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.
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
cardboard creations...
'Creativity in Context'...what does it mean to me? In terms of my Spatial project, I am intersested in the use of sustainable materials within my design project for the exterior and interior shells. Presently I have not done much research into such materials, however my previous post has sparked something within me, so I decided to do some further research into cardboard...
I have become interested in the use of cardboard for the interior shell...cardboard is a easily mailable material that can be used in a variety of situations. Cardboard had been previously used for a wide range of uses including an office space for the company 'Nothing' in Amsterdam;
The concept, designed by Alrik Koudenburg and Joost van Bleiswijk, uses cardboard pieces slotted together and constructed without the use of glue or nails. I particularly like how the cardboard has been used to create the beams for the construction of the space, as well as the more refined details such as tables and bookshelves. I was also very impressed with how much the cardboard has been used for within the office, the only extras are the soft furnishings, IT equipment and design materials.
I have become interested in the use of cardboard for the interior shell...cardboard is a easily mailable material that can be used in a variety of situations. Cardboard had been previously used for a wide range of uses including an office space for the company 'Nothing' in Amsterdam;
The concept, designed by Alrik Koudenburg and Joost van Bleiswijk, uses cardboard pieces slotted together and constructed without the use of glue or nails. I particularly like how the cardboard has been used to create the beams for the construction of the space, as well as the more refined details such as tables and bookshelves. I was also very impressed with how much the cardboard has been used for within the office, the only extras are the soft furnishings, IT equipment and design materials.
I have also come across a cafe constructed from small cardboard boxes... These boxes were glued together to form walls, seats, tables and a counter from where drinks were sold. Made from 8000 boxes edged with fluorescent orange, the Cardboard Cafe combines minimal design with the notion of recycling and reusing.
I like the temporary-ness of this project and it's impact on the environment. I would be interested to learn what happened to the cardboard boxes following the end of the project, as to whether they were utilised in another project by the designers; B3 Designers.
It was interesting to find that Universities are encouraging the use of cardboard within design concepts... http://www.dsgnwrld.com/finalists-of-cardboard-chair-design-student-competition-unveiled-4652/ Finalists of the Cardboard chair competition are featured, showing the range of designs that cardboard can be used for. My personal favourite is the chair designed in the shape of a doughnut as I like how the cardboard seems to have been woven and intertwined.
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
sustainable materials...
The final presentation about recycling cardboard has got me thinking about other projects similar to this I have come across during my Exploration in Practice research and previous design projects.
The first is David Stark's use of cardboard boxes to create items of furniture to sell alongside other items within a store. The second was the use of cardboard to create the interior of the Magma Bookstore in London, the cardboard was used for shelving, counters and display stands.
I am quite keen to use recycled materials within my design project and cardboard may be a very useful material for the interior of the installation piece as it is easy to mould and shape and can be replaced cheaply if it gets damaged.
The first is David Stark's use of cardboard boxes to create items of furniture to sell alongside other items within a store. The second was the use of cardboard to create the interior of the Magma Bookstore in London, the cardboard was used for shelving, counters and display stands.
I am quite keen to use recycled materials within my design project and cardboard may be a very useful material for the interior of the installation piece as it is easy to mould and shape and can be replaced cheaply if it gets damaged.
presentation time...
Its been about 2 weeks now since the presentations of the group projects...they seemed to go very well and there was a real mixture of projects, which was extremely interesting.
Presentation 1 - Psychotherapy Consultation Room
The group researched into cognitive therapy rooms for the NHS and their requirements, however following this research the group found the NHS to limiting so looked into designing for the private sector with scope to develop the design in the future for the NHS. Throughout the presentation, the group's focus for the space was the user; the client. The design for the consultation room would evoke a homely/cosy feel, to put the client at ease. The design features a SMART window, which can alter the atmosphere of the room, a back-lit floral patterned wall and hidden storage behind the wall panels to create a clutter free environment. A creative but not intrusive design that fitted the needs of the client and the psychotherapist.
As a group, I felt they researched and presented their design and findings really well however I did feel the verbal presentation did let them down, which could have been easily resolved through practice. This was mentioned during post-presentation discussions and the group did admit that rehearsals of the presentation did not happen. Overall, I enjoyed the presentation and thought that the group used their individual design strengths to great effect.
Presentation 2 - Audi Car Seat
This was a very well researched and sleek presentation with the group discovering a possible gap in the market for the expansion of the Audi car seat. By creating a agency name, the group presented a concept for a new brand of Audi car seats that would be aimed towards buyers of the Audi TT, specifically young professionals. The concept would be to take the work of prolific artists and create bespoke/customized car seats in a complementary material. The idea would offer a further sense of exclusivity to an already exclusive brand. During the presentation the group covered all the areas required by a company, in terms of marketing strategy, design concept and legal concerns.
It was an extremely impressive presentation, which had been clearly well researched and thought out. The use of the group's individual strengths was evident throughout as each group member had been allocated a specific area within the project to work on.
Presentation 3 - Willow Dome Project
This was a different style of presentation to the previous ones...This group were proposing a Public Art workshop session and had researched into how this might be put into practice. As a result the presentation focused on the different areas of a project that needed to be completed in the lead up to running the workshop including where to apply for funding, the design of the workshop and how it would work, where the workshop would take place, liaisons with local schools and the community and deciding on a date for the workshop.
The project itself sounded really exciting as it involved using space within Huddersfield Town Centre normally left vacant to create an event where children and the local community could participate in learning new skills and arts. I found it very encouraging that the group are actually planning to follow this project through providing they obtain funding as it shows that student projects can benefit a wider audience and are not just for university purposes.
Presentation 4 - Public Art Installation "Public Art is Worthless..."
Well this was our group presentation on our project. As a group we had decided to compose a video of the day when we undertook the public art installation as we felt it best described the day and the type of feedback we received from the general public. We also had our completed sculpture in which we had permanently written the comments from the day onto it.
We chose to describe the project to the group before showing the video, outlining our design process and thoughts, management tools and conclusions from the project, however with hindsight I do think we perhaps should have used visuals to support our commentary as it may have been hard for those watching the presentation to understand the project.
We did receive good feedback following the video, with a few asking if we would be carrying out the project as originally planned. At the moment, there is no plan to, however the foundations are there if any of the group do decide to take the project on in the future.
Presentation 5 - Recycling Cardboard
This group were very concerned with the amount of cardboard that was being wasted each year, especially by large corporate companies who use cardboard as a packaging material. The had researched into the various uses of cardboard already in circulation and were amazed by what had already been achieved...cardboard has already been used to construct cars, children's toys, wardrobes and chairs. Among these they featured a flexible chair made from layers of cardboard of the same shape, pulled out in a concertina fashion to create seating. It also was interesting to learn that cardboard can be recycled up to 5 times before the fibres completely disintegrate which suggests more needs to be done to re-use the recycled cardboard already circulation.
The specific group proposal was aimed towards Ikea boxes, in which their flat packed products are transported. The group came up with an idea to use the cardboard boxes to create extra furniture for the buyer; "Buy a chair and get a free table". The free gifts would be related toward the item of bought furniture and would depend on the size of the cardboard box. In theory it seems like an very exciting idea, one which I could see Ikea being interested in, however the logistics of convincing consumers to create these items from the boxes would have to be considered. This was discussed during the presentation, and perforated outlines of the free items was suggested.
Presentation 1 - Psychotherapy Consultation Room
The group researched into cognitive therapy rooms for the NHS and their requirements, however following this research the group found the NHS to limiting so looked into designing for the private sector with scope to develop the design in the future for the NHS. Throughout the presentation, the group's focus for the space was the user; the client. The design for the consultation room would evoke a homely/cosy feel, to put the client at ease. The design features a SMART window, which can alter the atmosphere of the room, a back-lit floral patterned wall and hidden storage behind the wall panels to create a clutter free environment. A creative but not intrusive design that fitted the needs of the client and the psychotherapist.
As a group, I felt they researched and presented their design and findings really well however I did feel the verbal presentation did let them down, which could have been easily resolved through practice. This was mentioned during post-presentation discussions and the group did admit that rehearsals of the presentation did not happen. Overall, I enjoyed the presentation and thought that the group used their individual design strengths to great effect.
Presentation 2 - Audi Car Seat
This was a very well researched and sleek presentation with the group discovering a possible gap in the market for the expansion of the Audi car seat. By creating a agency name, the group presented a concept for a new brand of Audi car seats that would be aimed towards buyers of the Audi TT, specifically young professionals. The concept would be to take the work of prolific artists and create bespoke/customized car seats in a complementary material. The idea would offer a further sense of exclusivity to an already exclusive brand. During the presentation the group covered all the areas required by a company, in terms of marketing strategy, design concept and legal concerns.
It was an extremely impressive presentation, which had been clearly well researched and thought out. The use of the group's individual strengths was evident throughout as each group member had been allocated a specific area within the project to work on.
Presentation 3 - Willow Dome Project
This was a different style of presentation to the previous ones...This group were proposing a Public Art workshop session and had researched into how this might be put into practice. As a result the presentation focused on the different areas of a project that needed to be completed in the lead up to running the workshop including where to apply for funding, the design of the workshop and how it would work, where the workshop would take place, liaisons with local schools and the community and deciding on a date for the workshop.
The project itself sounded really exciting as it involved using space within Huddersfield Town Centre normally left vacant to create an event where children and the local community could participate in learning new skills and arts. I found it very encouraging that the group are actually planning to follow this project through providing they obtain funding as it shows that student projects can benefit a wider audience and are not just for university purposes.
Presentation 4 - Public Art Installation "Public Art is Worthless..."
Well this was our group presentation on our project. As a group we had decided to compose a video of the day when we undertook the public art installation as we felt it best described the day and the type of feedback we received from the general public. We also had our completed sculpture in which we had permanently written the comments from the day onto it.
We chose to describe the project to the group before showing the video, outlining our design process and thoughts, management tools and conclusions from the project, however with hindsight I do think we perhaps should have used visuals to support our commentary as it may have been hard for those watching the presentation to understand the project.
We did receive good feedback following the video, with a few asking if we would be carrying out the project as originally planned. At the moment, there is no plan to, however the foundations are there if any of the group do decide to take the project on in the future.
Presentation 5 - Recycling Cardboard
This group were very concerned with the amount of cardboard that was being wasted each year, especially by large corporate companies who use cardboard as a packaging material. The had researched into the various uses of cardboard already in circulation and were amazed by what had already been achieved...cardboard has already been used to construct cars, children's toys, wardrobes and chairs. Among these they featured a flexible chair made from layers of cardboard of the same shape, pulled out in a concertina fashion to create seating. It also was interesting to learn that cardboard can be recycled up to 5 times before the fibres completely disintegrate which suggests more needs to be done to re-use the recycled cardboard already circulation.
The specific group proposal was aimed towards Ikea boxes, in which their flat packed products are transported. The group came up with an idea to use the cardboard boxes to create extra furniture for the buyer; "Buy a chair and get a free table". The free gifts would be related toward the item of bought furniture and would depend on the size of the cardboard box. In theory it seems like an very exciting idea, one which I could see Ikea being interested in, however the logistics of convincing consumers to create these items from the boxes would have to be considered. This was discussed during the presentation, and perforated outlines of the free items was suggested.
Monday, 13 April 2009
regarding the pain of others...
Lecture 2 of 2
As a group; myself, Emma, Nicola and Dominic decided that we wanted to produce a piece that represented the violence act but without any reference to a specific event and person, to retain the victims dignity. We reponded by preforming a violent act; we slashed the top layer of paper, and then on the underneath layer used red to represent the blood shed, over the top we then wrote some titles from Goya's etchi
ngs in spanish. We chose to write the text in spanish to remove/distance the viewer from the act; censoring the piece of art. However at the same time, we also allowed the opportunity for people to take the initiative and investigate further into the topic. Some of the titles used in the piece were; 'Swallow it, dog', 'One can't look', 'And they are like wild beasts' and 'That's tough'.
On the 1st April, Steve Swindells came to give the second half of his lecture series. This lecture was called 'Regarding the pain of others' which related to the transcript of Susan Sontag's book of the same name. Steve discussed the moral duty and ethical awareness of photographs, specifically photographs of torture and victims of war. Throughout the presentation, no images were shown however at the end we were then asked if we should see the images related to the presentation, this produced a very heated discussion;
- Gender division: Boys are more open to images of violence (video games and films).
- Selfish: we may be traumatised by the images.
- Censorship: we have a right to decided what we should see, our choice.
- Are galleries the right place to for the display of these images?
- Death: fundamental part of life - should be open to images of it.
- The images are a part of our history - we need to be aware of what has happened in the past in order to prevent it in the future.
- Whether we view the images may depend on who is the victim, perpetrator and audience.
- Are we 'innocent'? Is innocence merely distancing ourselves from the truth?
- Everyone is capable of killing if forced...
During the afternoon session, we were asked to respond, in groups, to the discussions from the morning. Can the suffering of others be portrayed in a manner that respects and maintains the human dignity of the victim(s)? How can we best show our creativity when responding to acts of violence without undermining our humanity?
As a group; myself, Emma, Nicola and Dominic decided that we wanted to produce a piece that represented the violence act but without any reference to a specific event and person, to retain the victims dignity. We reponded by preforming a violent act; we slashed the top layer of paper, and then on the underneath layer used red to represent the blood shed, over the top we then wrote some titles from Goya's etchi
ngs in spanish. We chose to write the text in spanish to remove/distance the viewer from the act; censoring the piece of art. However at the same time, we also allowed the opportunity for people to take the initiative and investigate further into the topic. Some of the titles used in the piece were; 'Swallow it, dog', 'One can't look', 'And they are like wild beasts' and 'That's tough'.Yet again, I really enjoyed this lecture and drawing session. I felt I absorbed more from the lecture and the drawing session allowed me to express my thoughts and feelings. The group situation also provoked further discussions on the topic as we had to combine our thoughts to produced a collective piece of work. Overall I was pleased with the result, and after further thought I realised the piece was similar to the work of Lucio Fontana, despite being created for different reasons.
Saturday, 11 April 2009
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.
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.
Monday, 30 March 2009
our public art installation...
Today was the day for our public art installation... The sculpture has been made, the post-it notes and pens bought, and a space reserved in the university atrium outside the library!
It actually went really well... We spent two and half hours asking passersby to comment on the statement "Public Art is worthless...". We had over 40 people leave comments on our Public Art installation; below are some of the comments left by people on the post-it notes to our statement;
- “It’s good, lovely, gorgeous, and brilliant! Well done.”
- “Public Art is very good for everyone.”
- “...unless it makes a difference!"
- “It depends what it is and where it is – the content and the context.”
- “It depends on where it is placed; if it relates to its surroundings and has a reason to exist then clearly it is not. If it is random then I would think it could be seen as worthless.”
- “Public Art brings culture and expression together in today’s world.”
- “Public Art is not only a waste of taxpayer’s money; it is also a waste of space where other facilities could be placed.”
- “Public Art give you the chance to say it’s worthless.”
We were particulary pleased to have several positive comments from people who disagreed with our statement, as it provides the project with more scope for discussion. During the project, we found many people were hesitant to engage with the project. This reflects some of the statements we came across during our research, that many of us do not interact with art work in our daily life and therefore we assume it to be complicated and are hesitant to engage with it. 
Our piece of installation art work with all the participants’ thoughts written on to it will be available for use within the University, as it is a piece of art created by the students of Huddersfield University. Overall it was a positive experience and I felt as a group we worked well in the build up to this day to ensure everything was ready. Today we bonded well as a team, and I thoroughly enjoyed the project. It will also help towards my individual project where I wish to engage the public into communicating their thoughts on a specific topic.
Sunday, 22 March 2009
statements on Public Art...
The aim of our Public Art installation is to engage the public by asking them to react/comment to a statement prepared by ourselves. As a group we wanted the statement to reflect public art and its value... We decided to generate three statements each and pick our favourite from the selection;
Emma
Emma
- Public Art is worthless.
- Public Art is a waste of government money.
- I wish Public Art was more interactive.
Preete
- Use your imagination and describe an artwork that you would like to see in
your community. - Public Art - I think its a fantastic way to showcase art but it should be accessible to all, at
all times and free! - Is public art a waste of space?
Toju
- Public Art is intrusive!
- Public Art is just so fantastic, I think the world would be boring without it.
- Public Art is something I really don't care about.
Adarsh
- Public Art is complex.
- Public Art is boring for me.
- I would like to see more Public Art work around me.
(Sadly Dawn is no longer in our group, as she has chosen to change her Masters course)
Personally I feel that the final statement we decide upon needs to be quite short and blunt this will cause the most reaction amongst the general public.
Thoughts on the team project so far... We seem to have bonded very well as a group despite the language barriers. There seems to be no problems communicating ideas and thoughts within group discussions, and I do not feel that anyone has been ignored or their input have been automatically dismissed. I am also pleased that we are maximising the strengths of each team members for the tasks needed to complete the project.
Sunday, 15 March 2009
group project...
I've been doing a bit of thinking about what the brief actually requires us to achieve...
If we do head towards the area "value of art and design within public art" then I think we would need to become a 'arts company' and plan/design an installation/public art project to express our views. As a group we would need to be allocated different tasks ie. applying for funding, design of project, marketing, and securing a site.
However if we were to look at the commercial side of art then we could approach the project in a similar way, but first identifying a client, with a campaign that needed marketing. Again, I feel we would each have to take on different roles within the project, maximising our design and management strengths.
It will be interesting to see what the group discusses tomorrow...
If we do head towards the area "value of art and design within public art" then I think we would need to become a 'arts company' and plan/design an installation/public art project to express our views. As a group we would need to be allocated different tasks ie. applying for funding, design of project, marketing, and securing a site.
However if we were to look at the commercial side of art then we could approach the project in a similar way, but first identifying a client, with a campaign that needed marketing. Again, I feel we would each have to take on different roles within the project, maximising our design and management strengths.
It will be interesting to see what the group discusses tomorrow...
Saturday, 14 March 2009
interactive public art...
A few bits of research I've done into interactive public art...
Illegal Art 
Christo & Jean Claude
Under Scan
Olympic Sculpture Park, Seattle
Millenium Park, Chicago
The Cloud Gate, Chicago
Banksy
Illegal Art Christo & Jean ClaudeUnder ScanOlympic Sculpture Park, Seattle Millenium Park, ChicagoThe Cloud Gate, Chicago BanksyFrom the research I've done I think Public Art can range from permanent large scale sculptures such as Anthony Gormley’s ‘Angel of the North’, to Banksy’s stencilled graffiti images on walls to smaller temporary installations such as the those created by Illegal Art.
Public Art must be accessible to all and within the art world it signifies a specific working practice, often implying site specificity, community involvement or collaborations. Public Art refers to any work that has been designed and intended for display within the public domain, whether it is within internal or external spaces.
I believe Public Art is an expression of the place where is resides. A piece of sculpture can increase the value of a place and the people who occupy it. Personally, I prefer interactive Public Art as it feels more ‘public’. Not only do the general public benefit from the final piece but they also contribute to the finished project which I think brings out a sense of pride and achievement within people.
Friday, 13 March 2009
group project - creativity...
So another module and another group project looms... now for this one, there is NO brief!
The group consisting of myself, Dawn, Adarsh, Tojo and Preete met on Wednesday to discuss options for our project... The main idea that came out of our initial discussions was regarding the 'value of art and design'. Following further discussions, we decided that we needed to define the area of 'art and design' and therefore have chosen to research into commercial art and public art.
My initial thoughts on the group are that we seem to be communicating well, everyone is willing to contribute their ideas and listen to others which I think is crucial...I think we should work well!
I'm personally more drawn towards the 'value of public art' especially when the public art require interaction. It is interesting to establish whether the value of the art increases once the public have made their mark? So we shall see how the researching goes...
The group consisting of myself, Dawn, Adarsh, Tojo and Preete met on Wednesday to discuss options for our project... The main idea that came out of our initial discussions was regarding the 'value of art and design'. Following further discussions, we decided that we needed to define the area of 'art and design' and therefore have chosen to research into commercial art and public art.
My initial thoughts on the group are that we seem to be communicating well, everyone is willing to contribute their ideas and listen to others which I think is crucial...I think we should work well!
I'm personally more drawn towards the 'value of public art' especially when the public art require interaction. It is interesting to establish whether the value of the art increases once the public have made their mark? So we shall see how the researching goes...
belbin's team roles...
So what team roles best describes you? On Wednesday, we took part in a test to determine what type role describes us the most...after allocating a maximum of 10 marks to a choice of eight statements within seven sections, I discovered that I'm a "Implementer" and "Team worker".
Implementer - Disciplined, reliable, conservative and efficient. Turns ideas into practical actions.
Team worker - Social, mild, perceptive and accommodating. Listens, builds, averts friction.
I would agree with this analysis, as I feel I tend to hang back within group meetings to assess the situation before contributing. However, I was a bit concerned that I scored a zero for the "Plant" team role, as this role denotes creativity, imagination and solving problems. I do realise though that the results of the test can change on a day to day basis - I must be a creative person, I would not be doing this masters if I was not!
Implementer - Disciplined, reliable, conservative and efficient. Turns ideas into practical actions.
Team worker - Social, mild, perceptive and accommodating. Listens, builds, averts friction.
I would agree with this analysis, as I feel I tend to hang back within group meetings to assess the situation before contributing. However, I was a bit concerned that I scored a zero for the "Plant" team role, as this role denotes creativity, imagination and solving problems. I do realise though that the results of the test can change on a day to day basis - I must be a creative person, I would not be doing this masters if I was not!
Thursday, 12 March 2009
animal gaze drawing workshop...
Lecture 1 of 2
On Wednesday, we had a lecture from Steve on the concept of 'faces'... do humans have faces, do animals have faces? The lecture sparked much discussion about what we look for in a face and what are the key elements of a face. During the afternoon workshop, in groups, we were asked to depict our thoughts from the lecture in pictorial form.
I really enjoyed the practical element to the session as I feel we were able to connect more with what was talked about in the lecture and produce a creative response, which I feel is more relevant to my masters course.
On Wednesday, we had a lecture from Steve on the concept of 'faces'... do humans have faces, do animals have faces? The lecture sparked much discussion about what we look for in a face and what are the key elements of a face. During the afternoon workshop, in groups, we were asked to depict our thoughts from the lecture in pictorial form.
As a group we felt that the face was an important element of the body as it is the only are that is 'naked'. Myself, Emma and Nicola decided to concentrate on the eye as we felt it is the most common feature of the face among both humans and animals. The eye makes judgements but it also known as a "gateway to the soul" as eyes can not hide the true feelings of the person. We chose to use red in the main eye to disturb our ego's (an issue raised during the lecture), by contrasting that with green in the inner eye to represent envy and jealously we wanted to question what was human/animal?
I really enjoyed the practical element to the session as I feel we were able to connect more with what was talked about in the lecture and produce a creative response, which I feel is more relevant to my masters course.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
