carbon emissions mural / IUSB Library / 8-28-2008

SCENARIO:
Set up 10 ft wide x 5 ft high canvas  “Reduce your Carbon Emissions” info mural at the Indiana University at South Bend Library, vestibule entrance area. My project objective was to observe audience attraction or interaction to the information murals.  My intention was to observe participants and to survey viewers only after they pause and view the mural longer than 30 seconds. 

SURVEY Q&A
Q1) What was that panel about?
A1) Carbon Emissions (4), the environment (1),  what we are breathing (1)

Q2)  Where would you usually see something like this?
A2) a textbook-0     an art gallery-0    a billboard or ad -4
a museum exhibit-0  none of the  above -2: magazine (1), news (1)

Q4)  Did you discover any new information? What was new info?
A4) Yes-4     No-2   

Q5)  Did these boards have positive or negative messages?
A5) Negative-0       positive-6       other-0

Total survey participants: 6, Males: 2, Females: 4
Ages: 20 to 30 = 4, 31 to 75=2

General notes: The students seemed to be focused and hurried both coming and going from the library. Many students travel between campus venues while talking on a cell phone, and I noticed more than half the students had one in their hands either talking or viewing. Nevertheless, the mural was able to get most students to glance and many students to pause. Since these are designed to be so full of visual information - a quick glance still gives them a dose of the message. It was interesting to see so many heads turn. The entrance vestibule may not be the best location, for exploration, but that is where I was permitted to set up. I was glad for the opportunity.

Comments

[Jennifer Price]

It's great to see how the full size versions work within each site-specific space. Working to place the installation within the space -- given the location constraints, etc -- in a visually balanced fashion appears to be a component to the viewers' ability to take in and absorb the display. These are wonderful to watch and the problem-solving is evident.

[UK thesis]

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