POV: You’re A Pedestrian

Something that a designer has to consider is the audience that they are building for. What perspectives are they constructing a space at, who can use a space, and how will different people groups interact with a space?

It’s all about the scale at which you design a space. For example, the height of windows for a business front are important because people need to be able to see into the window. The window height will have to be designed low enough for young children to see through the windows, and big enough to catch the attention of someone walking by.

A pedestrian interacts with their city in a specific way. They have the opportunity to walk alongside restaurants, through plazas and shopping squares, and alongside canals and parks. In my opinion, pedestrians can interact more with their given space. They can see more of what is around them because they can pause, turn around, crouch down, touch, smell, etc. They can walk in and out of shops, smell things, be attracted to specific colors, and explore.

A pedestrian’s ability to interact with a space is based on whether the space is safe and the designer took into account different user needs and abilities. At the end of the day it is all about accessibility; and whether design fosters independence. Furthermore, a pedestrian needs to feel safe in order for them to use a space. That is why pedestrians may advocate for a buffer between a sidewalk and busy street, a protected crosswalk, and private pedestrian trails arranged away from busy streets.

Hooks were installed outside buildings for people to attach their dogs to (temporarily ofc)

A biker’s perspective is pretty interesting too. Biking is used more to get from one point to another. So in order for a biker to be able to get somewhere efficiently, bike lanes and traffic rules need to be established. Once a biker can get around safely, they don’t stop like pedestrians can, but they can still take in their surroundings. Bikers can go where cars can’t, and are exposed to the outside ‘world’. Bikers can bike past restaurants and engage more with pedestrians.

When driving in a motorized vehicle, you are focused on reaching a destination safely. You are looking for different landmarks, signs, and lights, that tell you where you are going. Way-finding is important at every stage, but it may look different depending on the user. A car interacts with traffic lights, road barriers, street signs (at car height), etc. Statues, parks, historic sites and buildings are used as tools to find your way around a place.

I am noticing that I perceive a space differently depending on whether I biked or walked through it. I take note of different things in order to find my way or navigate through a space. Details like a cat in the window at a restaurant, or the house on the corner that is blue.

As always, just some thoughts.

With Love,

McCall