baby bogolan

baby bogolan playset

"baby bogolan" is a set of play storefronts to be integrated into the playground at fort greene park in brooklyn, ny. each of these storefronts highlight a different local small black-owned business, with the goal of encouraging entrepreneurship and addressing local gentrification.

Children playing on a colorful outdoor playground structure with multiple levels, stairs, and railings, surrounded by fall leaves, with adults nearby, in a park with trees and sunshine.

baby bogolan - full set rendering

PROJECT CONTEXT

BOGALAN BROOKLYN

Welcome sign for Bogolan Brooklyn, NY with black, gold and beige menu options and a quote about Fort Greene.

“baby bogolan” is named after “bogolan brooklyn”, a flourishing afro-centric cultural district grouped in the “bogolan merchant’s association” that had lived on fulton street just south of fort greene park in the nineties.

though much of bogolan brooklyn has been displaced by gentrification, baby bogolan highlights those who are still thriving today.

BROOKLYN MOON

Facade of Brooklyn Moon restaurant with colorful abstract artwork on glass doors, a neon sign with the restaurant's name, and potted plants outside.

for the appearance model, i focused on brooklyn moon, a local black-owned restaurant and performance venue a six-minute walk from where this play storefront would be located.

opened by michael thompson in the nineties, brooklyn moon provides a place for musicians, poets, comedians, and other artists to share their work.

Diagram of an indoor business space layout with labeled sections including history sliders, storage cubby, service window, display shelves, info panel, menu showcase, and business education area, using color coding for different zones.

DESIGN FEATURES

A colorful informational sign about Baby Bogolan, a roleplay store front that celebrates Black-owned businesses in Fort Greene. The sign includes an explanation of the origin of the name and its cultural significance, along with icons of food items like a burger, broccoli, shrimp, a taco, French fries, and a fish.

info panels

Wall display at Brooklyn Moon restaurant with photos and info about the venue, featuring a circular design with black, red, and white accents, and a table and chairs nearby.

movable doors

Display board with photographs of two individuals and interior decor images, with a person's hand pointing at the pictures.

historical sliders

Toy wood block set with food and face carvings, arranged on a frame, including a taco, shrimp, chicken leg, and burger, with cartoonish faces on some blocks.

interactive menu

SKETCHES

A hand-drawn diagram of various interior and exterior design concepts, including furniture, storage, and layout ideas, with handwritten notes and labels.

FORM IDEATION

3D model of a vending machine with open display section and a closed upper compartment.
Blue playground structure with stairs, slides, and side panels.
A 3D model of a small outdoor food stand with three round stools in front, with a large arch above and an enclosed bottom section.
3D model of a modern, minimalist bench with curved design in gray color.

iteration using solidworks

Colorful modern playground playground structure with stairs, slide, and climbing elements on a plain background.
Colorful outdoor play structure with stairs, seating, and decorative signs, branded as Brooklyn Moon, against a plain gray background.

PROTOTYPING

cnc milling, laser cutting, spray paint, and assembly

A CNC router machine cutting intricate patterns into a piece of wood or MDF material.
Wooden carving templates including a fish, a clock, and various abstract shapes on a worktable with woodworking tools and supplies.
A black metal grate with parallel bars, set in a circular frame, leaning against a wall covered with brown paper. The setting appears to be an indoor construction or renovation site with a brick wall visible in the background.
Wooden furniture parts and tools in a workshop workspace, including a large oval frame, smaller frames, clamps, and various assembled and disassembled pieces, with drawers and storage on the sides.
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