it's been a while...

So its been a few days since the end of creativity in context... we've had a variety of lectures during the module, here's a review of them;

18th March - David Swann 'NHS @ Home'

David presented his PhD research project to the group; it focuses on how design and technology can shape the way health care is delivered, experienced and expected. It was an extremely interesting lecture, as David showed us some of the tools he uses during his day-to-day research which may be of some help to during our individual research projects;

- Phases of research: Knowledge (volume, breadth, complexity), Produce a timeline showing economical, social and technological change in the past and predict for the future, Government sources (Statistics, Cabinet office).
- Engagement: Testing knowledge, Gap analysis, Creating and Expanding Networks, Staking Ownership.
- Theories related to research topics: Gleicher's change formula, Lewin's force-field analysis, Schumpeter's creative destruction theory.
- Methodology: Systematic not reductive, Etic or Emic, Ethnography, Case studies/Delphi studies/Interviews.
- Can you validate your work? Try to engage sponsors/partners from companies who may be interested.

I enjoyed the lecture as it was useful to see how to approach a research topic and the amount of work that needs to be undertaken.

18th March - Mark O'Brien 'Brain-storming'

Mark introduced us to Palojono, a blog dedicated to design research. Its an interesting and up to date blog with useful information on the creative process, research tips, design thinking, and self-centred design. He also talked about the creative process taken from the Design Council's website 'Discover, Drive, Develop, Deliver': It has proved a useful tool for my design research as it helped me to widen the scope of my research before narrowing it down to produce my visual statement.

We also discussed as a group what you would need to establish when taking on a new project, here's what we came up with;

- Competition, History, Features, Form, Stakeholders, Problem in market, Testing, Customers/Users (Surveys, Questionnaires, Interviews, Observations, Current statistics and trends).

RULES for 'Brainstorming'

- Group activity.
- Intensive (Solve problems, Generate ideas, No idea is stupid, Meant to be fun, Anything goes, Don't filter ideas, Number ideas).
- Try to hit a target (60 ideas in 20 minutes?)
- No hierarchy.
- No inhibitions.
- Consider definition of topic.

The lecture was very thought provoking, especially after watching a video about investment in female education in Africa - TheGirlEffect

25th March - Catherine Bradley 'Orlando'

Catherine showed the group the film 'Orlando' (1992), directed by Sally Potter and based on the book by Virginia Wolf. After watching the film, we were asked to read and consider a contextual review of the film.

It was an unusual film that addressed issues of gender and feminism from 1600 to the present day. The film tackles this by using a sexually confused main character; Orlando begins the film as a man and deals with issues related to Death, Love, Poetry and Politics. Orlando then becomes a woman and takes on Society, Sex and Birth.

It was a confusing film to watch for the first time as you soon realise that Orlando is immortal, however it was beneficial to learn about a different form of research and how it may benefit our individual project.

Summary

The three lectures discussed were all valuable in their own way as they helped to broaden my mind, and show how far my research project could expand. It has been extremely useful to receive lectures from guest lecturers as they bring new knowledge and ideas to the group.