Safety Sign Project - Be Aware, Cuidado

  • The street sign designed by PS 4.
  • A white board showing the brainstorming process for the creation of the sign design.
  • The class begins sketching design ideas.
  • The young participants learn about the safety sign program and traffic safety issues.
  • Participants see how the signs are made at the NYC DOT sign shop in Queens.

Project Description

Groundswell and the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) designed the Traffic Safety Sign Residency Program to engage public school students in exploring traffic safety information through the creation of original street signs. Signs designed collaboratively by students at each of our partner schools are digitally rendered by Groundswell artists, fabricated by NYC DOT’s Sign Shop, and temporarily installed in local locations students identify as in need of traffic signage. Through this program, students learn how signs and symbols can work to communicate ideas and explore visual art techniques to develop graphic images. These signs then help increase safety awareness and prevent accidents in locations around each school community. Students from PS 4 chose to represent a student in a wheelchair next to someone with headphones, to illustrate the need for care of all kinds of differently abled individuals.

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Project Info

Location: 500 West 160 Street New York, NY 10032
Neighborhood: 
West Village


Program: 
Safety Sign Initiative


Theme: 
Livable Streets


Year: 
2009


Partner(s): 
New York City Department of Transportation


Lead Artist(s):
Nicole Schulman


Assistant Artist(s):
Michael Nesbitt


Participants: 

 

5th grade students at PS 4
Medium: 
Printed Metal Sign


Dimensions: 30" Diameter

Fun Facts

Suggested Activity
Think about areas in your neighborhood that may be in need of a traffic sign. Do people drive too fast near your school? Do people roll through stop signs by your house? Design a traffic safety sign that reflects traffic issues in your neighborhood.
Research
According to Transportation Alternatives, New York has the highest number of pedestrian and cyclist deaths and injuries in the United States. Pedestrian and cyclist deaths make up a majority of traffic deaths.
Fun Fact
You should always wear a seatbelt when you are in the car and always wear a helmet when you are on a bike. It is also very important to “Stop, Look, and Listen,” when you are crossing the street, because others might not see you.