Design study, Waterfront
Name the Plaza
A self-initiated design study: Gather name ideas for the new waterfront plaza and bring first-time participants into a civic decision.
These are self-initiated studies, not client work. Each is a fictional campaign; none was commissioned by, produced for, or approved by any agency or organization.
The brief
- Line of business
- Waterfront
- Audience
- Residents of every age, including students, who rarely take part in formal public comment.
- Objective
- Gather name ideas for the new waterfront plaza and bring first-time participants into a civic decision.
- When and where
- Ideas due Friday, February 26, Online or at Harbor Library
Concept A: For Generations 12
Invites people to shape something that will outlast them, a name their grandkids might say someday. Type style.
Concept B: Quick to Join 12
Shows how short and simple taking part is: one idea, one sentence on why, and you are done. Scene style.
Concept C: Goodbye Lot B 12
Uses the plaza's dull working title as the joke, which makes a real name feel overdue and fun to suggest. Grid style.
Spanish adaptation of For Generations 12
The first direction adapted rather than translated: the headline, supporting line, and call to action rewritten in Spanish, with the layout reflowed for the longer text. Type style.
What was checked
Every one of the 48 pieces was checked as it was composed. The lowest text contrast measured anywhere in this study is 5.01 to 1, against a minimum of 4.5 to 1. Type sizes are in the units of each format: pixels for digital formats, and for print, units of the drawing at the sizes shown.
| Format | Minimum type size | Smallest set | Lowest contrast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poster, 18 by 24 inches | 11 | 13.2 | 5.01 to 1 |
| Flyer, letter | 11 | 13.5 | 5.01 to 1 |
| Social story, vertical | 13 | 13.0 | 5.01 to 1 |
| Retractable banner | 10 | 10.0 | 5.01 to 1 |
| Display ad, 160 by 600 | 10 | 10.0 | 5.01 to 1 |
| Social post, square | 13 | 13.2 | 5.01 to 1 |
| Display ad, 300 by 250 | 10 | 10.0 | 5.01 to 1 |
| Postcard, 6 by 4 inches | 13 | 13.2 | 5.01 to 1 |
| Event cover | 12 | 12.0 | 5.01 to 1 |
| Billboard | 12 | 12.0 | 5.01 to 1 |
| Email header | 11 | 11.0 | 5.01 to 1 |
| Display ad, 728 by 90 | 10 | 10.0 | 5.01 to 1 |