Downtown Ames may get a facelift if College of Design students recommendations are implemented.

Students from Art: Graphic Design 470 in the art and design program presented proposals redesigning downtown storefronts to members of the Ames Main Street Cultural District on Monday. The proposals were created as part of class project.

The class is taught by Lisa Fontaine, associate professor of art and design and Sang-Duck Seo, graduate student in art and design. The course has given senior graphic design students the opportunity to design signs, logos and store fronts to revitalize the image of downtown-area businesses. The projects being showcased were completed in the 2004 fall semester.

Fontaine said that, although students’ projects showcase specific businesses, overall, the projects reflect the downtown revitalization project.

If the shop owners like what they see, they can use the proposed ideas as long as the ideas are used specifically for their storefront, she said. The projects are part of a College of Design outreach program, intended for the benefit of both the design students and the downtown area, Fontaine said.

“Anytime they have the opportunity to work with real clients … it makes them understand there are a lot of reasons there isn’t good design everywhere,” Fontaine said.

The students first analyze the storefront they will be redesigning. They also look at the existing building, surrounding businesses and the business’ portrayed atmosphere.

Brian Davis, senior in graphic design, introduced the presentation and described the progression of historical downtown areas in the United States.

“As downtown areas begin to deteriorate, revitalization is needed to bring back the personality and individuality among downtown businesses and reclaim their position as the face of the community,” Davis said.

Common issues students found with downtown businesses’ physical images were deteriorating buildings, outdated signs that convey the wrong message to customers and a lack of eye-catching design.

“It’s a lot different than any other design class,” said Tessa Van Steenhuyse, senior in graphic design. Van Steenhuyse said she researched Durlam & Durlam Clothing, 226 Main St., and aside from learning about the business, she discovered her own grandfather had designed the signs for the specialty clothing store in the 1960s. Although the large gold sign was in style then, she suggested a more classic and historical look that enhances the building’s entrance and implies the high quality of the merchandise sold inside, she said.

The class has previously worked with numerous communities, including Marshalltown, but decided to work in Ames this year, Davis said.

Main Street Cultural District Director Angela Moore said that Kathy Svec, president of the Ames Historical Society and Memorial Union program coordinator, was integral in connecting the design students’ fresh ideas with the project.

“Main Street had more potential than it was existing under. The Main Street people were looking for it,” Svec said.

The project was well received among downtown shop owners, and they said they would like Ames to become a showcase and a true cultural district.

“The exciting thing is everyone’s imagination is making it real,” Svec said.