Well its the end of another module, and what have I gained from it...
- I have participated in a exciting and challenging group project that has tested my time management and communication skills. The group project did allow me to make progress on some of the goals identified in my Learning agreement, and make significant progress towards achieving those goals. Progress which will be continued into the next group project. I enjoyed choosing our own focus for the group project as it allowed us to highlight a creative area that none of us were familiar with but were interested in.
- The lecture's received during this module has helped to expand my research thinking and caused me to consider new directions for my Spatial design project. I have particularly enjoyed the creative side to Steve Swindells lectures as I found working in small groups for a few ideas provoked interesting discussions and ideas that perhaps would not have occurred in a traditional seminar session. I would definitely be pleased to encounter more of these sessions during the next module.
- The creation of management tools as part of my Spatial project has taught me new skills and knowledge that will become vital during the rest of the MA and into the future when I enter the working world, as employee's will require me to account for my actions. By practising this method now, it will become 'second nature' by the time I need it for real.
- I have enjoyed using the blog to keep a record of my thoughts and research. I have found it an essential tool for this module as it has allowed me to keep track of work previously completed and outstanding items. As I am also researching into sustainable products within my Spatial project, it also made sense to create a journal that would produce no waste product once there was no more need for it.
I hope you find this blog documenting my thoughts regarding 'Creativity in Context' of some interest...
Tuesday, 28 April 2009
Monday, 27 April 2009
design competitions...
During the Creativity in Context module we have been encouraged to consider design competitions as a tool for expanding our current knowledge and skills. A design competition would also improve our design prospects once we have completed the MA.
I have looked into possible competitions that would be able to run alongside my design project, as I would not be looking to take on extra unrelated work, rather add to the work I would already be producing. I came across http://www.dexigner.com/agenda/ which features a comprehensive list of competitions of a range of areas from interiors, product to industrial design. I have found a couple listed within the website that interest me, but will require further research into before I decide to persue further;
I have looked into possible competitions that would be able to run alongside my design project, as I would not be looking to take on extra unrelated work, rather add to the work I would already be producing. I came across http://www.dexigner.com/agenda/ which features a comprehensive list of competitions of a range of areas from interiors, product to industrial design. I have found a couple listed within the website that interest me, but will require further research into before I decide to persue further;
- TSA Poster Competition
- Greenpeace Design Awards
- Red Dot Award: Design Concept 2009
- Spark Awards
creativity for spatial design...
"Initiate Start Define Method Explain Structure Implement Communicate Do"
In order to establish connections between Exploration & Practice, Creativity in Context and Critical Practice modules and to extend my knowledge of creative, business and organizational strategies in a meaningful way, I was asked to discuss and consider the following aspects;
- Ideas for a design led project.
- Contextual matters.
- Client and Audience Identification, Needs and Aspirations.
- Developing and facilitating a design project.
- Organisational and managerial strategies relevant to applied design.
- Defining philosophical and practical criteria and design considerations.
In order to discuss these aspects I was asked to produce a working brief, which I would take forward into my Critical practice module to aid with the design of my installation space, utilise a diary, prepare a Programme of Work Chart, Weekly Scope of Work Schedule and Weekly Time Sheet. In addition to these required elements, I have also produced an Agenda Plan which can be used to make notes from tutorials, such as points to raise, comments from the tutor and tasks to complete before the next meeting.
I found producing the management tools very useful, as it is something I have not done previously during my design work. I think the Programme of Work Chart and Weekly Scope of Work Schedule will become very useful during my upcoming design project as it will enable me to manage my time more efficiently especially as I also work part-time during the week. I am also hoping that these tools will help me to achieve the third goal set out in my latest learning agreement.
I have found that the Working Brief has helped to define the structure of my design project. It has allowed me to concentrate on the key themes of the project and expand on areas that were lacking in clarity and depth. The Working Brief has also sparked new research into areas not covered during my Exploration in Practice module, which I have looked at as part of the Creativity in Context module. These areas include materiality for the interior and exterior skins of the design and layout ideas.
achieving some goals...
As previously acknowledged at the end of the Exploration in Practice module, I have managed to achieve two goals originally set out at the start of this MA. The Creativity in Context module has also contributed to the achievement of these two goals, as shown below:
The first goal was;
- I would like to develop my communication skills which will help to increase my self confidence; Through group work which will encourage me to engage with other students from other courses, By actively take part in discussions, and by presenting my research findings to the group. As already identified, I feel I have made huge progress with my self confidence through the Monday morning's at University during our 'Show and Tell' sessions, however the group project during Creativity in Context has also allowed me to take the lead of group meetings and exert some authority. I think this has largely been possible because of our small size, with only 3 group members it was easier to speak up and ensure my thoughts were heard. I also took the initiative and took the lead with organising various tasks within the group project which also increased my confidence.
The second goal was;
- I would like to expand on my current research and enquiry techniques; By exploring new resources and developing a practice that extends the boundaries of my current work, and through discussions with fellow students from other disciplines regarding their chosen methods of research. In terms of this goal, I believe I have made significant progress largely through the use of blogs. This blog has allowed me to reflect on lectures and the group work immediately afterwards, by using an online blog I am able to post links to articles and images I have found that relate to that covered during the lectures. This has widened my thinking and has resulting in me thinking about what keywords are placed in the 'search box'. Within the MA, there are several of the students using blogs as a tool for research and reflection which has resulted in us sharing blog addresses so we can observe each other's thinking and research.
The first goal was;
- I would like to develop my communication skills which will help to increase my self confidence; Through group work which will encourage me to engage with other students from other courses, By actively take part in discussions, and by presenting my research findings to the group. As already identified, I feel I have made huge progress with my self confidence through the Monday morning's at University during our 'Show and Tell' sessions, however the group project during Creativity in Context has also allowed me to take the lead of group meetings and exert some authority. I think this has largely been possible because of our small size, with only 3 group members it was easier to speak up and ensure my thoughts were heard. I also took the initiative and took the lead with organising various tasks within the group project which also increased my confidence.
The second goal was;
- I would like to expand on my current research and enquiry techniques; By exploring new resources and developing a practice that extends the boundaries of my current work, and through discussions with fellow students from other disciplines regarding their chosen methods of research. In terms of this goal, I believe I have made significant progress largely through the use of blogs. This blog has allowed me to reflect on lectures and the group work immediately afterwards, by using an online blog I am able to post links to articles and images I have found that relate to that covered during the lectures. This has widened my thinking and has resulting in me thinking about what keywords are placed in the 'search box'. Within the MA, there are several of the students using blogs as a tool for research and reflection which has resulted in us sharing blog addresses so we can observe each other's thinking and research.
Sunday, 26 April 2009
interior spaces...
As a continuation of 'Creativity in Context', I will be looking to create an interactive interior space for the public. There are many places I can look for inspiration for this, such as trade shows, offices and exhibition spaces...
http://www.thisaintnodisco.com/ invites Agencies from across the world to showcase their interior spaces. The interiors provide insight into the breadth and depth of the agencies thinking and creative execution. They are spaces to envy and admire. I have found it a really useful website that features a range of office spaces, which have ideas for entrances, circulation and focal points...
http://dornob.com/on-and-off-light-up-wallpaper-illuminates-interior-spaces/ I like the possibilities with this product, especially as the light display be ignited through a variety of means. I may look to use the wallpaper to create a road that appears as people walk along it.
Trade shows are also a great place to gain design inspiration as the designers are normally required to produce installation pieces for a small space...
I like how the designer has cut shapes within the walls to create inner spaces and clear circulation routes for the viewers. In terms of my spatial design project, the inner spaces created could showcase the different sides of my topic.
Within this trade show space, I like how the designer has used speech bubbles to highlight key themes and issues about the product. This could be used within my project to encourage the public to leave comments and thoughts.
public art installation project - funding...
As part of our group project we produced a booklet containing various items of information relating to the project. Within this booklet, I produced the section on funding for Public Art...
Funding for Public Art
There are many organisations willing to provide support for projects related to public art. A comprehensive list of resources around the United Kingdom can be found at http://www.publicartonline.org.uk/resources/practicaladvice/funding/funding.php.
When applying for funding, organisations will require an application form to be completed. Many application forms require similar information regarding the project;
- Project Description A brief outline of the project which outlines the issues and factors that will contribute towards the project. An indication on location, timescale, possible partners and scale of project would also be required.
- Project Funding An indication of resources and funding bodies contributing towards the project. Clearly distinguish confirmed funding and potential funding.
- Project Aims Define the project in line with the guidelines set by the organisation you are applying funding from.
- Project Outcomes Give an outline of the desired results of the project; physical, cultural, human and economic.
- Roles and Responsibilities Provide the organisation with a contact person within the project – a co-ordinator for all involved. Give an indication of the responsibilities for each individual involved in the project and any associated agencies.
- Project Constraints Conduct risk assessments in respect of legal, environmental and site related issues.
- Marketing Identify any opportunities to communicate the project with local, national and/or international audiences.
- Documentation Provide requirements for visual, written or published forms of project documentation and responsibilities for delivery.
Once an application has been submitted, on average it takes about 6-8 weeks for a decision to be made.
A.T.E Project Funding
The timescale for this project was 4 weeks and funding for Public Art takes a minimum of 6 weeks to be approved, therefore as a group we took the decision to keep the project internal. We used the University’s free resources and kept costs to a minimum as we would be funding it ourselves.
If we had been given a longer timescale for this project we would have applied for funding. Following extensive research, we would have applied for funding from Kirklees Council as part of their ‘Arts in the Neighbourhood’ grants scheme.
http://www.kirklees.gov.uk/community/money/communityfunding/ain.asp
“Arts in the Neighbourhood grants are designed to help community and voluntary groups set up arts and cultural projects and events by contributing towards the costs. Projects must be wholly or mainly for the benefit of Kirklees residents, involve Kirklees residents and be organised by Kirklees based groups. ”
The proposal for the project would be to create an interactive Public Art installation where the public can post their comments on the statement “Public Art is worthless”. We would ask the population of Huddersfield to write their comments on post-it notes which would then be displayed until the end of the installation. Following this we would then commission a sculptor to create a piece of Public Art which would be engraved with the comments left to create a permanent piece of work that can be displayed within Huddersfield Town Centre as a representation of the town’s views on Public Art.
As part of the project we would have to gain permission from Kirklees Council to erect a Public Art piece and establish a suitable location within the town centre for it. The money from the ‘Arts in the Neighbourhood’ grant would help to pay for the following items:
- Materials used within the installation, such as pens and post-it notes.
- Hiring out a space within a local gallery for a week to hold the installation. A space we have considered is The Media Centre in Huddersfield.
- Commissioning a sculptor to create a piece of artwork that would be engraved with the comments posted by the local residents.
- Marketing/advertisements within Huddersfield to promote the event.
As the project would be part of our University research project, A.T.E would work on a voluntary basis, taking no pay from the project.
We believe there is a need for this form of Public Art within Huddersfield as it would give the local population a chance to express themselves individually and collectively. It would also be a permanent reminder of their contribution to the Huddersfield Town Centre environment, perhaps sparking regeneration within the town.
Following research into artists who have been involved with projects similar to ours, we decided that if given a longer timescale we would have appointed Gordon Young to design the piece of Public Art that would be displayed within Huddersfield Town Centre.
Gordon Young
“Gordon Young is a visual artist who focuses on creating art for the public domain. His work ranges from sculptures to typographic pavements for places as dis-related as government headquarters and village squares. The common denominator for all projects is the basis of relevance to the surroundings.”
Gordon Young has completed several projects where he has engraved text onto various materials. The ‘Walk of Art’ at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park involves the names of all the donors to the park cut out of a stainless steel walkway. His project ‘Cursing Stone & Reiver Pavement’ also involves words, specifically the Archbishop of Glasgow’s infamous curse of 1525, engraved on a granite boulder which sits at the end of an 80m public footpath.
As a group we considered many artists before settling on Gordon Young, as the chosen artist for our project. I personally feel that the work previously produced by Gordon Young fits well with what we envisage for our project. I particularly like his Cursing Stone & Reiver Pavement project, specifically the cursing stone in which he engraved words onto a granite stone which produces a beautiful piece of art as well as something the community can enjoy.
Funding for Public Art
There are many organisations willing to provide support for projects related to public art. A comprehensive list of resources around the United Kingdom can be found at http://www.publicartonline.org.uk/resources/practicaladvice/funding/funding.php.
When applying for funding, organisations will require an application form to be completed. Many application forms require similar information regarding the project;
- Project Description A brief outline of the project which outlines the issues and factors that will contribute towards the project. An indication on location, timescale, possible partners and scale of project would also be required.
- Project Funding An indication of resources and funding bodies contributing towards the project. Clearly distinguish confirmed funding and potential funding.
- Project Aims Define the project in line with the guidelines set by the organisation you are applying funding from.
- Project Outcomes Give an outline of the desired results of the project; physical, cultural, human and economic.
- Roles and Responsibilities Provide the organisation with a contact person within the project – a co-ordinator for all involved. Give an indication of the responsibilities for each individual involved in the project and any associated agencies.
- Project Constraints Conduct risk assessments in respect of legal, environmental and site related issues.
- Marketing Identify any opportunities to communicate the project with local, national and/or international audiences.
- Documentation Provide requirements for visual, written or published forms of project documentation and responsibilities for delivery.
Once an application has been submitted, on average it takes about 6-8 weeks for a decision to be made.
A.T.E Project Funding
The timescale for this project was 4 weeks and funding for Public Art takes a minimum of 6 weeks to be approved, therefore as a group we took the decision to keep the project internal. We used the University’s free resources and kept costs to a minimum as we would be funding it ourselves.
If we had been given a longer timescale for this project we would have applied for funding. Following extensive research, we would have applied for funding from Kirklees Council as part of their ‘Arts in the Neighbourhood’ grants scheme.
http://www.kirklees.gov.uk/community/money/communityfunding/ain.asp
“Arts in the Neighbourhood grants are designed to help community and voluntary groups set up arts and cultural projects and events by contributing towards the costs. Projects must be wholly or mainly for the benefit of Kirklees residents, involve Kirklees residents and be organised by Kirklees based groups. ”
The proposal for the project would be to create an interactive Public Art installation where the public can post their comments on the statement “Public Art is worthless”. We would ask the population of Huddersfield to write their comments on post-it notes which would then be displayed until the end of the installation. Following this we would then commission a sculptor to create a piece of Public Art which would be engraved with the comments left to create a permanent piece of work that can be displayed within Huddersfield Town Centre as a representation of the town’s views on Public Art.
As part of the project we would have to gain permission from Kirklees Council to erect a Public Art piece and establish a suitable location within the town centre for it. The money from the ‘Arts in the Neighbourhood’ grant would help to pay for the following items:
- Materials used within the installation, such as pens and post-it notes.
- Hiring out a space within a local gallery for a week to hold the installation. A space we have considered is The Media Centre in Huddersfield.
- Commissioning a sculptor to create a piece of artwork that would be engraved with the comments posted by the local residents.
- Marketing/advertisements within Huddersfield to promote the event.
As the project would be part of our University research project, A.T.E would work on a voluntary basis, taking no pay from the project.
We believe there is a need for this form of Public Art within Huddersfield as it would give the local population a chance to express themselves individually and collectively. It would also be a permanent reminder of their contribution to the Huddersfield Town Centre environment, perhaps sparking regeneration within the town.
Following research into artists who have been involved with projects similar to ours, we decided that if given a longer timescale we would have appointed Gordon Young to design the piece of Public Art that would be displayed within Huddersfield Town Centre.
Gordon Young
“Gordon Young is a visual artist who focuses on creating art for the public domain. His work ranges from sculptures to typographic pavements for places as dis-related as government headquarters and village squares. The common denominator for all projects is the basis of relevance to the surroundings.”
Gordon Young has completed several projects where he has engraved text onto various materials. The ‘Walk of Art’ at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park involves the names of all the donors to the park cut out of a stainless steel walkway. His project ‘Cursing Stone & Reiver Pavement’ also involves words, specifically the Archbishop of Glasgow’s infamous curse of 1525, engraved on a granite boulder which sits at the end of an 80m public footpath.
As a group we considered many artists before settling on Gordon Young, as the chosen artist for our project. I personally feel that the work previously produced by Gordon Young fits well with what we envisage for our project. I particularly like his Cursing Stone & Reiver Pavement project, specifically the cursing stone in which he engraved words onto a granite stone which produces a beautiful piece of art as well as something the community can enjoy.
how the group performed...
So the presentation has been completed, group work handed in and now it’s time to assess how the group performed...We faced many challenges throughout the project; such as losing two group members, however I felt we dealt with them effectively and efficiently as a group.
Group work ultimately is tough work, combining individual personalities and workloads but it can be very rewarding. I really enjoyed working with Adarsh and Toju, as we understood each other’s points of view and worked well together. The Public Art installation project we chose allowed us all to expand our current design knowledge and learn new skills.
I believe that by agreeing group roles early in the project, it allowed us to concentrate on the scheme and design of the project rather than the less important tasks of taking minutes and keeping a record of costs incurred. Losing two group members during the project did affect us as I felt we had to scale down the amount of work as it wasn't possible to complete a large amount with only three group members. As a result we all had to take on larger roles which may have impacted on our individual assignments, with deadlines in the same week, however by working as a team and by keeping in constant contact through email and group meetings we managed our time effectively as none of our assignments suffered.
In terms of the presentation, I was pleased with how it went and the content of the presentation. In hindsight I do feel that it may have been beneficial for the group to produce a slide show of images to support the verbal presentation. This was discussed prior to the presentation however with the time available, fewer group members and other work commitments we took the decision not to include a slide show. I am not making excuses for our group, however it is harder to produce the same level and amount of work as a group of four without losing quality.
Overall, I enjoyed this group project as it has opened many doors for further research as part of my Spatial design project... The small group has also allowed me to develop my confidence, communication and leadership skills which were in need of improvement (as identified in my skills audit). I look forward to a new group project and the prospect of working with new people; which will ultimately help my confidence and communication skills further.
Group work ultimately is tough work, combining individual personalities and workloads but it can be very rewarding. I really enjoyed working with Adarsh and Toju, as we understood each other’s points of view and worked well together. The Public Art installation project we chose allowed us all to expand our current design knowledge and learn new skills.
I believe that by agreeing group roles early in the project, it allowed us to concentrate on the scheme and design of the project rather than the less important tasks of taking minutes and keeping a record of costs incurred. Losing two group members during the project did affect us as I felt we had to scale down the amount of work as it wasn't possible to complete a large amount with only three group members. As a result we all had to take on larger roles which may have impacted on our individual assignments, with deadlines in the same week, however by working as a team and by keeping in constant contact through email and group meetings we managed our time effectively as none of our assignments suffered.
In terms of the presentation, I was pleased with how it went and the content of the presentation. In hindsight I do feel that it may have been beneficial for the group to produce a slide show of images to support the verbal presentation. This was discussed prior to the presentation however with the time available, fewer group members and other work commitments we took the decision not to include a slide show. I am not making excuses for our group, however it is harder to produce the same level and amount of work as a group of four without losing quality.
Overall, I enjoyed this group project as it has opened many doors for further research as part of my Spatial design project... The small group has also allowed me to develop my confidence, communication and leadership skills which were in need of improvement (as identified in my skills audit). I look forward to a new group project and the prospect of working with new people; which will ultimately help my confidence and communication skills further.
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