For the last part of this assignment we were sent out into the real world to find 20 examples of vernacular design (people solving problems using what they have available to them).

This one was also surprisingly tricky because it sort of goes against everything we have been taught within the program so far. We have been taught to look for things that have been designed well, with lots of care, attention, and thought. As a result of that you end up noticing how poorly kerned the old local business on the corners sign is, or how terrible the alignment and colours are on that poster on the back of the bathroom stall.

So to now flip your perspective completely around to now seek out and maybe even appreciate this everyday ordinary design that you used to cringe at it, is a very big change.

Perhaps one that was needed though. It was very humbling to put down my designer ego for a bit and appreciate and acknowledge that even people who consider themselves to have no creativity or artistic talent can come up with very unique, clever, and sometimes even beautiful solutions to their problems.

Here are some of my favourite examples that I found

A local club using the boarded up windows to display cartoon character paintings

Using an old flour mill as a billboard for advertisements

A local Bistro using old ovens as decoration and as tables to display items on

A second hand clothing store using cut up playing cards as price tags

A coffee shop using a Moka pot as a tip jar