with the user.
Grange Park is where one can escape from their environment and reflect on life—channelling traditional methods of the romanticism mindset with a modern empathic design approach; I wanted to evoke the user’s emotions within Grange Park. The site includes different features that prime the user’s mind to obtain this experience, such as a winding pathway that causes meandering, a minimal amount of trees to highlight the sense of the scale of the buildings and the landscape, and an installation area to keep seasonal interest and add to the user’s experience. The goal is to create a story, a message, and a feeling and connect with everyone. It's important to note that this experience is very personal, and not all experiences would be the same.
