WHAT WE ARE DOING

WHY WE ARE DOING IT

Studying the SITE of this design activity (Central Square) and the USER we are designing for (kids)

To build a foundational understanding of who we are designing for and where that design will exist

1st



2nd

3rd

Get in pairs and think about the kinds of observations you would like to make on your site walk

~30 mins

Grab pencil and paper to take notes and create sketches of places/interactions that inspire project ideas. You can also bring a phone to take photos.

During your walk, identify a specific site for your. Make note of its features, scale, and use

Welcome to Central Square!

Graffiti Alley

NuVu

MIT

Harvard

Park with the crazy swing

Central Square serves as the traditional downtown for Cambridge, playing many roles as a vibrant, mixed-use district. It is central in many ways—it is the seat of City government, it is mid-way between Harvard to the west and MIT to the east, and it is surrounded by four dense, livable neighborhoods. It has restaurants, both chain and small business storefronts, and very active pedestrian use.

On your walk, be on the lookout for: 

• Elements that surprise you
• Issues/problems that stand out
• Behaviors of people in the area (do you notice any interesting patterns?)
• Emotional responses (frustrations, sadness, joy, excitement, nostalgia, etc.)

Examples of site observations:

• Where you see kids, both in motion and staying in one place
• Various groups/crowds moving at specific times
• Unique nooks or hidden places (ie graffiti alley)
• Natural and artificial elements that could be changed into other objects/devices
• Surprising uses of space (e.g., a bus stop that is a social area) 
• Cultural diversity

Central Square Observation Walk

Central Square Observation Walk

Your project design is going to be model, but will be created with a specific SITE in mind. During your walk, you are going to identify that specific site and make note of its features, scale, and use.

It can be really helpful to have photos and/ or sketches to refer to once you are back in the studio space.

MATERIALS