Chalk-mented Reality City Guide
Founded in 2005, the Pavement is a free magazine published in London and Scotland tailored to the homeless, providing resources and news related to services being offered in their respective area. Understanding the need to deliver information beyond the confines of the publication to a population with virtually no access to mobile technologies, in 2007 the Pavement enlisted the help of designer Emily Read. The end result was the development of a visual code – printed inside each issue – that anyone could use to communicate messages with their fellow community. By leaving simple, chalk symbols on the side of buildings and sidewalks, the ad hoc city guide informs a niche group of users about things like neighborhood safety, places to sleep and the availability of free food. Truly inspiring piece of analog innovation that brings real-time knowledge back to the streets.
[via Londonist]
Recent Articles By Scott Lachut 
Scott Lachut is PSFK’s Director of Consulting, working with a team of global researchers to provide leading companies with insights on the trends and innovation that are shaping the marketplace from both a consumer and business standpoint. His previous jobs resemble multiple chapters from Studs Terkel's "Working." Away from the computer his interests skew towards cooking and lawn games.
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| TOPICS: | Arts & Culture, Design & Architecture, Environmental / Green |
| TAGS: | analog innovation, chalk symbols, Emily Read, london, Scotland, the Pavement, visual code |
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