Molly Gransden

Jump for Joy is an interior application of an indoor shopping centre inclusive of all shapes and sizes creating a multifunctional platform, catalysing social interactions and triggering a massive public interest to get people back to the public space. Having lived through the challenges and impacts of covid 19 has brought to people’s lives over the last year, I have gained a great understanding from my own experiences and from observing others just how much human behaviour and social integration has changed and adapted. This project is inspired by ‘The new normal’, taking shapes, form and movement from people’s daily movement and activities during the pandemic and how they are now spending their time. Covid 19 has been a test like no other, challenging the nature of urban design, requiring rethinking and new concepts for public spaces such as shopping centres once they begin reopen after the pandemic. The main objective for my project is turning an grey and abandoned shopping centre into an eye catching, bold and vibrant public space fostering social interaction, entertainment and facilitating opportunities for social good.



Through exploring the movement and activities of human behaviour in ‘The new normal”, this collection explores a style of drawing influenced by visual language of artists such as Keith Haring, through manipulating and experimenting with shaped outlines of human figures and abstract shape. This collection offers the opportunity to re connect with public space and society that has been missing during the pandemic using bold, vibrant and energetic colour and shape. When the dust from the pandemic finally settles public spaces such as shopping centres will be in a state of transition, rather than being predominantly about retail, these public spaces will need to adopt too community values giving local people actual reasons to visit these locations which will hopefully transition into community spaces.