MARP
The Pratt Design Incubator is currently collaborating with the Myrtle Avenue Revitalization Project (MARP) on a street furniture initiative for Myrtle Avenue. Started in Fall 2008 as part of Deb Johnson’s Industrial design studio at Pratt, students collected research on how to address the needs of the community through beautiful, functional and sustainable street furniture. Throughout this phase, the students received input from MARP and the community. After the Fall Semester, the research was passed on to a small group of designers (Pratt Industrial Design Alumni) who worked to create a series of different street furniture options.
Throughout the design process, the designers went through a process of drawings and building full scale mock ups, while receiving continual input from the community and MARP. In January 2009, after a final presentation to MARP and the community, three final designers were chosen: a tree guard, a bench/planter configuration and a message board. Currently the design team and MARP are in the final technical details/installation stages and looking to create pilot installations in the coming months.