What If...

Week Two

Following the presentation feedback that we received, and the research we had each done individually over the weekend; we had a lengthly brainstorming session, trying to re-think our problem. We needed to think of a more specific target audience, really indentify the problem, and come up with research ideas as to how to take this forward. We decided that perhaps what really needs to be done is promote whats already there; places which are free in Leeds city centre. We decided that we could promote the parks, as from our research we have found that there is very little advertising of these public spaces other than on maps of the city.

In my own research I had focused on the idea of 'Things to do with your lunch break/lunchtime". I found a variety of places which are free entry; for example galleries both large and small, churches, museums, libraries and other public buildings, as well as free lectures and workshops. I also found an interesting statistic that in fact assuming you take your statutory holiday allowance, the average working person spends 240 hours a year on their lunch break, which is 10 whole days! My group liked the idea of targeting the idea at people who want to do something in their lunch break that doesn't cost anything, but are uninformed of the possibilities. We also felt that this statistic would be useful if not essential in marketing our idea.

We felt the best way to promote these free public spaces and events would be through a website due to the constantly changing list, but in order to persuade people to take interest in what we are propsing, we discussed the idea of giving away something free with out branding and our message on it. We felt that the item should be functional, to echo our idea which is supposed to be useful, and not an advertising campaign. We discussed the idea of something like a pen, but we felt personally that pens were a fairly ineffective way of promoting something. I raised this issue after looking at my own pen and realising that it was a Leeds College of Art and Design pen (Which I had never noticed)! We though more along the lines of a 'lunchbreak' which led us to the idea of a promotional 'lunchbox', or more specifically 'sandwich box'.