SPRING 2022
10-WEEK COLLABORATIVE STUDIO PROJECT

COLLABORATION WITH PEER / GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDENTS

CLIENT
DARIEN, GA // McINTOSH COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

STUDIO lV COLLABORATIVE DESIGN

MCINTOSH COUNTY VISITORS CENTER

THE BRIEF

Design a cost-effective Visitor Center and coffee bar for Darien, Georgia to encourage tourism and education on both the history and amenities this small town has to offer.

McIntosh County Visitors’ Center’s design scope ranged from exhibition spaces to outdoor amenities through peer and graphic design collaboration. The intention was to present a design solution efficient for both county administrators and associated architects.

STUDIO IV FOCUSES ON COLLABORATION AND TEAMWORK FOR THE BETTERMENT OF PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND DESIGN WORK NOW AND IN YOUR CAREER.

CONCEPT MOODBOARD

ESTUARY PRELIMINARY SKETCH // 2022 PROCESS

INSPIRATION IMAGERY CONCEPT IDEATION //2021

MERGE

Inspired by the natural beauty of Georgia's salt marshes and estuaries as the sun sets, the McIntosh County Visitors' Center is an introduction to discovering Darien and its surrounding exceptional outdoor activities and rich history.

Simulating the interconnection and merging of Georgia's coastal geography- Darien's Visitor Center is a focal point for the community and a tool to increase tourism.

THE CONCEPT

DIGITAL RENDERINGS // RETAIL

WILDLIFE CHILDREN’S CORNER // 2022 REVIT AND ENSCAPE MEDIUM, VISUAL DISPLAY GRAPHICS COURTESY OF PEER

PRELIMINARY SKETCH, WILDLIFE CORNER // 2022 MICRON PEN AND MARKER

IBIT SPACE AND COFFEE BAR // 2022 REVIT AND ENSCAPE MEDIUM, LOGO COURTESY OF GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDENTS

PRELIMINARY SKETCH, COFFEE BAR // 2022 MICRON PEN AND MARK

FURNITURE PLAN

RENDERED FURNITURE PLAN DIAGRAM // 2022 REVIT, ENSCAPE AND ILLUSTRATOR MEDIUM, OVERALL DESIGN CREATED IN COLLABORATION WITH PEER

DIGITAL RENDERINGS // LOUNGE

CENTRAL EXHIBIT SPACE // 2022 REVIT AND ENSCAPE MEDIUM, VISUAL DISPLAY GRAPHICS COURTESY OF PEER

CAFE’ SEATING AND INFO DESK // 2022 REVIT AND ENSCAPE MEDIUM, BANQUETTE MODELLING ASSISTANCE FROM PEER

PRELIMINARY SKETCH, CAFE SEATING // 2022 MICRON PEN AND MAR

SCHEMATIC SKETCHES

PRELIMINARY SKETCH, EXHIBIT SPACE // 2022 MICRON PEN AND MARKER

PRELIMINARY SKETCH, EXHIBIT SPACE // 2022 MICRON PEN AND MARKER

THE PROJECT SCOPE

TABBY STRUCTURE FACADE CONSTRUCTED TO RESEMBLE HISTORIC DARIEN BUILDING

DOUBLE HEIGHT FRONT ADDITION, ONE LEVEL WITH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OUT OF SCOPE

EXTERIOR RENDERING COURTESY OF ARCHITECTS FELDER & ASSOCIATES

PROJECT SITE

1074 MAGNOLIA BLUFF WAY, DARIEN GA

 

SITE’S PROXIMITY TO THE HIGHWAY ENCOURAGES TOURISM. FEW AMENITIES IN DIRECT PROXIMITY, INSTEAD ENCOURAGE ACCESS TO RESOURCES LIKE NATURE, HISTORY, AND INDUSTRY THAT THE TOWN ENCOMPASSES

LOCATED AT FORMER FAST FOOD CHAIN, IN DARIEN GEORGIA

Design range has been expanded from exhibition spaces and rest areas to picnic, dog parks, and playgrounds, which are outdoor rest areas.

OUTDOORS AREA DESIGNS ARE NOT PICTURED. COURTESY OF PEER ENTIRELY.

Building site's location directly off the highway can encourage activity in the area, inviting people to stop for longer.

However, surrounding areas might not convey McIntosh County's natural beauty, the design challenge is to use the visitor center to amplify the voice of Darien and encourage tourism.

DESIGN DRIVERS

COLLABORATE

STUDIO IV FOCUSES ON COLLABORATION AND TEAMWORK FOR THE BETTERMENT OF PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND DESIGN WORK NOW AND IN YOUR CAREER.

The project goal is to collaborate with graphic designer students and a peer to present a design solution efficient for both county administrators and architects through the design of an attractive McIntosh Visitor Center.

INFORM

INFORMATION AND RESEARCH REGARDING THE PROJECT SITE TO ENHANCE KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROJECT AND THE CONTENT TO BE DISPLAYED.

Through educational and interactive displays, the intention of the design is to highlight what Darien has to offer in the way of amenities, in order to successfully encourage business and tourism.

  • Overall design collaboration with my peer, Minji Cho.

    I facilitated concept ideation and overall space planning throughout the process including the realization and rendering of the Revit Model. The featured Enscape digital renderings are entirely my work with the exception of the graphics signs courtesy of my peer.

    Minji was in charge of research regarding building structure, sun path / thermal gain, and building interior systems. She conducted user empathy mapping and focused on building exterior and amenities for part of the scope that included a playground, dog park, etc.

    ALL IDEATION, SCHEMATIC PLANS, MOOD BOARD, AND FURNITURE PLAN RENDERINGS WERE COMPLETED BY ME UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. I would never take credit for another person’s work.

    Logo design collaboration with Graphic Design students Zhixin Xiao, Parris Townes, Mavita Sayal, and Yefei Wang.

    Posed mock client Alex Smetana, Director at McIntosh County Chamber of Commerce.

    Original Revit Model and building plan courtesy of Felder & Associates Architects.

THE RESEARCH

  • REVOLUTIONARY WAR 1775-1783 IN GEORGIA

    Georgia was hesitant to join the Revolution movement so prevalent in the north, because of prosperity under British rule and the threat of possible Native American attack.

    JANUARY 1776

    British warships arrived in the Savannah river, Colonel Lachlan McIntosh taking over the defense of the city of Savannah to stop the attempted British incursion.

    MARCH 1776 BATTLE OF THE RICE BOATS

    British warships seized merchant rice ships in Savannah harbor, the rebel fleet and 'fugitive' Governor Wright being aboard. The intention was to take the crops, not an incursion of Savannah.

    Leads to the simple frame of government called 'Rules and Regulations, delegates soon after went to the Philadelphia Convention to sign the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776

    INDUSTRY BACKGROUND

    McIntosh County was a primary outlet for the shipment of cotton

    Rice and Sea Island Cotton plantations were prevalent during SAntebellum Period, making McIntosh County one of the wealthiest sections of the southern Atlantic Coast.

  • FISHING INDUSTRY & TOURISM

    The fish industry and traditional activities like fishing is an attraction to visitors, showing an authentic and historic experience.

    DARIEN’S FOOD INDUSTRY

    Known for their wild Georgia shrimp, proudly served in Darien's restaurants, Darien competes with cheaper, imported shrimp. Harvesting blue crabs and whelks, unlike Northern fisheries, give an advantage. Freshwater and Saltwater fish were found, including bass, trout, grouper, and tuna. snapper etc

    BLESSING OF THE FLEET

    Celebrates shrimping fleet with music, crafts, artwork, fireworks, and food. The event started over 50 years ago, their 54th annual held April 1-3rd. 'Georgia Shrimp' is under strict quality control, considered 'Boat Grade' in an effort to not overfish and be more sustainable.

  • BACKGROUND

    Starting in 1924, Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway still continues to contribute to American industry. The waterway links a variety of routes for bodies of water like the Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico.

    It was used to send domestic goods, plantation equipment, supplies, cargoes of cotton, and guano. For storage purposes, it's used to keep rice and seafood as Naval Storage. These days, it is used as barges, often used by recreational boaters.

    PRESENT DAY

    Intracoastal Waterway is used as a route to Mexico

    Heightened commercial activity, barges haul petroleum, building materials, etc.

  • Creating a visitor center in 2022, making them essential again through exploration of experiences, destination narrative, tourist industry engagement, embracing digital amenities, and broadening your reach metrics.

    READ '12 THINGS VISITOR CENTERS DO DIFFERENTLY'

    MUSEUM EXHIBITION ARTICLE

    READ THE ARTICLE

  • BACKGROUND

    Formerly a WW2 Army airfield managed by the Federal Aviation Administration, the Wildlife Refuge was established in 1962 through a transfer of federal lands and a change of management.

    HABITATS AND WILDLIFE

    This Wildlife refuge creates a connection between the two neighboring barrier island refuges, Blackbeard and Wolf Island refuges.

    There's a great variety of habitat types, drawing in a diverse range of bird species like egrets and herons in the summer, ducks mallards, etc attracted to the marshes and freshwater spots for winter.

  • Overall design collaboration with peer, Minji Cho.

    I facilitated concept ideation and overall space planning throughout the process including the realization and rendering of the Revit Model. The featured Enscape digital renderings are entirely my work with the exception of the graphics signs courtesy of my peer.

    Minji was in charge of research regarding building structure, sun path / thermal gain, and building interior systems. She conducted user empathy mapping and focused on building exterior and amenities for part of the scope that included a playground, dog park, etc.

    ALL IDEATION, SCHEMATIC PLANS, MOOD BOARD, AND FURNITURE PLAN RENDERINGS WERE COMPLETED BY ME UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. I would never take credit for another person’s work.

    Logo design collaboration with Graphic Design students Zhixin Xiao, Parris Townes, Mavita Sayal, and Yefei Wang.

    Posed mock client Alex Smetana, Director at McIntosh County Chamber of Commerce.

    Original Revit Model and building plan courtesy of Felder & Associates Architects.