Every semester, Storefront's community design apprentices at mOb (Middle of Broad) take on community-initiated projects under the guidance of a professional mentor, VCUarts faculty, and Storefront staff. This semester, mOb students representing Fashion, Graphic, and Interior Design departments at VCUarts will be taking on 16 projects. The projects focus on creative design strategies for new urban mobility, historic preservation, socially engaged art practices, community gardens, and more. For the first time, we will also be welcoming students from the School of Engineering. Read more about the projects below:
BIKES AND ______.
Lewis Ginter Mobile Education Station
Prototype a mobile education station for Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens that could be tested on campus and used in funding proposals.
Bibliospokes
Work with the Richmond Public Library to design a trailerable library, to be hitched to an electric bicycle, and taken to events around the city. Work on the Bibliospokes identity may also be included within the project scope.
Existing Bibliospokes trailer.
Rag & Bones Bike-in Theater
Transform an underutilized parking lot into a bike-in theater.
Bike-in theater site (Rag & Bones to the left).
Bike & Pedestrian Plan for Spoonfed
Apply the principles of the bicycle master plan to the public and private spaces around Spoonfed, a restaurant in Westhampton.
PARKS & URBAN AGRICULTURE
Farmstrong Shed
Work with Armstrong High School Green team to rehabilitate a former refrigeration unit — now used as a shed — to better accommodate gardening tools.
Community High Greenhouse
Work with Community High Green Team to develop a plan to rehabilitate a vacant greenhouse.
James River Park System Wayfinding
Expand upon the outcomes from Fall 2015 to develop robust prototypes for a wayfinding system for the James River Park System.
Outcome for new signage system developed by mOb in 2015.
Poetry for Trash
Socially engaged art project that enters the conversation of litter with poetry. Build professional signs that can be installed in public space, which offer instructions for participation in the Poetry for Trash project.
RECOVERY
Richmond Behavioral Health Authority
Determine the placement of posters created from last semester, oversee their production and installation.
Rams in Recovery
Design a space in the Well for Rams in Recoevery — a student-run group for students overcoming substance use disorders.
After-Care Dental Instructions
Develop after-care instruction for patients undergoing complex dental procedures, who often must comply with after-care instructions. This is a common problem among health care providers who serve urban populations like Richmond.
Camp Kesem Magic Booth
Create a magic booth as a fundraising tool for Camp Kesem, a camp for children who have parents with cancer.
Grace & Holy Trinity Meditation Scrapbook
Redesign a book on meditation, which has existing content compiled by Candy Osdene.
PRESERVATION & REUSE
Cookie Factory Water Tank
Design a water tank wrap for the Cookie Factory Lofts.
Water tank at former Interbake Building at 900 Terminal Place.
Greensville County Training School
Communicate the vision of Marva Dunn to transform the Greensville County Training School into a community center.
Remains of Greensville County Training School in Emporia, Virginia.