The Jewish Tabernacle in Prague, Czech Republic
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Analysis Assignment 2: Grocery Store
Analysis Assignment 2: User Journey and Primary Element Study – Grocery Store
Ramona Randolph
Harry’s Farmers Market, Alpharetta : (A Whole Foods Store)
1180 Upper Hembree Road
Roswell, Georgia 30076
January 21, 2012
Beg: 8:35 am
End: 10:53 am
1. Approach
Left on Rucker, right on Harris, straight across Upper Hembree and…Behold…Harry’s Farmers Market appears. The entrance leads you towards the right of the enormous parking lot. There must be a gazillion parking spaces here. The parking lot is pristine with dozens of light poles. As I circle around to the left, I am greeted with a big sign showing me today’s special is Alaskan Salmon Sockeye Fillets for $7.99 a pound. From here on in there is a series of earth-friendly, recycling opportunities and messages, like the Better World book donation container. I get the idea that Harry’s is a proponent of “green”.
2. Arrival
After I park my car I notice the numerous sites to deposit shopping carts. This is a big beef I have with Publix. They don’t have enough places to put your cart when you are done with it. They do this because they are supposed to take your groceries out for you. Instead they ask, “Would you like some help with your groceries?” I’m not crippled. I can take my own groceries. I would like a place to put my cart, though. Harry’s doesn’t skimp on this and I am instantly a fan.
As I approach the entrance I see the carts lined up outside. There are numerous opportunities to shop out here as well. Right beside the carts is a stack of Enviro-logs. The name says it all. They are beside the carts because if you wanted a box of Enviro-logs you would want to put them in your cart before your produce or bread, etc. Smart thinking, Harry. At this point, I can also pick up a composter, a bird feeder and some seed to go in that feeder. There is quite a variety of seed available.
3. Arrival 2
I go through the automatic sliding door and I’m in a vestibule. Again, I find numerous products that appeal to me and are arranged in a very pleasant manner. I find that even though this area is lined with many objects, I have plenty of room to move around and don’t feel crowded when others pass me or stop to look at these items. At this point I have the opportunity to recycle my old cell phone and take advantage of some daily sales as well as potted bulbs for Spring which are already blooming. This area, though enclosed, is bright and cheerful with thoughts of a warmer future.
4. Arrival 3
I enter the next doorway, which is very large. As I enter I see another item at a special price for today only. This display leads me towards the right. As I meander rightward, I see before me a most beautiful display of produce. I can see all the way from one side of the produce area to the far side. If I were looking for something specific, say apples, I could certainly see it from here and go straight to it. If there were more shoppers here it would be more difficult, but still somewhat possible. I go around the display and to the left because I need to announce myself and my project at customer service before I begin.
5. Waiting
No waiting.
6. Moving to Destination
As I approach the Customer Service desk I am greeted by an employee with a smile. I tell her why I am here and ask permission. She welcomes me and offers to assist me with any questions. It is very important to have someone working in Customer Service who is considerate and knowledgeable. She offers me a spot to sit and write for a few minutes. This seat is between her area and a place where employees come for coffee. She greets all the other employees warmly as they pass her and they are all happy as they get their coffee.
7. Arrival to activity destination
This is amazing. I move through the produce section as if my movements have been choreographed. There are tons of perfectly stacked produce and plenty of space to move around and see it all. My path winds around so that I have the opportunity to see everything. Every display has a handwritten sign, which is clear and easy to see. There are plenty of employees wearing Harry’s aprons. If I had a question I could have an answer immediately, but I can see plainly almost any information I want to know.
8. Target Activities
I take pictures of the produce as I am walking through to the nut section. Yes. They have an entire section for nuts. That’s when it hits me: the smell of the bakery. I turn in the direction of the smell and see the great big sign, “Bakery”. There is loaf after loaf of fresh baked bread. The path leads me to the bakery case. I see some of the most beautifully decorated deserts I have ever seen. My mouth is watering as I look at a mound of sliced strawberries drizzled with chocolate. It is here that I notice the “bins” in which some items are displayed. The bins are in almost every section of the store. The bakery has a bin where you can pick up a decorated cake for a birthday. It is boxed and ready to purchase. This bin keeps me from having to stand in line at the bakery. The cakes are easy to reach and easy to see. Smart thinking, Harry.
9. Side steps
As I follow the path away from the bakery, I can see the length of the store. I am at the back right corner. I can see all the way down to Seafood and everything in between. There is a big sign hanging from the ceiling that says, “Great Wines $5.99 and under”. That is very competitive. Harry’s has definitely changed their perspective. They are really trying to keep their business during these difficult financial times. I appreciate that. As I went a little further I saw another sign which proves this. They have a wine for $2.79 a bottle. They are competing with Trader Joes here. Smart thinking, Harry.
I decided to sit down and right a minute. I found the perfect spot at “Salud!” where Harry’s provides a cooking school experience with their chefs. Salud! Also doubles as a café. It is here that I am approached by the Store Team Leader, Matar Diouf. He welcomed me and gave me his card. What a nice guy!
10. Departing Destination
I grab some 365 pasta sauce and a bottle of $2.79 wine and head for the checkout line. The gentlemen who checked me out were courteous and friendly. The entire store was spotless and shiny-clean.
11. Moving Toward Exit
There are three entrance/exits and I choose the nearest one. This door leads right out to the sidewalk and parking lot. It is also very clean on the sidewalks surrounding the store.
12. Final Departure
The drive in and out of Harry’s is a kind of circle. You enter on one side and exit on the other. These folks are ready for a crowd. As I reach the top of the exit road I am in front of a traffic light. Yes. Harry’s has their own traffic light.
Overall, this was a terrific grocery store experience.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
doors 2
My Design Philosphy
My Personal Design Philosophy:
Be on time. Period.
Reclaim.
Texture and color are personal and important to each and every client.
Reuse.
Keep making things with your hands. Always.
Organize. Re-organize.
Rescue and recycle.
Up is down.
Re-purpose.
Be the anomaly in the room. Step outside for a minute and look in.
Do the same thing, differently.
Salvage.
Never be too prideful to go back to the drawing board.
Be user-friendly.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Analysis Assignment 1: Restaurant
Analysis Assignment 1: User Journey to a Restaurant
CANS Taqueria
12635 Crabapple Road
Milton, GA 30004
Beg: 12:15 pm
End: 2:27 pm
Users:
Staff age 20 – 50 6 males
Customers age 7 – 75 15 males 11 females
Older couple (age 50 – 60) @ table for two on patio
Family: Mom, Dad, Son & Daughter – children elementary age – main floor
Family: Mom, Dad & Son – Son is teen/college are – on patio
Two Older Ladies seated on main floor
Seven Adults (30ish) seated at bar
Three men, main dining room
Two couples – patio
One man - patio
1. Approach, Me:
It is a dreary, rainy day. I park in front of CAN’S door. A sign on the door says, “Please use other door”. This door is a single door with a full window. The correct entrance is a double door just to the left. These doors also have full windows, giving me a good look into the restaurant as I approach. It is barely sprinkling as I walk to the doors and I can see a very spacious dining room inside with lively decorations all around. I am hearing music from outdoor speakers. I am immediately excited about going inside to enjoy this space.
Approach, Others:
The children have a hard time with the door, but their parents help after folding umbrellas. The older ladies fumble a bit with umbrellas, but a waiter sees them and goes to the rescue, for which they are very grateful.
2. Arrival 1, Me:
As I open the door and walk in, the music is louder, but not too loud. They are playing an eclectic mixture of light jazz, oldies and contemporary tunes. I am very comfortable here. As I look around, I notice very high ceilings with exposed beams and some very interesting lights and fans. In front of me, to the back of the restaurant, are some colorful, hand-blown glass hanging lamps. I notice that the décor is very authentic. I wonder if it is Mayan or Aztec. I feel very happy to be here.
Arrival 1, Others:
Most of the other customers’ expressions completely change as they enter the building. Coming out of the rain and into a lively, inviting atmosphere seems to agree with all users.
Arrival 2, Me:
I am immediately greeted by a waiter whose name is Jonathan. He is smiling and asks if I am ready to be seated. I show him my student I.D. and tell him why I am here. I ask if I may sit for two or three hours to observe. He says he doesn’t think it will be a problem, but he will speak to the owner, Carlos.
Arrival 2, Others:
The two couples arrive when both waiters are busy seating other users. They have to wait about three minutes, but have a pleasant time talking about the décor. The waiter approaches them with a sincere apology.
Waiting, Me:
After a few seconds, Carlos comes out and shakes my hand. He is a strong-looking man with a really cool black and white bandana on his head. His hair is long and neat. He welcomes me with a great big smile and I feel great that I chose CAN’S to observe today. He asks about my assignment and I explain it to him. He offers me any seat I like, so I choose the patio.
Waiting, Others:
No wait today, except for the two couples.
Moving to Destination, Me:
As I walk towards the patio I notice some very large heating ducts overhead, going out to the patio. There is a couple sitting on the patio at a table for two. They are deep in a discussion. The temperature on the patio is very comfortable. Having a climate-controlled patio is a big plus for me. The bright blue tablecloths are made of a soft, supple vinyl. There are string lights above me and the music is heard just as well out here as it is in the main dining room where I was waiting.
Moving to Destination, Others:
The two older ladies have a small controversy about whether to sit in the main dining room or on the patio. One of them is afraid that she will be too cold on the patio. The waiter assures her that the patio is heated, but they decide on the main floor anyway.
Arrival to Activity Destination, Me:
I choose one of the tables in the patio where I have a good view of the restaurant. It is a small table, but there is ample room for my notebook. I really like that the restaurant doesn’t use a lot of table space with those “paper-tent-ads”. Every table looks simple and clean. No clutter. This is very refreshing. There is a soup menu in a small plastic stand on the table. The descriptions of their specialty soups are intoxicating.
Arrival to Activity Destination, Others:
The couple with small children have to get up and shuffle their seating arrangements twice. It appears that the children may have conflicts if sitting too near one another. Finally, the father says they will be fine and he would like to sit across from the mother so they can talk more easily. The music is not too loud, but it does present a challenge along with the noise from two children.
Target Activities, Me:
As I begin to write, my waiter comes over to greet me. His name is Joshua. He offers me something to drink and I request a glass of water. Secretly I want a margarita, but I know that if I have one I will not be able to finish my assignment. While he is gone I decide that I will try the “CAN’S Blanco Chili; pulled chicken, blanco Mexican beans, cilantro, jalepeno, CAN”S special spices, slow simmered to perfection.” I am getting hungry just thinking about this. I came in with a terrible headache and I’m hoping that eating something will help. When Joshua comes back with my water, I ask for the soup.
Target Activities, Others:
The three men in the main room are having some difficulty ordering. Each time the waiter comes to their table one of them says they are not yet ready to order. They are deep in some serious conversation. The fifth time the waiter approaches they stop and look at their menus. It takes several minutes, but the waiter is very patient and finally succeeds in acquiring their order.
Side Trips,(unintentional), Me:
Carlos comes to check on me and shows me how to adjust the temperature on the patio in case I get cold. He is very kind and welcoming. I’m starting to get spoiled! I remember coming here with my sister, last Summer. We sat on the patio and had a great time. The food was wonderful. I am looking forward to eating my soup. I feel a little like a food critic from a newspaper.
Side Trips, unintentional), Others:
I noticed that the mother with the little girl went to the bathroom. It was clearly marked and easy to find. The main dining room is large and open. You can see from one end to the other with ease.
Secondary Activities (intentional), Me:
My food arrives. The chili is piping hot and AMAZING! Carlos comes to check on me and I tell him it is perfecto. It is very creamy and very spicy, with perfectly blended spices. The only thing that could make it better is one of their margaritas, but I would not be able to finish my assignment if I drank one of those!
8
Secondary Activities (intentional), Others:
Two men at the bar are watching a football game. Every once in awhile they let out a whoop. The family with the teenage son call the waiter over to order deserts. They are near me, so I can hear the waiter’s descriptions. They order the Tres Leche to share. Mmmm.
Secondary Activities (unintentional), Me:
I have finished my delicious chili and jalepeno corn muffin when Carlos comes back to check on me. He tells me that his Grandfather was a Navajo indian and a great storyteller. His Grandfather would make things while telling stories. While he is telling me about his grandfather, Carlos is also making something out of a napkin. He says he was more interested in what his Grandfather was making than the story he was telling. One day, Carlos asked his Grandfather to teach him to make something and his Grandfather simply told him to practice. At this, Carlos hands me a beautiful rose made out of a paper napkin. What an enchanting experience!
Secondary Activities (unintentional), Others:
None to report.
Departing Destination, Me:
I am making my last notes and a bus boy comes by. He greets me with a smile. I don’t think I have ever met a friendly bus boy. I sign the bill and add a tip. Most users have left the building and I am breathing in my last few moments here. This has been an absolutely wonderful experience.
Departing Destination, Others:
I hear the last couple at the bar saying goodbye to Carlos. They are all happy and laughing. They, apparently, have been here before and know Carlos pretty well.
Moving toward Exit, Me:
The dining rooms are empty now, as I move toward the door where I entered a couple of hours ago. I see Carlos behind the bar and wave goodbye. He smiles and waves too. He is washing glasses behind the counter.
Moving toward Exit, Others:
Most other users wave goodbye to Carlos as they leave. Everyone seems to know him. I don’t think he ever meets a stranger.
Final Departure, Me:
As I back my van out of the parking space, I promise myself that I will bring Charles here for date night as soon as we can get an evening sitter for Mom. He loves eating at the bar and conversing with Carlos. It occurs to me that the name “Charles” is “Carlos” in Spanish.
Final Departure, Others:
The two little old ladies have a difficult, slow time getting into their car to leave, even though the rain has stopped. The man who came alone forgets his umbrella, but runs back in to get it after pulling out of his parking space and pulling back in.
Every person or group who came to the restaurant had a different, but similar experience. I found it interesting that there was such a diversity of ages present at CAN’S and everyone seemed to enjoy the experience. Even the young children found something on the menu that they liked and the music was pleasant for all users. I learned to put myself in many different kinds of “shoes” and experience space outside of my own experience. As an interior designer I will need to be very proficient at being empathetic.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
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