creating an innovative digital and physical project storage solution for SIAT students at the Surrey Campus of Simon Fraser University with a focus on thoughtful information design, while considering students needs and maintaining the university’s branding.

1. SIAT
space

2. executive
summary
We are creating an innovative digital and physical project storage solution for SIAT students
at the Surrey Campus of Simon Fraser University, focusing on thoughtful information design
while considering students needs and maintaining the university’s branding.

3. statement of
purpose
SIAT’s interdisciplinary program has a wide variety of different courses, such as IAT
233 and 337 which involves students creating physical models and posters; and IAT
344, which focuses on large digital video projects. Unfortunately, SFU Surrey does
not have enough physical or digital storage space for these types of classes. Cur-
rently, students keep their physical models in room 3350 and store large digital
projects on CD’s or USB drives. This is both inconvenient and ineffective since room
3350 is used for classes and not a secure place to leave student work and materi-
als. Also, digital storage devices can cost students up to four hundred dollars. We
intend on solving SFU Surrey’s physical storage problem by creating an efficient and
aesthetically appealing student space. This will be a an effective way of exhibiting
projects to visitors and other students, in addition to creating an organized and
secure storage system for classes that need physical storage space. As for digital
storage, we will be expanding SFU Connect and implementing a more user friendly
interface in order to create a simpler and larger FTP Client.

4. background
research
In developing our design solution, we examined ways of using empirical research
methods to understand our audience needs. Thus, we developed a print survey and
asked a handful of students the following questions:
Which year are you in the SIAT program?
Have you ever been in the situation where you have needed a place to
store your work for a SIAT class?
List the classes where you have needed storage space.
What types of materials did you have to store ?
If you had the an option to store your supplies/ materials/ projects. would
you like to store them on campus in a securely locked room?
If you had the an option to store your supplies/ materials/ projects. would
you like them to be stored where your work would be visible to other SIAT
students?
If SFU provided a room where you could store your supplies/ materials/
projects, -would you also like space to work on group projects?
Has 2GB of digital storage space been sufficient for you?
Have you ever found it difficult to upload or download content using a FTP
client off of your SFU webspace?

5. background
research
Based on our survey results, we noticed that SIAT students are in need of secure
space where they can store physical models and tools, such as glue, cardboard,
posters, wood, as well as a place to work on their group projects. Due to SIAT’s
creative environment, we also pursued the idea of creating a gallery where students
would be able to see each others work. This will be an inspirational way of looking at
the process, progress and final composition of student work and allow for compel-
ling new ideas. Based on our survey data, many students agree. Looking through
different storage systems, glass lockers stood out most because of their aesthetic
appeal and clean crisp design. Our initial step in the design process was creating a
physical model of the room and experimenting with different room configurations,
space, examples of different uses of lighting and sustainability and work space
configurations. Furthermore, our research showed that 65% of students were
unhappy with a mere 2GB of online digital storage space and over half of students
surveyed have had difficulties dealing with different FTP clients. Because of our own
experiences as well as our research, we concluded that SFU’s digital storage needs
expanding and FTP clients need to be simplified and more user friendly.
100
95
Work Space 95%
75
Storage 95% 65
55
50
Secure Lockers 90%
Digital Storage 25
Gallery 55% 0
s
ce
ce
rs
k
ge
nt
or
ke
pa
pa
ra
lie
r w
c
to
s
ks
c
lo
ei
s
al
TP
or
re
th
of
gt
f w
cu
F
y
d
di
FTP Client 55%
ith
la
e
se
ee
o
p
or
w
ed
g
n
is
y
m
d
tin
in
e
pp
n
s
to
an
ng
in
nt
ha
ng
w
di
e
ts
n
ud
illi
ee
ts
u
en
en
w
St
ts
n
ud
en
ts
ts
ud
St
en
en
ud
St
ud
ud
St
St
St

6. physical
storage

7. physical
1
configuration

8. physical
1
configuration

9. physical
2
configuration

10. physical
2
configuration

11. physical
3
configuration

12. physical
3
configuration

13. physical
4
configuration

14. physical
4
configuration

15. physical
5
configuration

16. physical
5
configuration

17. 1
viewing
flow

18. 2
viewing
flow

19. 1
working
space

20. working
space 2

21. Login Required
Computing ID:
Password:

22. Welcome Nathan!
IAT 233
IAT 337

23. IAT 233
Back Please select space Logout

24. Open
Edit B2
Back
Logout

25. IAT 233 Groups B2
Nathan Singh
IAT 337 Adam Greenberg
Shayan Aranpour
Jason Shen
Back Logout

26. content
outline
In order to solve observed problems we researched a variety of different storage
solutions. The most effective and appealing storage system would be glass
multi-sized cabinets with drawers underneath for smaller tools. The storage system
will go along the side and back wall, leaving the front and windowed side wall open;
allowing us to install a 58” flat screen monitor that will be used to rehearse
presentations in the front of the the class. Each cabinet will have a light installed,
allowing works to be viewed in the in ideal conditions. Since a security system is
needed in order to keep student projects safe, an LCD monitor with a student ID
reader will be installed at the entrance of the class controlling each storage box. This
security system will be wireless and connected to each storage box via Bluetooth so
students are able to control each door separately. Team captains are able to add
new members to previous boxes or open a new box. The free space throughout the
room will be filled with 5 tables, each with a cutting board and white board on top
and storage space underneath. Finally, a trail of illuminated glass flooring, with ideal
projects from previous students underneath, will guide users around the room.
Our digital storage aimed to address three main issues: accessibility, size and
speed. Our solution to solving FTP accessibility was to implement an online software
within SFU Connect. This way the FTP host is already set and all students would
have to do is login normally like they would to access their E-mail. The issue with
size and speed are addressed together using cloud computing. Our solution is to
utilize cloud-computing services which can be increased and terminated at any time
depending on the needs of the curriculum. This service will be offered to select
students that are enrolled in select courses that are recognized as requiring a higher
amount of online digital storage and bandwidth. This high speed service will utilize
peer to peer transfer methods like Bit Torrent. We have also implemented another
set of built-in software into SFU Connect that is basically an online Bit Torrent client.
This software will allow students to upload, download, and track their files through
cloud-computing services using SFU Connect. Lastly, we’ve also designed the
administration interface that would accompany the necessity of granting and
removing privileged access to students that will require or no longer will require
cloud storage.

27. media
inventory
19” LCD touch Screen
Bluetooth connection from spaces to security terminal
Card readers
58” flat panel monitor
Surround Sound System
Custom storage lockers
Lighting
Glass tiles
5 work stations
20 cutting boards

28. storage
digital

35. references
Alexander, C., 1977. A Pattern Language. Oxford University Press: New York.
Frederick, M., 2007. 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School. The MIT Press: Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Gordon, R., 2002. Digital Graphic Design. Watson-Guptill: New York.
The Basics of Communication Research, Leslie A. Baxter & Earl Babbie, 2004,v
Wadswork, Thomson Learning Inc.
http://www.closettailors.com/home-storage-organization/garage/gallery/002.html
http://purecontemporary.blogs.com/behind_the_curtains/2006/04/index.html
http://www.thedesignblog.org/entry/lundia-mobile-is-an-automated-shelving-system/
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/auctions/wright-modern-design-auction-spotlight-storage-solutions-065464
http://www.glasbau-hahn.com/english/vitrinen/vitrinen_en.php?read=127
http://www.artestuff.com/images/expo-glass-shelf-4-kit.jpg
http://www.net2ftp.com/