Safety Sign Project - The Fantastic Supersenses

  • PS 175 students depict their senses as superheros, prepared to save the city from dangers of street traffic.
  • The students walked around the school with a safety school map to observe traffic safety conditions and possible safety issues unique to their environment.
  • The young artists learned what makes effective traffic signs and then created their own designs based on what they had learned.
  • At the NYC DOT Sign Shop, the youth artists were excited to learn about all the materials, machines, and processes involved in making every day traffic signs.
  • In order to show how signs are made, NYC DOT educators made a personalized sign for the group to take back to their school community.

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. With their design, PS 175 students empower their peers to take control of their street safety and use their senses when they traverse the city. Their playful design depicts Supersense Superheros on their way to protect the city streets from traffic dangers with their valuable skills of looking, listening, and thinking.

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Project Info

Location: 175 W 134th St Manhattan, NY 10030
Neighborhood: 
Harlem


Program: 
Safety Sign Initiative


Theme: 
Livable Streets


Year: 
2013


Partner(s): 
PS 175
New York City Department of Transportation


Lead Artist(s):
Chris Soria


Participants: 

 

4th grade students at PS 175
Medium: 
Printed Metal Sign


Dimensions: 30" Diameter

Fun Facts

Suggested Activity
Think about street safety issues that are important for you in your neighborhood? What kind of traffic sign would catch your attention and remind you of street safety? Design your own traffic sign just for your life style and neighborhood.
Question about the Mural
How do you use your senses to protect you from dangerous situations? What are the sounds, sights, smells, and thoughts that make you alert and more aware of your surroundings?
Fun Fact
In 2012, NYC DOT launched the "Look! Safety Campaign" and installed messages spelling "Look" with eyes drawn in the O's. If you come across one of these 110 installments, you will notice that the "eyes" look towards oncoming traffic.