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Critique of a Public Space



(Image retrieved December 2018, from https://s3.amazonaws.com/bncore/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/1006526075-Walden-Galleria-1.jpg)
  
Since the holidays are coming up, I hope to get some of my shopping done at the mall. The Walden Galleria Mall is one that I have been going to for as long as I can remember, and it has seen a lot of aesthetic improvements over the years. The galleria’s layout is generally simple, as it a large, two-story block. Outside, buildings and signs are clearly labeled in order to help you see which stores you are parking near. Inside, I think that the layout makes sense, as it keeps similar stores together in the same areas. For example, Best Buy is located across from the Apple store, and these two stores may attract similar customers. The food court is upstairs, and right below it you can find a few sit-down restaurants that are attached to the mall as well, keeping all of the dining options together. 
(Image retrieved December 2018 from https://www.mallscenters.com/uploads/plans/walden-galleria-1271.jpg)

While I know where most stores are, I decided to look at a directory map from the perspective of a new mall visitor. The map uses a symbol key to display things such as the elevator and restrooms, as well as numbers and letters to code and show specific store locations. While I think that this map is definitely informative and manageable, I believe it may be hard to decipher at first glance. There are various colors used that don’t seem to really have any meaning. For example, I first believed that the stores were color coded by what products they carried. However, after looking closer, I noticed that a restaurant and a department store were displayed in the same color. This could be confusing and may be something for the mall to reconsider. According to Baer (2008), color is an extremely important tool in information design, and it can provide a sense of wayfinding (p. 90). They may use these colors to their advantage and display them in a way that can share more to the reader. “The most important thing is to get user feedback during the design process” (Baer, 2008, p. 81). Audience feedback can help organizations and businesses, such as the mall, to see how effective their communications are.

Aside from the map, I often see displays for new stores and attractions, and these are placed in eye-catching areas, that are visible from both the upper and lower levels. I have found an example I will share below. Simple text styles and sizes help to clearly advertise. “Changes in the weight and scale of artwork and typographic elements can signal that certain pieces of information have been prioritized” (Baer, 2008, p. 99).

(Image retrieved December 2018, from https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/06/ff/7f/8f/walden-galleria-mall.jpg)

Overall, I think that the Walden Galleria does a good job at keeping people on the right track during their shopping. The holidays can be stressful, and the last thing that someone wants is to be running around through crowds while confused, without clear direction.


References: 

Baer, K. (2008). Information Design Workbook. Massachusetts: Rockport.
Meirelles, I. (2013). Design for Information. Massachusetts: Rockport.

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