Speaking from Experience: Google Maps directions, walking distances.

One of the most important factors in my brief is that of time- the students will be tired for a variety of reasons- one of the main being that they will find briefs and projects difficult to juggle, with long working hours often resulting in little sleep. Because of the work load, time is restricted, and I want to ensure that the food and drink stockists I advise suit this narrow time frame in the day when you can take breaks from your work. Of course, money and cost is also a factor in student living, this is a changable variable, and prices will not always be accurate from now until September.

After sourcing the food and drink in the stores, I have gone to Google Maps- typing in the postcodes from the Bleinheim Walk Uni building (LS2 9AQ) to the store locations- finding out the distance in miles, and how long it will take to walk- a clear and simple guide which the students can use to find food and drink appropriate to their time frame- if they have a free afternoon, they might be able to take a leisurely walk, but with a deadline approaching, perhaps only ten minutes. These are the maps I have sourced so far, in accordance to the shops I have visited...

Uni-Holland and Barrett

Uni- Waitrose

Uni-Sainsburys Local

Uni-Sainsburys

Uni-Morrisons

Google Maps is a great source for directions- really clear and up-to-date...this would be a great way to introduce a new student to the area of Leeds (if unfamiliar with the area, which is highly likely)...It's given me the idea to perhaps expand my design work onto mapping (another particular interest which I originally stated in the concept generation stage- see older posts on this blog for more details!)...letting the students know not only WHERE to find the foods, but how to get there too- avoiding risks of getting lost, which could, of course, take up valuable time. 

I think that this mapping idea would work quite well in a hot dog fold booklet style- being the flip-side of the original image- either an image map or written directions...good potential for experimentation that I look forward to testing!