transiting the campus visual aesthetic landscape: a case study of the federal university of...

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European International Journal of Applied Science and Technology Vol. 1 No. 4; June 2014

TRANSITING THE CAMPUS AESTHETIC LANDSCAPE: A Case Study of the

Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria

IBIWOYE, Tope Israel

OLOGUNWA, Tope Peter

KASHIM, IsahBolaji (Ph.D)

INDUSTRIAL DESIGN DEPARTMENT, FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY,

AKURE - NIGERIA

Abstract

One of the policy thrust of the government since the Independence of the Federal Republic of

Nigeria,on 1st October 1960, has had education at the front burner of its development plans. In

1980, the civilian administration of President ShehuShagari established 5 universities of technology

among which is the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. This was to prepare the

country technologically and scientifically to face the challenge of national development. As part of

the University’s efforts to be able to meet up with its vision;that is, to be the best university of

technology in the world. Six different faculties have evolved to date, and are referred to as Schools

with various Departments. The School of Environmental Technology took off in 1989 and currently

has all the Departments that constitute the built environment including Industrial Design. The

Industrial Design Programmefully took off during the 1993/1994 academic session. The Department

has its focus on the use of modern technology at developing design prototypes in the area of

Graphics, Textile and Ceramics for the purpose of mass production that recognizes the inculcation

of indigenous design elements. Since its programme also emphasizes entrepreneurial aspects of

Product Design, it has contributed significantly to the environmental sustainability of the aesthetic

landscape of the University in various ways. This paper is aimed at highlighting various

contributions that the visuals generated from the Department of Industrial Design had made to

campus beautification and the impact it has left in the students psyche such as been able to face the

market challenges that addresses solving the theoretical problem of landscape and environmental

aesthetics after graduation.

Keywords: Aesthetic; Landscape: University Campus.

IBIWOYE, Tope Israel (Corresponding Author)

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Introduction

In 1980, one of the policy thrusts in education of the civilian government headed by

AlhajiAliyuShehuShagari was the creation of new universities of technology. The purpose, as

announced by government, was in line with the national policy on education, with respect to

technical and scientific training; namely, to develop, at every stage of the education system, a

scientific and technological attitude in preparation for the nation's technological take-off. Thus, the

States that had no federal universities — Bauchi, Benue, Gongola, Imo, Niger, Ogun, and Ondo

became the immediate beneficiaries of this initiative.In the same year three of such institutions were

named for Bauchi, Benue and Imo. The other four were to commence in 1981, among which is the

Federal University of Technology Akure - FUTA. Other universities of technology established

around the same time were the Federal University of Technology Owerri, the Federal University of

Technology Abeokuta-FUTAB, which later metamorphosed to the present University of Agriculture,

Abeokuta-UNAAB, the Federal University of Technology Minna,the Federal University of

Technology Yola,(now ModibboAdama University of Technology, MAUTECH) and the Federal

University of Technology Bauchi (now Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University).

The Federal University of Technology, Akure came into existence in 1981with such a drive by

NigerianGovernment to create universities that specialized in producing graduates whoare grounded

both theoreticallyand practically.

On November 19, 1981, late Professor Theodore Idibiye Francis was appointed the Vice-Chancellor

of the new University. Professor Francis had been a renowned professor of Medicine at the

University of Ibadan Medical School (then, University College Hospital) and later moved to the

newly established Institute of Health Sciences of the University of Port Harcourtas foundation

provost. From Port Harcourt, Francis moved to Akure on January 1, 1982 to begin the pioneering

work(FUTA Calendar, 2008-2010).

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The Vision of the University

The Federal University of Technology Akure aims to be one of the best universities of technology in

the world, committed to carving out an enviable niche for itself as a centre of excellence, epitomized

by high quality programmes, product and contributions to the society. (FUTA Official Bulletin

Volume 13. No. 1 March, 2012)

The Mission of the University

The mission of the Federal University of Technology is to ceaselessly promote technological

advancement through motivated and skilled staff dedicated to teaching and research, geared towards

global needs and production of self-reliant high level manpower, goods and services.(FUTA Official

Bulletin Volume 13. No. 1 March, 2012)

The Faculties in the University

The university runs a school as distinct from the faculty system associated with Nigerian

conventional universities. It is an integrated unit of a group of related subjects or disciplines with

common academic interests in teaching and research. By 1989/90 academic session, the

configuration of the initial three schools in FUTA namely: School of Agriculture and Agricultural

Technology (SAAT); School of Earth and Mineral Sciences (SEMS); and School of Pure and

Applied Sciences (SPAS), which later became School of Sciences (SOS). School of Engineering and

Engineering Technology (SEET), School of Environmental Technology (SET), the School of Earth

and Mineral Sciences (SEMS), were later created.Another faculty that was recently added is the

School of Management Technology (SMAT).

The School of Environmental Technology, (SET) took off in 1989 with the admission of twenty –

seven (27) pioneer students and with Professor E.A Adeyemi as the foundation Dean. The population

within the School has grown rapidly from those pioneer students and 8 academic staff in 1989/90

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session to 1,941 students and 72 academic staff in 2010/2011 academic session. Similarly, the range

of programmes offered by the School at the commencement has increased from initial four

(Architecture, Estate Management, Quantity Surveying and Urban and Regional Planning) to six.

The Department of Industrial Design came on board in 1992/1993 academic session. Unfortunately,

it was unable to register any qualified student during the 1992/1993 academic session and eventually

came fully on board in 1993/1994 academic session while the Department of Building Technology

took off during the 2007/2008 academic session, and followed by Department of Surveying and

Geoinformatics in 2009/2010 academic session as the seventhprogramme. (School of Environmental

Students’ Handbook, 2011-2013)

The inception of Industrial Design programme in Nigeria can be traced back to 1977 when it was

carved out of the Fine Art Department of the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria (Ogunduyile,

1999).The Department of Industrial Design in the School of Environmental Technology as a Design

Department combines both the principles of design as spelt out in Visual Arts, as well as the

principles of mass production; which summarizes the ideology of Industrial Design as discipline that

combine both aesthetics and functionality. At FUTA, emphasis is on Graphics, Textiles and

Ceramics options.Students areprovidedwith unique, appropriate, adequate and intellectual training in

the acquisition of skills, and technological proficiency necessary for effective translation of creative

design to finished product that can beautify the environment. The training is packaged to raise the

level of aesthetic and cultural awareness in the students and guide them to use their creative skills to

enhance and add breath to the quality of living. (FUTA Calendar, 2008-2010)

The purpose of creating the Department of Industrial Design is further given credence in the

students’ final year projects that are strategically located around the University campus, which

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psychologically appeal to the psyche and positively guide the activities of members of the University

community andvisitors.

Theoretical background of Visual Art

Obielodan (1990) says since human beings are the centre of both technology and communication, the

art educator as a focal mediator should enhance the use of visual aids for educational communication

purposes. Oladumiye(2003) reports that Visual Art is a form of art that seeks to present the variety of

ideas and emotion as recorded by the creative artist, which in turn is communicated to the audience

through variety of visual and representation media.

Visual arts are art forms that are primarily visual in nature, such as painting, photography,

printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, textiles etc. the people who studied any of these forms of visual are

regarded as Visual Artists.

In a simple definition, painting is a form of art that uses colours on various surfaces to create

representational or abstract pictures. Photography is a method of picture making based on the

principles of light, optics and chemical. Sculpture is a three dimensional art concerned with the

organization of masses and volume of an object or abstract figure, while printmaking is a pictorial

image that can be inked on paper and art of reproducing them. The intersection point of the forms of

visual art defined above and others not mentioned relies on physical objects, illustrating one or two

things and by extension passing information to the viewers.John E. Frohnmaye, the Chairman,

National Endowment for the Arts says:

“The visual arts interpret and reflect life. Through studying art, children gain valuable insights about

the world along with knowledge and skills they can use throughout their lives. By encouraging visual

arts education, you will help your children to:

- respond to what they see in art and in the world around them.

- perceive and grasp relationships in their environment.

- think creatively while developing skills in drawing painting, sculpting, designing, crafting, etc.

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- gain manipulative and organizing skills through their own creative work.

- learn about humankind's vast cultural heritage.

- understand the nature of art and the creative process.

- make informed aesthetic judgments about art.”

The Impact Visual Arts on theUniversity Community

“A clean environment is everybody’s delight. Well-designed places are often sources of aesthetic

enjoyment. The more good things there are in the cities, the more people will like to live there. The

more the comfort being created the healthier the people will feel”(Okpara, 2006). The author

believes that anything in form of visual therapy can improve the quality of life of an average urban

dweller. Among civilized communities, people feel better with sculpture, good buildings, paintings,

and decorated surfaces(Okpara 2006).

The use of Visual Arts on thee nooks and cranny of the University’senvironmental landscape had not

only helped in beautifying the environment or serve as directional signage on the campus, but had

also assisted in disseminating information for the purpose of both the physical and emotional well-

being of both the visitors and members of the University community.

Visual Arts have a positive effect on the students in terms of Self-awareness, Mood Management,

Self-motivation, Impulse Control, and People Skills.

Students who are studying Visual Arts learn to identify their emotions, to use them appropriately and

escape foul moods, they learn to work with an intrinsic motivation that follows their feelings of

accomplishment and success, they manage to regulate their emotions and impose self-discipline and,

finally, they acquire empathy and warmth. The use of all these skills learnt by the Industrial Design

(Visual Arts) students in the Institution are usually displayed in the final year students’ projects in

the Department of Industrial Design, Federal University of Technology, Akure as sited at strategic

locations on the University campus.They inculcate morals, serve as directional signage and in most

casesinfluence the students’ emotional Intelligence and feel for aesthetics.

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A very important member of street graphics is signage (Okpara, 2006). The author further states

thatStreet Graphics exert significant influence on the lives of people, who consider them as

landmark.This is not unconnected with the fact thata lot of faculties such as Visual Information,

Psychological Effect of Colour, Space, Form and Proportion are challenged in Street Graphics

(Okpara,op cit).

The focus of this paper is to appraise the roles or functions of visual arts as exemplified by some of

the projects executed on campus by the final year students of Industrial Design Department. These

projects from analytical studies aimed at fostering good morals, create psychological balance among

the students, lecturers and visitors.

Landscape Aesthetics of the University

Landscape design is defined by Perez (1980) as the Art and Science of planning and designing of

outdoor elements and open spaces to provide man with a better living and conducive environment.

The master plan of any built environment usually guides stakeholder in the built environment when

adding face-lift to a built environment. It is therefore noted that the visual arts that are created and

mounted at strategic places on the University campus were not just mounted arbitrarily. The Physical

Planning Unit, (PPU) are first contacted with the proposals at the conception of the visual idea. The

PPU therefore consult the University’s Master Plan to see the appropriateness of the proposed

location for the visual art product. This principle is further corroborated by Fadamiro (1999) in

Spreiregen (1965) thus: “Beauty in citiesis not an afterthought, but rather a necessity. Man cannot

live long without beauty; otherwise, he becomes bored as a human being. Order and beauty in man’s

surrounding is as much a prerequisite to human health as fresh air.”

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Fig.1a FUTA Logo (Fibre Glass) Fig. 1b Overview of FUTA Gate

A cursory drive through any town or city will give the first impression of the people. This

impression, the author believes is first gleaned from the buildings that is, the outer walls(Areo 2006).

Icon or Logo is a small image in itself that aid atinterpreting the represented figure. The use of logo

serves as emblem of particular company. The institutional logo at the main entrance gate of the

university was produced by the Department of Industrial Design as a special visual object

representing the totality of what the institution stands for. The logo stands to portray the activities

carried out around the University town and communities.

Fig. 2a Directional Map View of FUTA Campus Fig. 2b Strategic Location of the Directional

Map

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The directional map at the entrance gate of the University was designed and constructed by

Oluwatimehin B and JolomiO.S who graduated in 2005. The location of the directional map directly

facing the pedestrian path at the entrance of the main gate, makes it easier for the passers-by

especially visitors to locate their destination without stress. The aim of the project was to assist the

people who are visiting the University campus for the first time to easily locate their bearings

graphically without any course to ask for direction.

Fig. 3a An Educational Mural Fig.3b Academic Staff University Union

(ASUU) building

Academic Staff University Union (ASUU) is an association that is formed to protect its members’

welfare and pursue common goal for university educational development in the country. The

Educational Mural on the wall of the ASUU building was designed and produced by Anakor O.J and

Shittu R. A, who both graduated in 2006,they aimed at representing the activities of the academia

using the books, computer, Pen, etcetera, as tools used to perform their academic duties when

imparting knowledge into students in order to achieve academic excellence. The mural in itself

passes message to students by provoking their thoughts (self-motivation) to be focused on their

studies to be able to benefit maximally from the dividend of education.

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Adekoya (2002) corroborates the above idea thus: “Sculptures and Mural paintings in public places

have played important role in human social history, for commemorative and immortalizing purposes

as used in filing empty spaces or breakingenvironmental monotony.” He further explains that some

art works have been used to complement an architectural design as in the case of the relief work at

the Cultural Centre Ibadan, Nigeria and two supportive columns at the Wema Bank building, Sango,

Ibadan, Nigeria. Another significant work cited was the statue of Sango (Sango is believed to be the

god of thunder in African Mythology) conspicuously erected in front of the then, National Electrical

Power Authority (NEPA) building, Marina, Lagos, Nigeria.

Fig.4a A 740Capacity Lecture Theatre. Fig.4b Branding FUTA departmental activities

Self-awareness helps individual group to stand out in life. However, it is a way of publicizing

oneself. The effort to publicize the activities of each Department in the University through the use of

branding on a 740 capacity Lecture Theatre by Olubunmi M.A and Oladele M.Owho graduated in

2003 was to portray the activities of each Department in the University at a glance and as a way of

promoting the Institution. This has created awareness to new students and visitors on campus with an

overview of what each Department stands for. Many students and visitors who do not know, for

instance, what Food Science and Technology is all about could easy grasp the activities being carried

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out as shown on the visual. By so doing, it has advertised the training that is offered in the different

Departments of the University.

Fig. 5a Campaign against Decadence Fig. 5b SET Building (Phase 2)

Moral decadence has been the order of the day in the society. The sooner Nigeria faces the reality

and start to work out modalities to save the upcoming generation, the better for the future. The task

however requires the effort of all stakeholders in the society. This effort is seen in the work of

Akinribido O.O and Awolumate J.O,who both graduated in 2003 in the DepartmentIndustrial Design.

The project attempted to in campaign against sexual immoralities on the campus which happens to

be one of the social vices in the society, thereby resulting into rape, and contraction of sexually

transmitted diseases. The awareness created by this project psychologically appeal to students to

desist from immoral act that could adversely affect their future.

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Fig. 6a SAAT Building Directional Map Fig.6b Entrance of SAAT Building

The School of Agricultural and Agricultural Technology (SAAT) building comprises of different

Departmental Offices, Lecturers’ Offices, Laboratories, and Lecture Rooms. It would be difficult to

locate a particular departmental office and lecturers’ offices if there is no adequate directional

signage. This directional signage was created by Akinlosotu J.O, Atebefia S.E andOlugbayin E.Gall

of who graduated in 2006. It is located on the ground floor of SAAT building entrance. The visual is

helping to ease the stress,students, lecturers,and visitors coming to the building for the first

timeusually go through and consequently assist them in locating their destinations.

Fig.7a Children Crossing Fig.7b FUTA Staff School Area

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The use of road signage or street graphics cannot be overemphasized for the motorist, pedestrian and

the other road users as it make them get acquainted with the situation around the place that the signs

are mounted. Failure to take cognizance of the road signs has led to fatal accidents in the past on

campus. The road signage produced by the final year students of the Department of Industrial Design

was to alert the motorist to be aware of their closeness to school area where there are children and

the need to be cautioned of their speed limit. This particular signage is mounted close to the Staff

Primary School of the University.

Fig.8a Shun Exam Malpractices Fig. 8b Electronic Examination Centre (FUTA)

Visual intelligence involves the ability to visualize an object and create mental images. Whether the

visual is trying to create a puzzle or expressing certain things, it utilizesthe perception of the viewer

to interpret what is seen. The visual produced by Agbede A.E,who graduated in 2006 had not only

helped warn against examination malpractices but had been able to create awareness at an

examination centre of the University where electronic examinationswere being conducted. People

do not need to be told of the activity that is going on in the building behind the signboard (Fig. 8b),

since the visual on the signboard has summarized the whole activity that is being performed in the

building. However, it reminds the students that their primary assignment in the university is to study

hard,as there is no short cut to academic success.

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Fig.9a Graduate Portrait Fig.9b Students’ Affairs Building

The use of a graduating student’s portrait mounted at the front of the Students’ Affairs building by

Ajisafe Z.S.,who graduated in 2006 help students to evaluate the quality time they devout on their

studies and to exercise introspection in order to achieve their goal.

Conclusion

Visual Art is a powerful devise that does wonders, if use appropriately. Visual Art is usedto

communicates, interprets, reflects on life and beautifies environments. The use of visuals on the

University campus has assisted in raising the Emotional Quotient of students,and it has made both

members of the University community, and visitors to be self-aware of their environment, createself-

motivationthat provides them with more zeal and enthusiasm to achieve their goals. The graphical

and aestheticnatureof visuals often used in campusaesthetics landscape has also enhanced adequate

presentation of directional and safety signage on campuses, and on built environment at large.

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