This Is Broken
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Other/tedtalks/this-is-brokenbanner/1004515019_uLhKm-O.jpg)
Why are so many things broken? In a hilarious talk from the 2006 Gel conference, Seth Godin gives a tour of things poorly designed, the 7 reasons why they are that way, and how to fix them.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-sep-this-is-broken
QuoteFour Years ago, Downtown Vision had been working on wayfaring signage for approximately four years.
Where are these signs?
Answer: Slowly peeling off downtown parking meters and sidewalks.
A heroic effort at downtown revitalization from the City's least competent downtown agency, Downtown Vision Incorporated.
You know what's broken? The ground beneath the Skyway. I refuse to go into the general uselessness of the Skyway itself right now, but I think it's worth pointing out that the track could provide more shelter from the elements to pedestrians.
The Skyway blocks the blazing sun and the pouring rain from the sidewalks below, so what did they do? Planted big chunks of shrubbery at intervals so that you can't stay in the shelter of the Skyway's vast shadow when it's really hot or rainy. I have nothing against ornamental greenery, but did they HAVE to put it directly in the path of pedestrians who are trying to avoid skin cancer and drowning?
Stupid, stupid, stupid. It's a small thing, but the person who decided where to put the bushes has obviously never actually walked down Hogan Street, and the people who planted them may have thought it was stupid, but they did it anyway.