Syllabus

Week 1: History of Spatial Information
Week 2: Wayshowing
Week 3: Perception and Representation of Space
Week 4: Creating Informative Spaces
Week 5: Facades
Week 6: Audio and Non-Visual Information
Week 7: Reactive Information
Week 8: SPRING BREAK
Week 9: Museum and Exhibition Spaces
Week 10: Preparation for E14 Projection Performance
Week 11: Sponsor Week and E14 Projection Performance
Week 12: Branding and Architecture
Week 13: Spatial Interfaces
Week 14: Lisa Strausfeld
Week 15: Final Projects

Week 1: History of Spatial Information

TUES, FEB 3

class: Introduction / review of syllabus, e14 projection project goals, description of e14
(download slides: smaller or full)
asgn: Reading /
"Introduction" in Responsive Environments: architecture, art and design by Lucy Bullivant
"Information Landscapes" in Information Architects edited by Richard Saul Wurman

THURS, FEB 5

class: Lecture / a brief history of signs, symbols and typography as realized by architects
(download slides: smaller or full)
asgn: Project / Find and prepare a presentation of one positive and one negative example of spatial information; find a particularly beautiful, useful, unusual, or illuminating example of the integration of information and space, and find one example of where bad integration yielded/yields disastrous results. Prepare diagrams and analysis as necessary to explain your choices.

Week 2: Wayshowing

TUES, FEB 10

class

Assignment Review / positive and negative examples of spatial information

asgn

Reading /
"Critical Wayfinding" by Ellen Lupton
"The Road to Clarity" Joshua Yaffa in the New York Times
"Communication on the Fly" in the Corporate Design Foundation Journal

Optional Reading /
"Function and Sign: The Semiotics of Architecture" by Umberto Eco in Rethinking Architecture
""The (Mostly) True Story of Helvetica and the New York City Subway" by Paul Shaw for AIGA

THURS, FEB 12

class: Lecture / wayshowing systems
(download slides: smaller or full)
asgn: Project / Design a wayshowing application that utilizes an awareness system which can track and identify each inhabitant of a the building. Submit sketches by Feb. 17th, and final designs/prototypes by Feb. 24th.

Week 3: Perception and Representation of Space

TUES, FEB 17

class

NO CLASS -- Institute Monday schedule. Submit Phase 1 of wayfinding assignment.

asgn

Reading /

Body, Personal Relations, and Spatial Values in Space and Place by Yi-Fu Tuan
Selections from A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction by Christopher Alexander
The Image of the Environment in The Image of the City by Kevin Lynch

Optional Reading /
Spatial Ability, Knowledge, and Place in Space and Place by Yi-Fu Tuan

THURS, FEB 19

class: Lecture / spatial cognition and spatial representation
asgn: Project / work on Phase 2 of wayfinding: prepare detailed design proposal

Week 4: Creating Informative Spaces

TUES, FEB 24

class: Assignment Review / wayfinding
asgn: Reading /
Robert Irwin in Dia:Beacon by Michael Govan
Simultaneous Perception in The Experience of Space by Tony Hiss
The Mind's Eye by Oliver Sacks
Audible Information Design in the New York City Subway System: A Case Study in Proc. of ICAD (International Community for Auditory Display) '98 by Ben Rubin

THURS, FEB 26

class: Guest Lecturer BEN RUBIN / Interior Spaces and Interactive Exhibits
asgn: Project / Create an animation demonstrating an interactive elevator screen in E14 - either glass, freight or lab elevator system

Week 5: Facades

TUES, MAR 3

class: Assignment Review / elevators
asgn: Reading /
"Part I" in Learning from Las Vegas by Robert Venturi

THURS, MAR 5

class

Lecture / the electric facade

(download: Slides)

asgn

Project / Given the facade of E14, propose 3 concepts for a permanent or temporary visual and/or audio display mechanism. For each project, describe the technology involved, the software/hardware that drives it, its purpose, and its role in the MIT and larger community. Describe clearly what is communicated in your design/performance and why. The It should be feasible, conceptually coherent and should be communicated clearly in 5 minutes in the format of your choice (comps, animations, computational sketches).

Images of the building model available at http://expansion.media.mit.edu/

Week 6: Audio and Non-Visual Information

TUES, MAR 10

class: Assignment Review / facade
asgn: Reading /
Sensorium: Embodied Experience, Technology, and Contemporary Art by Caroline A. Jones
Silence: Lectures and Writings by John Cage

WED, MAR 11

lecture: Bill Viola

THURS, MAR 12

class: Guest Lecturer BILL VIOLA / video and sound installations
asgn: Project / Devise an audio-based wayfinding system for blind users and visitors of E14

Week 7: Reactive Information

TUES, MAR 17

class: Assignment Review / audio wayfinding
asgn: Reading /
Chp. 1 The Life of Plazas, and Chp. 8 Indoor Spaces in The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces by W. H. Whyte
Chp. 1 Introduction in Improvisational Design by Suguru Ishizaki

THURS, MAR 19

class: Lecture / design ecologies and reactive information
asgn: Project / Design a technological intervention to facilitate interaction and social connection among the different communities that will live in the E14+E15 complex

Week 8: SPRING BREAK

Week 9: Museum and Exhibition Spaces

MON, MAR 30

Special Lecture: Guest Speaker PAUL MIJKSENAAR; 5pm, Wiesner Room (2nd Floor)

TUES, MAR 31

class: Guest Speaker PAUL MIJKSENAAR; Assignment Review / Social Interaction
asgn: Reading /
Curating Immateriality: The Work of the Curator in the Age of Network Systems edited by Joasia Krysa
"Path" in Body, Memory, and Architecture by Kent Bloomer and Charles W. Moore
What Makes a Great Exhibition? edited by Paula Marincola

THURS, APR 2

class: Lecture / Museums and Information Systems
asgn: Project / Brainstorm three initial ideas for E14 Performance, and outline implementation plans for each

Week 10: Preparation for E14 Projection Performance

TUES, APR 7

class: Assignment Review / E14 performance initial concepts
asgn: Project / preparation for E14 performance

THURS, APR 9

class: Guest Crit / demonstrate rough prototype of E14 projection project
asgn: Project / preparation for E14 performance

Week 11: Sponsor Week and E14 Projection Performance

TUES, APR 14

MEDIA LAB SPONSOR Week -- NO CLASSES

WED, APR 15

GRAND PERFORMANCE on exterior of E14

THURS, APR 16

MEDIA LAB SPONSOR Week -- NO CLASSES

Week 12: Branding and Architecture

TUES, APR 21

class: PATRIOT'S DAY - NO CLASS
asgn: Reading /
Designing the Space of Flows in Workspheres by John Thackara
Interview with Kenneth Noland in Designing the Wiesner Building by MIT Committee on the Visual Arts
Media Lab Identity Studies

THURS, APR 23

class: Lecture / Branding and Architecture Guest Lecturer FRANK ROOST
asgn: So far the Media Lab identity has not been consistently implemented in the institution's communications. The color bar, originally conceived by Designer Jaqueline Casey, was inspired by the architectural artwork of Ken Noland in E15, so the connection was inherent in the beginning. We are now in the process of updating the Media Lab's visual identity. How can this be integrated on an architectural scale, with a contemporary approach, and without all the negative implications that this could have?

To jump start your thinking, we've posted an interview with Ken Noland and a design study of the identity system that can serve as a springboard for your ideas.

Week 13: Spatial Interfaces

TUES, APR 28

class: Assignment Review / exhibit system
asgn: Reading /
"The Poetics of Augmented Space: Learning from Prada" by Lev Manovich

THURS, APR 30

class: Lecture / spatiality, territory, network, and navigation in HCI
asgn: Project / work on final project

Week 14: Lisa Strausfeld

TUES, MAY 5

class: Assignment Review / review final project proposals
asgn: Reading /
"Navigational Interfaces" in The Language of New Media by Lev Manovich
Where the Action Is: The Foundations of Embodied Interaction by Paul Dourish

THURS, MAY 7

class: Lecture / spatiality, territory, network, and navigation in HCI
Guest Lecturer: LISA STRAUSFELD
asgn: Project / work on final project

Week 15: Final Projects

TUES, MAY 12

class: Assignment Review / desk crits or individual meetings
asgn: Project / Final projects

THURS, MAY 14

last day of class: Assignment Review / student final presentations

Mapping lecture:

(download slides: smaller or full)

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Syllabus

Contents

Week 1: History of Spatial Information

Week 2: Wayshowing

Week 3: Perception and Representation of Space

Week 4: Creating Informative Spaces

Week 5: Facades

Week 6: Audio and Non-Visual Information

Week 7: Reactive Information

Week 8: SPRING BREAK

Week 9: Museum and Exhibition Spaces

Week 10: Preparation for E14 Projection Performance

Week 11: Sponsor Week and E14 Projection Performance

Week 12: Branding and Architecture

Week 13: Spatial Interfaces

Week 14: Lisa Strausfeld

Week 15: Final Projects


About Resources Syllabus E14 Info
User login Username: * Password: * Request new password Navigation Recent posts Facade Projection Topic Announcement (12) General (9) Audio (9) Branding (8) E14 Performance (10) Facade (14) History (5) Interaction (6) Interface (5) Mapping (3) Museum/Exhibition (2) Non-visual (2) Perception (8) Reactive (3) Representation (6) Wayshowing (29) Assignment Asgn01: pos/neg example (16) Asgn02: wayshowing phase 1 (14) Asgn03: wayshowing phase 2 (11) Asgn04: vertical travel (12) Asgn05: facade (11) Asgn06: audio wayfinding (5) Asgn07: social interaction (1) Asgn08: E14 proposal (2) Asgn09: museum exhibit (3) Asgn10: final proposal (2) Asgn11: final project (2)	Home Syllabus Contents Week 1: History of Spatial Information Week 2: Wayshowing Week 3: Perception and Representation of Space Week 4: Creating Informative Spaces Week 5: Facades Week 6: Audio and Non-Visual Information Week 7: Reactive Information Week 8: SPRING BREAK Week 9: Museum and Exhibition Spaces Week 10: Preparation for E14 Projection Performance Week 11: Sponsor Week and E14 Projection Performance Week 12: Branding and Architecture Week 13: Spatial Interfaces Week 14: Lisa Strausfeld Week 15: Final Projects Week 1: History of Spatial Information TUES, FEB 3 class Introduction / review of syllabus, e14 projection project goals, description of e14 (download slides: smaller or full) asgn Reading / "Introduction" in Responsive Environments: architecture, art and design by Lucy Bullivant "Information Landscapes" in Information Architects edited by Richard Saul Wurman THURS, FEB 5 class Lecture / a brief history of signs, symbols and typography as realized by architects (download slides: smaller or full) asgn Project / Find and prepare a presentation of one positive and one negative example of spatial information; find a particularly beautiful, useful, unusual, or illuminating example of the integration of information and space, and find one example of where bad integration yielded/yields disastrous results. Prepare diagrams and analysis as necessary to explain your choices. Week 2: Wayshowing TUES, FEB 10 class Assignment Review / positive and negative examples of spatial information asgn Reading / "Critical Wayfinding" by Ellen Lupton "The Road to Clarity" Joshua Yaffa in the New York Times "Communication on the Fly" in the Corporate Design Foundation Journal Optional Reading / "Function and Sign: The Semiotics of Architecture" by Umberto Eco in Rethinking Architecture ""The (Mostly) True Story of Helvetica and the New York City Subway" by Paul Shaw for AIGA THURS, FEB 12 class Lecture / wayshowing systems (download slides: smaller or full) asgn Project / Design a wayshowing application that utilizes an awareness system which can track and identify each inhabitant of a the building. Submit sketches by Feb. 17th, and final designs/prototypes by Feb. 24th. Week 3: Perception and Representation of Space TUES, FEB 17 class NO CLASS -- Institute Monday schedule. Submit Phase 1 of wayfinding assignment. asgn Reading / Body, Personal Relations, and Spatial Values in Space and Place by Yi-Fu Tuan Selections from A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction by Christopher Alexander The Image of the Environment in The Image of the City by Kevin Lynch Optional Reading / Spatial Ability, Knowledge, and Place in Space and Place by Yi-Fu Tuan THURS, FEB 19 class Lecture / spatial cognition and spatial representation (download slides: smaller or full) asgn Project / work on Phase 2 of wayfinding: prepare detailed design proposal Week 4: Creating Informative Spaces TUES, FEB 24 class Assignment Review / wayfinding asgn Reading / Robert Irwin in Dia:Beacon by Michael Govan Simultaneous Perception in The Experience of Space by Tony Hiss The Mind's Eye by Oliver Sacks Audible Information Design in the New York City Subway System: A Case Study in Proc. of ICAD (International Community for Auditory Display) '98 by Ben Rubin THURS, FEB 26 class Guest Lecturer BEN RUBIN / Interior Spaces and Interactive Exhibits asgn Project / Create an animation demonstrating an interactive elevator screen in E14 - either glass, freight or lab elevator system Week 5: Facades TUES, MAR 3 class Assignment Review / elevators asgn Reading / "Part I" in Learning from Las Vegas by Robert Venturi THURS, MAR 5 class Lecture / the electric facade (download: Slides) asgn Project / Given the facade of E14, propose 3 concepts for a permanent or temporary visual and/or audio display mechanism. For each project, describe the technology involved, the software/hardware that drives it, its purpose, and its role in the MIT and larger community. Describe clearly what is communicated in your design/performance and why. The It should be feasible, conceptually coherent and should be communicated clearly in 5 minutes in the format of your choice (comps, animations, computational sketches). Images of the building model available at http://expansion.media.mit.edu/ Week 6: Audio and Non-Visual Information TUES, MAR 10 class Assignment Review / facade asgn Reading / Sensorium: Embodied Experience, Technology, and Contemporary Art by Caroline A. Jones Silence: Lectures and Writings by John Cage WED, MAR 11 lecture Bill Viola THURS, MAR 12 class Guest Lecturer BILL VIOLA / video and sound installations asgn Project / Devise an audio-based wayfinding system for blind users and visitors of E14 Week 7: Reactive Information TUES, MAR 17 class Assignment Review / audio wayfinding asgn Reading / Chp. 1 The Life of Plazas, and Chp. 8 Indoor Spaces in The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces by W. H. Whyte Chp. 1 Introduction in Improvisational Design by Suguru Ishizaki THURS, MAR 19 class Lecture / design ecologies and reactive information asgn Project / Design a technological intervention to facilitate interaction and social connection among the different communities that will live in the E14+E15 complex Week 8: SPRING BREAK Week 9: Museum and Exhibition Spaces MON, MAR 30 Special Lecture Guest Speaker PAUL MIJKSENAAR 5pm, Wiesner Room (2nd Floor) TUES, MAR 31 class Guest Speaker PAUL MIJKSENAAR Assignment Review / Social Interaction asgn Reading / Curating Immateriality: The Work of the Curator in the Age of Network Systems edited by Joasia Krysa "Path" in Body, Memory, and Architecture by Kent Bloomer and Charles W. Moore What Makes a Great Exhibition? edited by Paula Marincola THURS, APR 2 class Lecture / Museums and Information Systems asgn Project / Brainstorm three initial ideas for E14 Performance, and outline implementation plans for each Week 10: Preparation for E14 Projection Performance TUES, APR 7 class Assignment Review / E14 performance initial concepts asgn Project / preparation for E14 performance THURS, APR 9 class Guest Crit / demonstrate rough prototype of E14 projection project asgn Project / preparation for E14 performance Week 11: Sponsor Week and E14 Projection Performance TUES, APR 14 MEDIA LAB SPONSOR Week -- NO CLASSES WED, APR 15 GRAND PERFORMANCE on exterior of E14 THURS, APR 16 MEDIA LAB SPONSOR Week -- NO CLASSES Week 12: Branding and Architecture TUES, APR 21 class PATRIOT'S DAY - NO CLASS asgn Reading / Designing the Space of Flows in Workspheres by John Thackara Interview with Kenneth Noland in Designing the Wiesner Building by MIT Committee on the Visual Arts Media Lab Identity Studies THURS, APR 23 class Lecture / Branding and Architecture Guest Lecturer FRANK ROOST asgn So far the Media Lab identity has not been consistently implemented in the institution's communications. The color bar, originally conceived by Designer Jaqueline Casey, was inspired by the architectural artwork of Ken Noland in E15, so the connection was inherent in the beginning. We are now in the process of updating the Media Lab's visual identity. How can this be integrated on an architectural scale, with a contemporary approach, and without all the negative implications that this could have? To jump start your thinking, we've posted an interview with Ken Noland and a design study of the identity system that can serve as a springboard for your ideas. Week 13: Spatial Interfaces TUES, APR 28 class Assignment Review / exhibit system asgn Reading / "The Poetics of Augmented Space: Learning from Prada" by Lev Manovich THURS, APR 30 class Lecture / spatiality, territory, network, and navigation in HCI asgn Project / work on final project Week 14: Lisa Strausfeld TUES, MAY 5 class Assignment Review / review final project proposals asgn Reading / "Navigational Interfaces" in The Language of New Media by Lev Manovich Where the Action Is: The Foundations of Embodied Interaction by Paul Dourish THURS, MAY 7 class Lecture / spatiality, territory, network, and navigation in HCI Guest Lecturer: LISA STRAUSFELD asgn Project / work on final project Week 15: Final Projects TUES, MAY 12 class Assignment Review / desk crits or individual meetings asgn Project / Final projects THURS, MAY 14 last day of class Assignment Review / student final presentations Mapping lecture: (download slides: smaller or full)