SIAT Space

SIATspace

executivesummary

We are creating an innovative digital and physical project storage solution for SIAT students at the Surrey Campus of Simon Fraser University, focusing on thoughtful information design while considering students needs and maintaining the university’s branding.

statement ofpurpose

SIAT’s interdisciplinary program has a wide variety of different courses, such as IAT 233 and 337 which involves students creating physical models and posters; and IAT 344, which focuses on large digital video projects. Unfortunately, SFU Surrey does not have enough physical or digital storage space for these types of classes. Cur-rently, students keep their physical models in room 3350 and store large digital projects on CD’s or USB drives. This is both inconvenient and ineffective since room 3350 is used for classes and not a secure place to leave student work and materi-als. Also, digital storage devices can cost students up to four hundred dollars. We intend on solving SFU Surrey’s physical storage problem by creating an efficient and aesthetically appealing student space. This will be a an effective way of exhibiting projects to visitors and other students, in addition to creating an organized and secure storage system for classes that need physical storage space. As for digital storage, we will be expanding SFU Connect and implementing a more user friendly interface in order to create a simpler and larger FTP Client.

backgroundresearch

In developing our design solution, we examined ways of using empirical research methods to understand our audience needs. Thus, we developed a print survey and asked a handful of students the following questions:

Which year are you in the SIAT program? Have you ever been in the situation where you have needed a place to store your work for a SIAT class? List the classes where you have needed storage space. What types of materials did you have to store ? If you had the an option to store your supplies/ materials/ projects. would you like to store them on campus in a securely locked room? If you had the an option to store your supplies/ materials/ projects. would you like them to be stored where your work would be visible to other SIAT students? If SFU provided a room where you could store your supplies/ materials/ projects, -would you also like space to work on group projects? Has 2GB of digital storage space been sufficient for you? Have you ever found it difficult to upload or download content using a FTP client off of your SFU webspace?

background research

Based on our survey results, we noticed that SIAT students are in need of secure space where they can store physical models and tools, such as glue, cardboard, posters, wood, as well as a place to work on their group projects. Due to SIAT’s creative environment, we also pursued the idea of creating a gallery where students would be able to see each others work. This will be an inspirational way of looking at the process, progress and final composition of student work and allow for compel-ling new ideas. Based on our survey data, many students agree. Looking through different storage systems, glass lockers stood out most because of their aesthetic appeal and clean crisp design. Our initial step in the design process was creating a physical model of the room and experimenting with different room configurations, space, examples of different uses of lighting and sustainability and work space configurations. Furthermore, our research showed that 65% of students were unhappy with a mere 2GB of online digital storage space and over half of students surveyed have had difficulties dealing with different FTP clients. Because of our own experiences as well as our research, we concluded that SFU’s digital storage needs expanding and FTP clients need to be simplified and more user friendly.

Storage 95%

Secure Lockers 90%

Gallery 55%

Work Space 95%

Digital Storage

FTP Client 55%

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Students in need of workspace

Students in need of storage

Students wanting secu

re lockers

Students needing more digtal space

Students willing to display their work

Students unhappy with FTP clients

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IAT 233

IAT 337

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IAT 233

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IAT 233

IAT 337

Groups

Nathan Singh

Adam Greenberg

Shayan Aranpour

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Jason Shen

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contentoutline

In order to solve observed problems we researched a variety of different storage solutions. The most effective and appealing storage system would be glass multi-sized cabinets with drawers underneath for smaller tools. The storage system will go along the side and back wall, leaving the front and windowed side wall open; allowing us to install a 58” flat screen monitor that will be used to rehearse presentations in the front of the the class. Each cabinet will have a light installed, allowing works to be viewed in the in ideal conditions. Since a security system is needed in order to keep student projects safe, an LCD monitor with a student ID reader will be installed at the entrance of the class controlling each storage box. This security system will be wireless and connected to each storage box via Bluetooth so students are able to control each door separately. Team captains are able to add new members to previous boxes or open a new box. The free space throughout the room will be filled with 5 tables, each with a cutting board and white board on top and storage space underneath. Finally, a trail of illuminated glass flooring, with ideal projects from previous students underneath, will guide users around the room.

Our digital storage aimed to address three main issues: accessibility, size and speed. Our solution to solving FTP accessibility was to implement an online software within SFU Connect. This way the FTP host is already set and all students would have to do is login normally like they would to access their E-mail. The issue with size and speed are addressed together using cloud computing. Our solution is to utilize cloud-computing services which can be increased and terminated at any time depending on the needs of the curriculum. This service will be offered to select students that are enrolled in select courses that are recognized as requiring a higher amount of online digital storage and bandwidth. This high speed service will utilize peer to peer transfer methods like Bit Torrent. We have also implemented another set of built-in software into SFU Connect that is basically an online Bit Torrent client. This software will allow students to upload, download, and track their files through cloud-computing services using SFU Connect. Lastly, we’ve also designed the administration interface that would accompany the necessity of granting and removing privileged access to students that will require or no longer will require cloud storage.

mediainventory

19” LCD touch Screen Bluetooth connection from spaces to security terminalCard readers58” flat panel monitorSurround Sound SystemCustom storage lockers LightingGlass tiles5 work stations 20 cutting boards

storagedigital 1

referencesAlexander, C., 1977. A Pattern Language. Oxford University Press: New York.

Frederick, M., 2007. 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School. The MIT Press: Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Gordon, R., 2002. Digital Graphic Design. Watson-Guptill: New York.

The Basics of Communication Research, Leslie A. Baxter & Earl Babbie, 2004,v

Wadswork, Thomson Learning Inc.

http://www.closettailors.com/home-storage-organization/garage/gallery/002.html

http://purecontemporary.blogs.com/behind_the_curtains/2006/04/index.html

http://www.thedesignblog.org/entry/lundia-mobile-is-an-automated-shelving-system/

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/auctions/wright-modern-design-auction-spotlight-storage-solutions-065464

http://www.glasbau-hahn.com/english/vitrinen/vitrinen_en.php?read=127

http://www.artestuff.com/images/expo-glass-shelf-4-kit.jpg

http://www.net2ftp.com/

Documents

SIAT Space