Presentation given at MCAD to Three Rivers Parks by a student team in the Science Bacc. Program in December of 2011. This is an exhibition plan on the subject of past, present, and sustainable future for stream health of Elm Creek Watershed.

1. MCAD Stream Health Exhibit Design

2. The Project

3. The Team
Emily Keenan: Account Planer, Writer, 2D Designer, Content Manager
Alison Welwood: Researcher, 2D Designer, Information Architect
Hayley Fisher: Researcher, Usability Lead
Josh Ritenour: 3D Designer

4. Project Description
Team Cyan will create an exhibit that is both entertaining
and informative to:
1.) demonstrate the ways stream health affects the greater
community.
2.) increase public awareness of the topic.

5. Goals and Objectives
• By October 27th, Team Cyan will have produced a
prototype exhibit for display at a large employee event.
• Team Cyan will measure the effectiveness of their exhibit
by conducting an exit survey. On this survey, 70% of exhibit
viewers will be able to correctly answer five questions
about stream health.
• By December 17th, Three Rivers will have a portable
exhibit that displays what they have learned about
stream health.

6. Mandatory Inclusions
Portable, able to fit in the back of a van
Interactive
Engages both adults and children
Connects to the different cultures around the stream
Considers metaphors concerning stream health

7. Character Attributes
Catchy
Fun
Multicultural
Alive
Inspiring
Empathetic
Interactive
Engaging

8. Single-Minded Proposition
Engage and educate to spur an empathy for nature.

9. Audience
Minnesotan middle school students and younger and their parents.

10. Peter and Anna

11. Research

12. Peer Analysis
Name Mission Statement Year Number of Bills/Profit Services offered Ma
Founded Employees for last
year
Three Rivers To promote environmental stewardship through recreation 1957 350 $17M/Debt Golf, fishing, hiking, swimming, Skiing, Fami
and education in a natural resources based park system $83 M Bird banding, picnic, educational, events
facilities
East Bay We will acquire, develop, manage, and maintain a high 1934 632 $197 M Swimming, fishing, camping, equestrian Fami
quality, diverse system of interconnected parklands which camps, backpacking camps, golf, picnic, teens
balances public usage and education programs with interpretive/education centers, play areas,
protection and preservation of our natural and cultural wedding, meeting, banquet areas.
resources.
Discovery To provide an open space of quiet and tranquility away from 1970 unavailable unavailable Hiking, beach, lighthouse visit Fami
Park the stress and activity of the city, a sanctuary for wildlife, as enthu
well as an outdoor classroom for people to learn about the
natural world.
rofit Services offered Name Main Audience Mission Statement
Major Events Strengths Year
Opportunites of
Number Bills/Profit
Threats Communicationoffered
Services # of Total Acres
Main Audie
ast Founded Employees for last Channels used Parks
r year
Debt Golf, fishing, hiking, swimming, Skiing,
Three Rivers To promote environmental stewardship through recreation
Families Outdoor adventure well organized Make 1957 facilities to $17M/Debt Golf, fishing, hiking, swimming, 10
use of 350 Stream Web Skiing, 27,000
Families
Bird banding, picnic, educational, events and education in a natural resources based park system
classes improve educational $83 M
health Bird banding, picnic, educational, events
facilities component facilities
Swimming, fishing, camping,East Bay
equestrian We will acquire, develop, manage, and maintain a high
Families, children, Trails Challenge Volunteer Program Program development, with Plant and Swimming, fishing, camping, equestrian 108,000
1934 632 $197 M Web, Facebook 65 Families, chil
camps, backpacking camps, golf, picnic, quality, diverse system of interconnected parklands which
teens Program the shear amount of size/ animal pests
camps, backpacking camps, golf, picnic, teens
interpretive/education centers, play areas, balances public usage and education programs with staff/funding there is a lot of (fire pest interpretive/education centers, play areas,
wedding, meeting, banquet areas. protection and preservation of our natural and cultural potential here control) wedding, meeting, banquet areas.
resources.
able Hiking, beach, lighthouse visit
Discovery To provideoutdoor space of quiet and tranquility away from Attracts many wild animalsunavailable Hiking, beach,from
Families, an open Beaches, hiking United Indians of All 1970 unavailable Military Part Web Link lighthouse visit 1 Families, outd
534
Park the stress and activity of the city, a sanctuary forDaybreak
enthusiasts Tribes wildlife, as ownership Seattle Parks Page enthusiasts
well as an outdoor classroom for people to learn aboutCenter
Star Cultural the
natural world.

13. Peer Analysis

14. Peer Analysis

15. Demographics
85% of parkgoers are Caucasian
Majority of parkgoers are there for swimming, biking,
picnicking, and visiting the play area
75% have lived in the Twin Cities for 10+ years
Over half of park visitors are families with children

16. Design

17. Initial Panels

18. Initial Panels

19. Initial Panels

20. Model Prototype

21. Usability

22. Test Subjects
24 female 34 male
20 male 19 male
21 female 21 male
21 female 21 female

23. Results
Viewers understood that the green area was Elm Creek, but did
not know what Elm Creek was.
Viewers understood what the numbers are for and how they relate
to model. They wanted to have more on the model that relates to
the poster.
Viewers thought a character would be unnecessary.
Viewers thought the design was missing hierarchy.
The main take away from the exhibit was the map.

24. The Solution

25. 1
WELCOME TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD!
The entire Elm Creek watershed
contributes to Elm Creek’s health. Why does this
What happens in the watershed
ends up in the water! matter?
From driveway car washing to the From careless lawn
falling leaves of autumn, the treatments to heavy salt use,
activities on the land around Elm everything done in this Elm
Creek have a direct connection to Creek neighborhood
the health of creeks and lakes. watershed directly affects the
Every bag of fertilizer and every health of Elm Creek and
lawn mowed may impact Elm its water quality.
Creek and its creatures.

26. 2 BIG IMPACT
Imagine upstream Elm Creek a leaf drops from
a tree and floats to the ground. A gust of wind
blows it straight into the storm drain. It rushes
down underground pipes until finally being
released into Elm Creek. The leaf decomposes,
releasing its nutrients into the water, causing
microbes to grow. This changes the chemical
composition and harms other organisms.
Imagine this leaf multiplied hundreds of
thousands of times.
How much would the water in Elm Creek be changed?
Upstream a pet owner walks their dog.
Each day, the dog goes to the
bathroom in a similar place. Some
mornings, its owner forgets to bring
bags to pick up after it. During the next
storm, the dog’s droppings are washed
into the storm drain and travel
underground before reaching Elm
Creek. Nutrients and harmful bacteria
found in the droppings dissolve into
the water and start to change the
environment. Imagine this dog
multiplied hundreds of times.
How much would the water in Elm Creek be changed?
What is soil erosion?
Soil particles from the bank and upland are washed into the creek;
these can suffocate the small organisms that call the creek home.

27. 3 LIFE IN THE STREAM
Elm Creek is home to a multitude of macroinvertebrates! These are tiny
organisms that are vital to the health of the stream. When the
chemical make-up of their environment changes, it becomes hard for
these tiny organisms to survive. When these tiny creatures start to
disappear, the stream may be in trouble.
These invertebrates are healthy for the water and vital to the species
that live around the area. From the leopard frog who eats mature
black flies and worms, to the racoons who eat the frogs, all organisms
around Elm Creek are connected.
caddisfly larvae stonefly larvae mayfly larvae
These organisms can somewhat survive in polluted streams. Their
population can sustain itself in an impaired stream.
scud crayfish dragonfly
These creatures thrive in polluted waters. When their numbers start
growing, it is an indicator of poor stream health.
leech segmented worm black fly larvae
Why does the water level change?
Elm Creek can look like rushing water or a series of puddles. The
water level fluctuates due to excessive run-off from impervious
surfaces like driveways, parking lots, and streets.

28. 4 HOW YOU CAN HELP
There are many small things that people
can do to promote healthy streams.
Mind your fertilizer.
Follow the directions on fertilizer packaging
to cut back on phosphorus run-off into the
stream.
Let your lawn grow.
Increase the time between lawn treatments,
and compost or clean up grass drippings on
paved surfaces.
Prevent grass, leaves, chemicals and salt
from going down the drain.
It all ends up in the stream!
Use driveway permeable pavers.
These prevent excess rain run-off from
going into the stream.
Create a rain garden.
They look nice and prevent gutter run-off
onto your driveway.
What about farms?
Proper manure disposal and pesticide
management can ensure that agricultural
waste does not end up in the stream.

29. 5 FIND YOUR HOUSE!
If you live in the Elm Creek Watershed place a green dot on your home.
If you live outside of the watershed place a red dot on your home.
IMPAIRED LAKES
How do your actions affect the watershed?
Can you detect the nearest lake or stream to your house? Find it
on the map below and check to see if it is impaired or healthy.
Then review the panels to see what you can do to make a
positive impact on your watershed.

30. 1 2 3
WELCOME TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD! BIG IMPACT
Imagine upstream Elm Creek a leaf drops from
a tree and floats to the ground. A gust of wind
blows it straight into the storm drain. It rushes
LIFE IN THE STREAM
Elm Creek is home to a multitude of macroinvertebrates! These are tiny
organisms that are vital to the health of the stream. When the
4 HOW YOU CAN HELP
There are many small things that people
can do to promote healthy streams.
chemical make-up of their environment changes, it becomes hard for
down underground pipes until finally being these tiny organisms to survive. When these tiny creatures start to
released into Elm Creek. The leaf decomposes, Mind your fertilizer.
disappear, the stream may be in trouble.
releasing its nutrients into the water, causing Follow the directions on fertilizer packaging
microbes to grow. This changes the chemical These invertebrates are healthy for the water and vital to the species to cut back on phosphorus run-off into the
composition and harms other organisms. that live around the area. From the leopard frog who eats mature stream.
Imagine this leaf multiplied hundreds of black flies and worms, to the racoons who eat the frogs, all organisms
thousands of times. around Elm Creek are connected. Let your lawn grow.
Increase the time between lawn treatments,
How much would the water in Elm Creek be changed? and compost or clean up grass drippings on
paved surfaces.
Upstream a pet owner walks their dog.
caddisfly larvae stonefly larvae mayfly larvae
Each day, the dog goes to the
These organisms can somewhat survive in polluted streams. Their Prevent grass, leaves, chemicals and salt
bathroom in a similar place. Some
population can sustain itself in an impaired stream. from going down the drain.
mornings, its owner forgets to bring
It all ends up in the stream!
bags to pick up after it. During the next
storm, the dog’s droppings are washed
Use driveway permeable pavers.
into the storm drain and travel
These prevent excess rain run-off from
underground before reaching Elm scud crayfish dragonfly
going into the stream.
Creek. Nutrients and harmful bacteria These creatures thrive in polluted waters. When their numbers start
found in the droppings dissolve into growing, it is an indicator of poor stream health. Create a rain garden.
The entire Elm Creek watershed the water and start to change the
They look nice and prevent gutter run-off
contributes to Elm Creek’s health. Why does this environment. Imagine this dog
onto your driveway.
What happens in the watershed multiplied hundreds of times.
ends up in the water! matter? leech segmented worm black fly larvae
How much would the water in Elm Creek be changed?
From driveway car washing to the From careless lawn
treatments to heavy salt use,
falling leaves of autumn, the
Why does the water level change? What about farms?
activities on the land around Elm everything done in this Elm What is soil erosion?
Creek have a direct connection to Creek neighborhood
Elm Creek can look like rushing water or a series of puddles. The Proper manure disposal and pesticide
the health of creeks and lakes. watershed directly affects the Soil particles from the bank and upland are washed into the creek;
water level fluctuates due to excessive run-off from impervious management can ensure that agricultural
Every bag of fertilizer and every health of Elm Creek and these can suffocate the small organisms that call the creek home.
surfaces like driveways, parking lots, and streets. waste does not end up in the stream.
lawn mowed may impact Elm its water quality.
Creek and its creatures.
5 FIND YOUR HOUSE!
If you live in the Elm Creek Watershed place a green dot on your home.
If you live outside of the watershed place a red dot on your home.
IMPAIRED LAKES
How do your actions affect the watershed?
Can you detect the nearest lake or stream to your house? Find it
on the map below and check to see if it is impaired or healthy.
Then review the panels to see what you can do to make a
positive impact on your watershed.

31. Model

32. Exhibit Mock-Up

33. Usability Wrap-Up

34. Thank you
We welcome your
comments and feedback