Designers Trick Out Syracuse Transportation

SYRACUSE, N.Y., April 13, 2009 -- Syracuse's public transportation system links residents by transporting them from place to place.

But now, three bright red central New York Centro buses are bringing the community together even more, through the artwork of six Syracuse University students.

"It's actually to connect all the cultural centers together, because there's a very big disconnect between the campus up here on the hill, and the city," said Elizabeth Weil, an SU junior industrial and interaction design major who helped design the small fleet.

It's all part of the Connective Corridor, an initiative by the city to connect the community with the area's cultural centers.

Central New York Regional Transportation Authority approached the students' professor, Denise Heckman, with an idea to get students off the hill and involved with the city through hands-on work.

"These buses were purchased with state corridor funds," said Heckman. "Rather than generating advertising revenue with the wraps, Centro believed it would be a good idea to promote the corridor."

It soon became a competition, as the students broke into random groups and were given the task of wowing a panel of judges from local businesses.

"We had a lot of different sketches and a lot of ideas that we kind of combined," Weill said. "We had the idea of people peeking their heads through curtains, the mugging for photos idea where you're sticking your head in."

'Making It Out of a Sketchbook'

She said it took about two weeks to get their plan completely designed, using the computer.

"We all had ideas and we combined them all so it was difficult in that sense but cool because it all came together," said junior Jessica Alpert, another member of the group.

While it was a competition, it was also an assignment. But junior Heidi Olean said it wasn't like others they had in the past. This was real-world experience, which had the chance of actually making it out of a sketchbook.

"It was something that we did want to do because there was a chance it would be made, and that was motivating," she said.

Wrapping the Bus in Art

Once the final sketch was completed, the design was printed on a large adhesive wrap. Junior Ana Mihai said when she saw the completed project, she couldn't help but smile.

"We actually got to go down to centro and see it being wrapped, which was awesome," Mihai said.

"Design is about being engaged with the world and helping to shape the things that surround us," Heckman said. "Students understand this intellectually, but actually experiencing it is a whole different thing."

Beauty Added

"I guess our major goal was to make it come alive," said Olean.

And they said they think they succeeded.

"Every time someone sees the bus, I get a text saying 'I just saw the bus,'" said Mihai.

"And all my friends send text messages saying 'I'm on your bus,'" said Weil.

The students still have to complete two more years in their five-year major.

But the bus wrap design could last up to five years, so they'll leave their mark on the city of Syracuse even after they're gone.