What is the project about?
This is a way-finding project based in Tolworth, a neighbourhood in the Borough of Kingston upon Thames in South West London.
Why is this important?
The project aims to connect the residents of Tolworth with a long-ignored Nature reserve called Tolworth Court Farm Fields (TCFF). I conducted thorough primary research using designing thinking methods in the form of interviews, surveys, shadowing activities and user journeys. During this process, I collaborated with a community organisation in the neighbourhood The Community Brain who was working on a similar initiative.
The A3 highway divides the neighbourhood into two halves due to which many residents had lived in the neighbourhood for several years, decades even, had not discovered this nature reserve. Many thought it was private land due to a lack of signposting along the way and at the entrance. The journey to the nature reserve from the Broadway and residential areas was not encouraging either.
How did I do it?
I designed way-finding signage with stimulating visuals leading from the Tolworth roundabout to the Nature Reserve. Using the concept of ecological literacy, I drew attention to the rich biodiversity in this valuable green space. I highlighted the characteristic birds that form an essential part of the area's local identity to educate the residents about the various species that also call Tolworth home.
I have also proposed a set of illustrations in the Underpass to signpost to the Nature reserve (yet to be installed).
This project was carried out in collaboration with a community organisation - The Community Brain and a Design studio 121 Collective to re-imagine our urban spaces and to develop sustainable and well-informed local communities.
This is an existing pathway called the 'Greenway' with wooden fences set up by Transport for London (TFL). My designs are placed on these fences detailing the name and conservation status of the birds in the UK.
The birds of Tolworth have also been printed onto an information board and fixed at the entrance of Tolworth Court farm fields nature reserve
A detailed look at the intricate illustrations designed for the way-finding
These are a few visualisations for the underpass and railway station which lead towards the Nature reserve.
