SKILLS | ILLUSTRATOR / VISUAL DESIGN / PERSUASIVE DESIGN

Take the Stairs explores persuasive design techniques by applying them to the design of a physical space. Caroline Sinders, Jorge Brake and myself re-imagined our school building’s lobby and stairwell, in order to encourage greater use of the stairs instead of the elevators.

Our motivation was two-fold: to decrease elevator traffic and to make the stairwell a more interesting and pleasing environment. We began brainstorming ideas for this re-design and decided to focus on visual cues and fun. We believe that with the right cues, we can overtly or subliminally persuade people to choose to take the stairs over the elevator.

We mocked up our re-design ideas using Illustrator. Our final design added several elements to the lobby: a clock above the elevators as a subtle reminder of the time spent waiting for elevators; carpeting that directs people towards the stairs rather than the elevators; visual cues on the first set of stairs to direct people towards the stairwell; better lighting for the stairs; a large arrow directing people to the stairs; and a directory of the floors in the building, with a subtle design element that points to the stairwell.