Create accountLogin

Recent searches

No recent searches

Search options

Only available when logged in.
mastodon.gamedev.place is one of the many independent Mastodon servers you can use to participate in the fediverse.
Mastodon server focused on game development and related topics.

Administered by:

Server stats:

5.3K
active users

mastodon.gamedev.place: AboutProfiles directoryPrivacy policy

Mastodon: AboutGet the appKeyboard shortcutsView source codev4.3.7

Public
Natasha Jay 🇪🇺

A comic about desire paths

Ok so… There’s a nice little park on a corner, and a path running directly to one edge of the park. That’s the first image, but there’s 12 other images here. In the second image, there is now a desire path running diagonally across the park. Next image, the path has been blocked by a park bench that the council has put in as a deterrent. Unfazed, in image 4 the path now deftly avoids the park bench. In images 5 and 6 the process is repeated, this time with a strategically placed bin which the desire path also avoids. Presumably in a fit of rage, the council plants an entire hedge to stop people creating new desire paths but eventually this too is defeated and a new path find a way. Finally, the council admits defeat and turns the desire path into a proper paved pathway. After a little while, a new desire path curving off this new paved pathway begins to emerge …
Johanna Janiszewski

@Natasha_Jay I studied landscape architecture and was taught that if a desire path is necessary, the architectural design was bad to begin with.

Jan 16, 2025, 01:47 PM·Public
5boosts·30favorites
Public
Gilbert Pilz

@JohannaMakesGames @Natasha_Jay That assumes that the architects had perfect knowledge of where everyone was coming from and going to before they started their design. Even if such a thing were possible, it doesn't account for future changes in where people are coming from and going to. A better model is to admit that your knowledge is imperfect and plan to iteratively accommodate new desire paths as they appear.

Public *
EQ

@gpilz @JohannaMakesGames @Natasha_Jay

Or you could do like Umeå and just ignore them even after they become two-lane desirepaths. They even remade the park and grass. The desirepath ofcourse reformed immediately.

Love the comic, always thought this was how it worked :)

Autumn photo of a grass field. Straight ahead a path forms where people have taken the shorter route over the grass. Over the years the path has turned two-way since a lot of people walk and bike in both directions.
An overview satelite image of the park showing the alternative path as prominent as the real bicycle paths around it.
Public
Melissa

@JohannaMakesGames @Natasha_Jay That sounds like you’re expected to be superhuman? I prefer the approach of waiting for them to develop and then formalizing them.

Public
Nyolc

@Foodecology @JohannaMakesGames @Natasha_Jay The best of both … but a clear and open mind to start the design with is needed.

Public
Johanna Janiszewski

@Foodecology @Natasha_Jay We were expected to go and analyze the place in person and with a map of the surroundings. I have never worked as a landscape architect though, so I can't share more information on how well that turns out.

ExploreLive feeds
About