Toucan Gallery

Functional considerations:

·  Has traffic flow been planned for in the gallery space?

The flow was well considered for small groups of people, however it gets a little coral like when there is a big group of people, there isn’t a big walkway for people to get around each other so you have to keep moving with the traffic or get caught in an in between area with even smaller walkways. 

·  How has the space been designed to serve multiple purposes (frame shop; openings; boutique, etc.)? 

Do you see any potential problems with traffic flow or the exhibition of artworks? If so, what are they?

It has bee designed in a nice way where the paintings and 2d works are on the walls, the frame shop is in the back with a separated little area so your not in the way of the retail traffic, and the jewelry and other retail goods have a nice aesthetically pleasing display in the middle. 

Formal considerations:

·  Describe the typographic aesthetics: evaluate its effectiveness. How do the choices of fonts, etc. on the signs and signage complement or detract from the artwork?

The logos make a recognizable brand for itself, however is it distracting to have the prices of work be in inconsistent places and having them so in your face at times, I feel that can really take away from the work.

·  Is there visual unity of elements/components within the displays in the gallery space and within the window displays? Explain why or why not?
 

Is there a clear information hierarchy throughout? If so, how is this achieved?

I felt that there was a good balance of colors and object sizes. There was red jewelry displayed next to a red painting and a red scarf on one side and I felt that was a nice display. Although I did feel it was a little overcrowded to have so much going on at once in the windows.

·  Does the gallery seem to have a visual style? If so, describe it. Is it appropriate to the type of gallery this is? Why or why not?

There is a nice balance of color through the whole space, and the way that the painting are leaned against the walls along with the jewelry and other consumer goods makes it feel like a retail art gallery that caters to all forms of art. I do feel this is appropriate for this space because that is their mission statement. To “…promote art for everyone.”

Conceptual considerations:

·  Describe the overall message of the gallery (as you understand it) in one sentence. You may wish to refer to the gallery website.

I saw the gallery as a space to see and sell any form or art.

·  Does the organization of the work in the gallery have a linear sequence (a beginning and ending point), or is it a fluid sequence (the visitor can start at any point in the exhibit and move to any other point?)?

I did not see a visual organization of the space as much as a physical one.  Like I said before it is kind of like a racetrack with a somewhat narrow walkway, so it is in our nature to start to the right and circle around that way. But in theory anyone could go to any spot in the gallery to look around, there is no overall theme with a message that I could see.

·  Is the type of sequence effective? If not, how would you improve it?

This is a very effective sequence for retail.

Visitor observations:

·  What do you believe would be the most and least popular aspects of this gallery space for visitors 

under the age of 25?

I think that there is an added appeal to people under 25 because there is jewelry and clothing to draw in the not so art savvy part of the community. But that is about the only thing I can see as appealing to most people under 25, and that is aimed more so at woman, there was no men’s fashion that I could see in there.

·  What are the most and least popular aspects of this gallery for visitors over the age of 25?

It is a quite area that has a decent walk way and not a lot of younger people. I could see the small walkways and lack of seating as something a visitor over 25 not liking.

·  Can visitors share their experiences of the art with others, or are they designed to be individual artistic experiences? Explain.

I don’t really understand the question. I believe that all art is designed to be an individual experience.

·  If you could change one thing in this gallery space, what would it be? Why?

I would make a little more room for walking and have one or two fewer tables in the middle of the space. If nothing else rearranging the flow the tables create periodically could be beneficial to the retail business and the customer experience.