Bonus Path: Designing Physical Spaces

If you are going to hold a fundraiser, provide a service to the community, or create a product, then this path is for you! You will explore the importance of the physical settings for your project and then get to design them.

Explore

• Go to local restaurants, hotels, or retail stores that you love with a friend or family member. Each of you will choose one that you love. Walk around in each of the places and take notes on the following:
  • What’s the environment like? Is it clean? Comfortable? What’s the vibe?
  • What decorations are there?
  • What are their signs like? Do they have a logo? A consistent color scheme?
  • If there’s a product, is it appealing? Is it packaged, and if so, is the packaging appealing?
  • How are the employees dressed?
  • What are customer interactions like?

After taking notes, chat about how the physical space creates an image for their product/service. How does everything you noted affect whether you buy the product or use their service?

Design

• Watch one of these videos on the importance of physical space for a product or service:
  • Apple Store Design: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGvdDScgyQQ
  • Fast Food Restaurant Design:
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7sQEU6gXE4&t=27s
• These videos show how the design of the physical space fits the interests of their audience. They have marketing and interior design geniuses helping them make decisions. Your task is to come up with what you want your space to look like, being realistic with your budget and capabilities. 🙂
• Draw by hand or use a design program online to create an idea of what you want your physical space to be. When designing your own space, think about:
  • What’s the general vibe you want the physical space to have?
  • What signs are you going to need and how will they be designed?
  • Do you need an indoor space or outdoor location? What will it look like?
  • When people enter your space, what will they see first? An employee? Your product? The space?
  • Will you have any employees? If so, what will their uniforms be?
  • If you’re making a product, what will it look like? If necessary, what is the packaging like?
• Post your design on the path.

Click here to return to the Project in Motion Unit.