This is a home base research project related to ArtCenter's living and working environment. ArtCenter College of Design is well known for its high-pressure work style and has a unique culture about 'up all day and up all night'. Through the research, we are trying to understand how ArtCenter students gain energy and keep motivated, and apply these insights to the new dormitory design, to provide a suitable and creative space for ArtCenter students to live in.
In order to create a comfortable living space for students, ArtCenter has designed some questionnaires to collect students’ opinions, but the survey only stays on the surface, and further research is needed to discover students’ deep-seated needs.
Conduct interviews, observations, and generative sessions to reach a deep level of user research.
Research starts from defining the objective statement, and generate knowledge goals related to the statement, and we find valuable insights by listening to users’ stories.
Experts from different fields shared their professional knowledge and recent research outcome about space, architecture and psychology, which helped us think through the research topic wider and deeper.
Expert in the intersections of space, race and education
I-O phychologist, author, artist
Architect specializes in the design of higher education facilities
Architect of ArtCenter housing programe
In order to get insights from ArtCenter students, who always have intense workloads and have to keep a high energy level and motivation, we decided to focus on how ArtCenter students gain full energy in their living space.
Three knowledge goals with different research methods are designed to meet the goal.
5 ArtCenter Students from different countries and majors were recruited and shared their living and working stories.
During the quarantine period, we transferred our research online and used a variety of digital research tools through the online collaboration platform (Miro/Mural).
Based on user interview recordings and notes, we collected all inputs and analyzed them from different perspectives, including activities, interactions, people, objects, environment, etc. And created user experience framework, journey map and PNSTIO framework. The final outcomes were four pairs of insights and opportunities.
ArtCenter students have a lot of ways to deal with high-pressure workloads and they are proud of their achievements. Based on user interviews, we found that except for their own motivation and passion, there are also some subtle elements that may help gain energy in an unconscious way. And it is these subtle things that mark ArtCenter unique and are the true need of ArtCenter Students.
This is ArtCenter student store, these products with school logo are very popular than other normal products. Students are proud of this orange dot.
Belonging and identification is the core motivation for ArtCenter students to gain energy. Nearly everyone here is proud of studying at ArtCenter and they show that orange dot everywhere, especially on their cars. This sense of belonging and identification makes students feel like it’s worthy to spend time and work harder, it brings self-driven energy and also a good self-achievement feeling when having these logos around.
The dormitory needs to bring sense of belonging and ownership, show to both students themselves and the outside world. Bring design elements from school buildings and logos, create space to show students’ work are helpful to gain energy and make the dormitory more enjoyable to stay.
This is ArtCenter GradID workshop, where students explore design ideas, make prototypes and build product models. Tools and equipment are neatly arranged and there is a clear understanding of how to manipulate everything.
Sometimes when schedule goes crazy, students don’t have any extra time to eat, sleep and relax. For long-term work, they prepare food boxes in advance to maintain energy.
Proper arrangement and a clear sense of order are the foundation of keeping energetic. When students know exactly what to do at what time, and feel confident about to deal with any issues, they will feel much more calm and become more productive with higher energy. Chaos and lose control are time-consuming and unbearable during busy work.
The dormitory also needs to have a clear sense of order, all equipment should be well introduced and guided. And some extra prepared and well-organized food or other supplement are especially appreciated during the crazy times (midterm and final).
This is a pre-class assignment critique. Students show their work on the wall. It’s funny to see a bunch of eggs align together and an unexpected joy moment is created.
When students feel exhausted facing endless assignments and tasks, some unexpected moments that arouse surprising feelings may wake them up, make them jump out from tired bodies and brains, and bring fresh air around the space.
The dormitory can include some changeable elements and create unexpected moments for students to experience. Moments that make students feel ridiculous, funny or inexplicable are more inclusive in ArtCenter and would be welcoming and appreciate.
When finishing midterm presentation, it is a rare chance that people can have a little time to hang out and relax.
Social is hard in ArtCenter since everyone is busy working here and there, however, when they finally get a great reason to celebrate and have fun together, they feel relax a lot and gain more energy though it is not expected at the beginning.
The dormitory should create more social triggers and encourage students to interact with others more. There should be a balance between enough isolation space and a proper social area.
ArtCenter dormitory is under construction with these meaningful insights and opportunities being considered, we are glad that the school takes students’ needs seriously and applies real design efforts to the real world.
