User Testing!

Debra Hickling

• Is the text easy to read? Yes, the text is easy to read and stands out from the background.
• Is the map easy to understand? Yes, I think the map would work well and could navigate me around Tenbury Wells if needed. 
• Are the colours chosen appropriate? Yes, the colours are attractive and I like that it's not too busy with a lot of different colours mixed together.
• Is the overall layout easy to understand? I think the layout makes sense with the map being in the middle and big enough to able to understand properly. 

Paul Hickling

• Is the text easy to read? Yes, there's is no problems with reading the text.
• Is the map easy to understand? The map is easy to understand, I really like the colours used. 
• Are the colours chosen appropriate? Yes, the colours are fine and go together well.
• Is the overall layout easy to understand? The layout is simple and easy to understand.  

Jake Hickling

• Is the text easy to read? Yes, no problems with reading the text. 
• Is the map easy to understand? It's easy to understand but not sure how well it works as I would need to be in Tenbury Wells.
• Are the colours chosen appropriate? Yes, the colours look good.
• Is the overall layout easy to understand? Yes, makes sense having general information as the first bit you read. 

Designs in Situ!

Here are my designs in situ to give an idea of what they might look like when in use. 

Vertical Banner

Information Board

Fingerpost Sign

Information Board!

From quite an early stage of the Tenbury Wells I had a rough layout decided on with these having a map in the middle and two sections of the text on either side, this making the map the main focus point for the user. 

This was the basic layout created towards to start of the design process. I started off by including photos and information about two of the places of interest within Tenbury Wells. Also the white background i felt would be too plain and could be visually boring for the user. 

This as the final design for my information board, using a similar colour to the heading colour used in the starting design I felt this really made the white content stand out creating easy to read text for the user. On the left the international logo for information had been included as well as a title displaying the Tenbury Wells name. Also included the on the right side of the board is general information with a brief history of Tenbury Wells and below this a QR code which can take users with a smartphone to the Tenbury Wells info page online. The central section of the board includes the map of Tenbury Wells with a key displaying everything included so it's easy to use for every user. Each place of interest also has a different number as well as being colour coded so they can be quickly located on the map. The left section of the board contains information about my chosen place of interest being St Mary's Church, general information and a photo is displaying for users who could be keen on visiting this location. I feel the board works well, not being too cluttered and easy to read/understand. 

This is what the information board would look like mounted. It would simply have two metal post for support that would be similar to the main post for the fingerpost sign as these are located in close proximity to each other.  

Fingerpost Sign!

For my fingerpost sign designs I felt they needed to be simple. I decided to keep these in with the same theme as my information board the same colour scheme would be used, this being a dark background with white content. 

Here is a selection from the finished fingerpost signs. I feel the background colour works really well and is quite unique also making the white content stand out effectively. I wanted to keep the shape of the signs rectangle with straight edges to create a modern look but easily understandable with the use of a directional arrow. The symbol of a walking man is included to reiterate that the times also shown on the sign are the times it would talk to walk to each location. 

This is an example of how the signs would look mounted on a metal post, this also used to keep the modern look throughout Tenbury Wells. The text used on these signs was also the same as the information board being Helvetica, easy to read with a modern look i felt this was perfect. 

Vertical Banner Ideas!

For the vertical banner I knew I wanted to include a welcome message for visitors to Tenbury Wells. Just having this welcome message would of been too boring so decided I wanted some other sort of content included. I decided I would include the famous quote from the queen and how she described the town - "my little town in the orchard."

This was first design and included the welcome message on the side with white text to stand out on a green background. I felt this looked quite cool but decided as it would need to understood by drivers travelling having the text rotated would make it difficult to read. The sign needed to be clear and easy to understand for passing drivers so decided this idea could cause confusion therefore wouldn't be used. 

This is my final vertical banner I decided only two colours should be used. I decided on green and white but after including both sections of text on this version of the banner felt it looked quite plain. I added the Tenbury logo to the bottom section of the banner and then decided as i'd used the quote about orchards that a related symbol that could be included was an apple. I tried using this symbol multiple times across the banner but to keep it as simple as possible only included one in the centre of the the top half of the banner.  

The Regal Cinema

The Regal Cinema was opened in 1937, as one of a small local group of cinemas, and is now the only one left. Once a common sight , the Regal is a very rare surviving example of an art deco style cinema in a small market town. During its life, a few rows of the front seats were removed and a stage was installed allowing it to be used for live shows as well as films.

Thanks to a Heritage Lottery Grant, this Grade 2 listed building was completely refurbished to its original glory in 2012. This included the restoration of the wonderful Italianate murals on the walls of the auditorium.

As well as being in active use for both films and live shows, the Regal is open to visitors from 10.00am to 2.00pm Monday to Saturday. It includes a small museum of film related memorabilia and is well worth a visit. 

The River Teme and the Teme Bridge

The Teme flows through Tenbury Wells on its way from its source in the Kerry Hills of mid Wales to Worcester where it joins the River Severn. Noted for its scenery throughout its length, the whole of the River Teme has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The Teme valley near Tenbury Wells is very fertile, and has a good climate and has been an important area for growing fruit and also hops.

Originally crossed by a ford, thought to have been on a continuation of Church Lane, which was the time the main road in Tenbury, the first bridge was built in 1305. It was not at the position of the ford but presumably a convenient point was chosen where the river was narrow and the banks accessible. At the end of the bridge, Teme Street was constructed and became Tenbury’s main street. The bridge remained in this position, possibly being rebuilt several times, until 1580. What must have been a spectacular flood changed the course of the river, and must have washed away the river bank on the Tenbury side and widened the river bed. If you look at the bridge now, it takes six arches to cross the river, whereas the original records from before 1580 refer to only two or three. In building the new arches to connect to the original bridge, Teme Bridge acquired its bend in the middle, which remains to this day and is almost unique on such an important river crossing. The bridge has been repaired and widened more than once, including by Thomas Telford in 1814. The bridge was most recently refurbished in 2012 and was found to be in good condition.

The centre of the river is the county boundary between Worcestershire and Shropshire, and is recorded by a plaque on the bridge. 

The Round Market

Like the Pump Rooms, this was designed by the Birmingham architect James Cranston, but in a somewhat more conventional design. Slightly oval rather than strictly circular, It was built to allow local farmers ‘ wives to have an undercover space to sell butter and other products while their husbands presumably attended the livestock markets which were also held weekly.

In days when there was less traffic than now, the surrounding streets were also filled with market stalls.

The Round Market is still used as a covered market and is open on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays throughout the year. 

St Mary's Church

The Parish Church of St Mary is in a lovely setting near the River Teme. It is Norman in origin, and referred to in the Domesday Book. There are records referring to a previous Anglo Saxon church, but no remains are visible, and it is not clear whether it was in the same location. Although built in the 11th century, what you see now , apart from the lower half of the tower, is not original, but has been rebuilt at various times. The most major reconstruction followed a flood in 1770 which demolished much of the nave. After this, the floor level was raised, and although this has not prevented subsequent floods from entering the building, never again has there been such serious damage.
The stained glass is 19th century, but many of the windows are believed to be 14th century and clearly survived the floods, as did the alabaster Acton Tomb, the Easter Sepulchre and the Large and Small Crusaders. 

Materials

Acrylic

The first material I looked at was acrylic. Made out of extremely versatile plastic sheet with a glossy finish I think this had potential to really make the sign look clean and would also give the information board a nice finish. Although acrylic would give the sign a high tech look it does scratch easy and for this reason it wouldn't be a viable option with user wanted to feel and touch the information board. Acrylic would be ideal for other signs that aren't designed to be touched therefore are less likely to be damaged. It can also shatter or chip upon impact which could be a problem due to criminal damage or drunk people walking back from a night out.

Aluminium Composite

Aluminium Composite is a lightweight yet very rigid material and are often used for information signs. For an information board that's interactive with the users it needs to be reliable, strong and be able to last a long time without any damage. I think this would definitely be a good choice of material for the main section of my information board.

Aluminium

A normal aluminium sign is perfect for outdoor use being lightweight, sturdy, coming in a variety of colours and weathering the elements without rusting. This material is also suggested for information signs but the main problem being the high enamel finish that although making the sign resistant to weather it is brittle and can scratch easily. 

Plastic

Corrugated plastic is versatile, lightweight, cost effective and is perfect but only really for short term use if placed outside. I feel this would do a job but not in the case of a long term information board as it could be damaged either by users on the weather. 

PVC

PVC helps to project a high quality, professional image. It can be transported easily be is only really recommend for short term outdoor use. It does have advantages included a matte finish and that it will hide fingerprints but would not be rigid enough for a long term outdoor information board.

Metal

Metal signs are a good choice for long term outdoor use with them being sturdy and weather resistant and with a baked enamel finish it helps display information in an attractive and durable format. This would also be a great option for my information board.

http://www.fastsigns.co.uk/LearningCenter/SignInformation/Acrylic-Signs
http://www.fastsigns.co.uk/LearningCenter/SignInformation/Aluminium-Composite-Signs
http://www.fastsigns.co.uk/LearningCenter/SignInformation/Aluminium-Signs
http://www.fastsigns.co.uk/LearningCenter/SignInformation/Plastic-Signs
http://www.fastsigns.co.uk/LearningCenter/SignInformation/PVC-Signs
http://www.fastsigns.co.uk/LearningCenter/SignInformation/Metal-Signs