In Practice, Vol. 1

A few months back I came across this article by Chase Anderson, who makes the case for field trips as a way to design better products and services. The idea is to disrupt your routine, to get out and experience different services and places in-person, which can then help us build better functionality, accessibility and engagement through design.

The concept of a design field trip is a great reminder that the best innovations come from experiencing the ever-evolving world and the way people interact with it.

Below is a reflection from one of my recent design field trips. I also used this trip as a way to pitch my magazine, Minnow, to stockists around Ontario. But more on that later.

This summer, I embarked on a 2 week road trip around the Georgian Bay. Observing the Niagara Escarpment change—rather abrubtly—into the pink granite and wispy White Pines of the Canadian Shield was breathtaking.

The nature centres of my childhood were a bit lackluster. So I was pleasantly surprised by the depth, innovative design and imaginative thinking that I witnessed in the French River and Killbear Provincial Parks.

French River Provincial Park features an immersive experience that takes you on a journey in time back to when the river was a well travelled route, used as a highway in the fur trade. Through wood carvings, layered figures hanging above, and audio interactivity, the experience has so much depth. It’s a good reminder that every little detail demands care and attention — never overlook designing the small things. I saw this through the curve of the wood panelled walls and the donor wall design.

Killbear was impressive in a whole other way. The space is teaming with information in many different formats—text, taxidermy, drawings, audio, sculptures, artifacts. I especially loved the panels of children’s drawings layered throughout the displays alongside the more scientific illustrations. These lighthearted visuals create some breathing room so the informational text is easier to read, and weaves a story throughout the space.

It’s not hard to see how these nature centres have won architecture and design awards. I recommend checking them out and embarking upon your own field trip.

Working together over the years has allowed Catherine and I to develop a deeper understanding of each other's professions—and how graphic design, strategy, and fundraising must go hand-in-hand.

Good Investing helps you put your money where your heart is — whether that's exploring socially responsible investing or learning about how to make the switch to a credit union.

The Good Investing team creates a fulsome experience for their community and subscribers with their online classroom. The graphics that we developed really brought this educational platform to life with increased ease of navigation through cohesive banners.