Al Karaby

Karaby is a group game that is based on ones ability in being able to maintain balance. Played by children between 10-13 years. Korab in Bedouin language meaning rabbit that is medium size. And maybe it was taken as a result of the player’s movement. The number of players is 2-6. Players stand on their right leg while holding their left leg, players then job by their right leg while jumping the other player will be facing them. Players try to push the other opponent off balance with their right hand. If the opponent falls on the ground then he is the loser and is out. Sometimes he gets substituted. The game continues until one player remains that is the survivor.As a group we got together and discussed the different steps of the game. We took turns playing and we looked at the separate elements that we would need to present. Because of the name of the game "korab" meaning rabbit, we initially went straight away to the idea of using a rabbit within our illustration. We spent the class brainstorming the idea of rabbit and the game. We decided that we wanted to create a diagram that was none gender specific and related clearly to culture.
When we presented our brainstorming and first draft of our diagram some of the feedback we got included; our figures looked too much like adults, we needed to make it more abstract, and the class wasn't too keen on the idea of using rabbits for our main concept.Joanne drew a few more examples. She basically used the original diagram and then made them look more like children and put bunny ears on them. From these sketches we started to create our concept for the presentation. We thought initially that we wanted to create a pop up book and that we wanted to show the pictures in first person as much as possible. The reason for having the book done in a first person view is so that it would relate more to video games and movies and perhaps draws in our audience more. But yet again when we went for the critique, we found that we had a lot of changes to make. Even though we made the characters seem more like children, our icons needed to be abstracted even further, and Pornprapha wanted us to focus more on the motion of the game.


So what we first did was to break the game down into its bare elements so that we could see the essentials. Every step of the game only involves two parts of the players, their arms and legs. So we drew the legs and arms from a top view and used lines to show the movement that occurs between them. This sketch was the absolute minimum of the icon. From there we developed it further and after several trials came up with our final icons. Then the next step was to decide on colors and presentations. From the beginning we wanted to come up with a way of incorporating the culture in some way. So after testing several different colors we decided to use yellow to represent the sand and then we chose to use green because they complement each other.



For the presentation we were originally thinking of posting each square on a cube so that the children can interact with the images. But then we realized that it would be too difficult to use a cube because there would be no way of showing the direction. So from thinking back on past projects, we decided to use the concept of a zoetrope. We would create a 3D octagon and we would place each frame on a side, and the whole octagon would turn to show the steps, and to relate to the idea of pushing with the interaction of the image and spinning.

Class Discussion

The door literally closing on a person.










The excluded long and defined path for the W.C./ Prayer room.












The dangerous aspect of bench just beside the railing without parents supervision.


The people falling because of the wires.


The Bathroom sign, just in top of her, but she can't even see it as it is placed very far and can't be viewed from anywhere.












The hidden food court.

Trolleys blockage.


In this stage, I have already listed all the problems that I wanted to point. I had the idea of what the photographs should look like. For supporting my problems, I tried to add gesture and emotions of the customers to identify how my problems are facing the customers and what is it affecting exactly?

For the railing problem I took it further by zooming on the dangerous aspect of how could a child fall. Knowing that the problem is parents have to supervise children while they occupy the bench.

For the wires I show how people could get hurt if they did not recognize that it is there.

For the trolleys problem, I focused on it because I found it a major problem. I saw trolleys are all over the place distributed. I focused on how it irritates the customers. It was for more than one aspect

1. Blocking Parking, Cars to park.
2. Blocking entrance and exits to and from elevator.
   Resulting in No trolleys in shops.
   

I think I have to create an awareness by sign to make them place it in the right places, or not place it in the wrong places.

I found to big problems too that I would like to tackle:
1) The automatic door closes on people.
2) The bathroom, prayer room are placed very high distance that can't be seen . I found in front of me while watching people asking about Bathroom while the sign is right in top of their head.

While discussing the problems with Katie and Mahmoud. They have suggested to exclude two problems. Which were:

1. Bathroom has very long path which has unclear sign showing men or women bathroom/prayer room and people stood their trying to figure out.
2. The long stairs problem.

They also advised me to concentrate on the trolley problem, the railing , also to create a sign for the food court and for the entrance door closing on people. In addition, I have to create a sign for the bathroom sign.

My photos were quite expressive and showing the problem, I will now proceed in trying to figure the layout I will be presenting my problems in. (Katie Coston, Mahmoud Abbas,Sara Al-Qatami)

Sara Al-Qatami, CentrePoint

These photographs were my first approach to Centerpoint's problems.
I made a general understanding of what was wrong. I found that many wires are all over the place . Benches are very near to the railing. Trolleys are spread all over the place.

In the critique, I was advised to be more particular on knowing how those causes effect the customer. I tried to be more specific in specifying my problems, and exclude the problems which are not very major. In addition, I had to add and think more about more things affect the customers.

Sara Al-Qatami, CentrePoint

Sara Al-Qatami, CentrePoint

Sara Al-Qatami, CentrePoint

My first approach to the project was that I had to collect random photos of the chosen place. I chose CenterPoint because the specification that the teacher wanted was that it is a place where it has people all the time and fairly large in size.

I went first time to just take photos, because no specific subject was given. Then, I collected things that represent the place like CenterPoint's logo, bags , and pictures of the shops' name. I put them on a board and presented them.

Afterwards, I proceeded to the next step that is having certain elements that I have to focus at. I had to take pictures of the main elements, which differ CenterPoint from any other place/Mall.

I think the factors which unifies this mall than the other malls the fact that it has: -

• Few shops.
• To all member of Family shops.
• Circulation Motion.
• An open wide space, the walking area is wide.
• Clean
• Regional
• Organized
• Safe
• All three floors are visible from each floor.
• Colorful.
• The only mall that has outside seating area for a coffee shop, exposed to fresh air.

When I went to the mall, trying to capture the points I have written and observed before, I saw many details that I didn’t pay attention to before as a regular customer. I went with a designer’s eye. I wanted to capture the right angles, and I also tried to focus in capturimg more than one factor in one photo rather than keeping capturing each point individually which will strengthen my photos.



I tried to imagine and organize the elements I wanted to focus on in my poster. I started visualizing the poster and creating a sketch for it.

I then made an attempt to finish my first trial just to get the sense of what more photos I need to have. I found that I needed to have hierarchy of the most to the least occurring/ important elements that my poster will be focusing on.

Then, I found that I didn’t have many photos focusing on micro elements. I went again and started observing everything closely.

I found it challenging translating what I had as points to visual images like the wide space, circular motion, and that all three floors are visible from any floor. Those where my main elements that I wanted to focus on because it is the most appealing to my audience.

I classified my audience that they are from all age groups kids, as there is kids playing area, and people from both genders, all age groups. But, no workers come to the place, only families.

I took this challenge and proceeded to have my final poster that I tried to keep all my elements very appealing and emphasizeon my elements.

Sara Al-Qatami, CentrePoint