The Daily OrangeConnective Corridor buses undergo redesign
By Noelia de la Cruz
Posted: 3/17/09, 4:02 AM EST Section: News
Centro unveiled three new Connective Corridor buses decorated by six Syracuse University students at the St. Patrick's Day parade in downtown Syracuse Saturday.
The new designs were part of a contest started by Denise Heckman, associate professor of industrial and interaction design in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, in November 2008.
Heckman, who works closely with the Connective Corridor - an initiative to connect the school with the downtown Syracuse community - said she divided the two sections of her typography design course into six groups for a last minute project to design new buses purchased by Centro for the Corridor.
The winning group's design combines animated characters and bright colors, and includes depictions of Otto the Orange and legendary SU tailback Ernie Davis.
"We wanted the buses to stand out," said Ana Mihai, a junior industrial and interaction design major in the class and member of the winning group. "It needed to be interactive, so we came up with the idea of silhouettes and went with it."
Her group used vivid reds and oranges -- colors that are already part of the Connective Corridor palette.
The design competition came from the observation that many people are still unaware of what the Connective Corridor is and question its effectiveness, Heckman said.
"When you design a neighborhood, it has to have enough character that people can identify," Heckman said. She said buses with designs unique to the Corridor will help define the neighborhood's identity.
To get an idea of what to put in their designs, students met with professors, community members and local artists at SU's Warehouse to listen to suggestions and opinions, Heckman said.
Sam Thompson, a junior in the class whose group incorporated the dots from the Corridor logo to create a visual illusion, said he was surprised to see how involved community members were.
"I'm not used to dealing with the bureaucracy of the city," he said. "There were a lot of people who were interested downtown, who wanted to offer their input."
The new designs were part of a contest started by Denise Heckman, associate professor of industrial and interaction design in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, in November 2008.
Heckman, who works closely with the Connective Corridor - an initiative to connect the school with the downtown Syracuse community - said she divided the two sections of her typography design course into six groups for a last minute project to design new buses purchased by Centro for the Corridor.
The winning group's design combines animated characters and bright colors, and includes depictions of Otto the Orange and legendary SU tailback Ernie Davis.
"We wanted the buses to stand out," said Ana Mihai, a junior industrial and interaction design major in the class and member of the winning group. "It needed to be interactive, so we came up with the idea of silhouettes and went with it."
Her group used vivid reds and oranges -- colors that are already part of the Connective Corridor palette.
The design competition came from the observation that many people are still unaware of what the Connective Corridor is and question its effectiveness, Heckman said.
"When you design a neighborhood, it has to have enough character that people can identify," Heckman said. She said buses with designs unique to the Corridor will help define the neighborhood's identity.
To get an idea of what to put in their designs, students met with professors, community members and local artists at SU's Warehouse to listen to suggestions and opinions, Heckman said.
Sam Thompson, a junior in the class whose group incorporated the dots from the Corridor logo to create a visual illusion, said he was surprised to see how involved community members were.
"I'm not used to dealing with the bureaucracy of the city," he said. "There were a lot of people who were interested downtown, who wanted to offer their input."
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