Diverse Student Focus Group

Today we held the focus group and I really appreciate the participants giving up their time to come along and join in.  (I hope they appreciate the nibbles.) I enjoyed this session and everybody was very supportive.

I was quite nervous about preparing for the focus group.  I had a video camera (that I forgot about, but never mind I’ll use it next time) and used my laptop to record the discussion.  I also had a camera and said that participant were more than welcome to take photos.  Perhaps I should arrange to have a friend take photos next time.

I had never thought about the lecturer and student relationship before and I did find it tricky sometimes to get the conversation back on track when we started going off on a tangent.  We did manage to be finished within this time frame and I could have been clearer that we were finished. I should ask for feedback next time to see if everybody else felt that the agenda was clear enough.  I am not criticising participants in any way shape or form because we had such a supportive, chatty group, it is up to me to lead and keep track of the time.

The Diverse Students Focus Group pointed out some problems and also a lack of touch points with the local community that had not crossed my mind before.  I have briefly analysed the results of the focus group and I am yet to dig deeper and understand the advantages and disadvantages of studying in Scotland.

hope this is clear

We also thought about a snappy title for the project: “Fàilte” (pronounced Fal-che).  I’ll need to check this to see if it is in use by any other organisations.

So, this group has been very beneficial to my studies and thank you to all of the participants.  I will report on the findings once they are analysed.

Diverse Student Group Chat

(This isn’t an April fool.)  Tomorrow I am holding a focus group to explore the experiences of International Students at the University of Dundee.  I have invited a range of students, from Bolivia, India, Oklahoma, Poland, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nigeria, UK and China.

I have spilt the focus group into sections:

• Hello – intro, agenda, aims, what my projects about
• Icebreaker – object form home
• Discussion – why Dundee, how did you find out, pain points etc
• Cultural Probe –what do you aim to fulfil while you’re here?
• Snappy Title – can you help me with a title?
• Close – thanks for coming, sign consent slips

The purpose if this focus group is to compare the student experience across a broad range of nationalities.

• Why Dundee?
• How did you find out about your course?
• Did you take advantage of any student services?
• What can be improved to make applying easier?
• How settled do you feel right now?

This is not a formal question and answer job interview style group, just a group chat where I will keep these questions in the back of my mind.  It is important to have a clear idea of what data I am trying to get from this focus group.

I’ll have the agenda in written on the wall.  This means that everybody can see our notes and track where we are at in the focus group.   This will be particularly useful if I have misinterpreted anything and we can all see what we have and haven’t covered.

Using an object from home as an icebreaker will help participants to keep thinking of their nationality and unique culture.

As well as find out about their time studying abroad, it will be useful if International Students can help me to think up a snappy title. Having stakeholders choose a title for the design reflects co-design ethos and means that we have a name that reflects the values of the design idea itself.

So, this focus group will move me forward I my design project and understand a diverse range of first hand experiences from students.

Make a Wish

Cultural Probe

I aimed to make a quick, simple and insightful cultural probe.   A penny for a wish and a luggage label, suggesting travel.  There is enough space in the label for a drawing or a bit of writing, however, on it’s own is just a flimsy piece of card.  By adding the penny, it gives the tag the solidarity of an object.

On the reverse, I stuck a label onto the card to suggest an area for someone to write on.  Also, the wee star has already marked the label so that the participant does not feel intimidated by marking a blank space.

The purpose of this probe is to understand why International Students choose Scotland and what they aim to achieve.  Nobody can fulfil their ambition for them, but guide an International Student on their way.

Poem Houses Workshop, Brigid Collins

18th March 2010

Metaphors

I’m a riddle in nine syllables,

An elephant, a ponderous house,

A melon strolling on two tendrils.

O red fruit, ivory, fine timbers!

This loaf’s big with its yeasty rising.

Money’s new-minted in this fat purse.

I’m a means, a stage, a cow in calf.

I’ve eaten a bag of green apples,

Boarded the train there’s no getting off.

Sylvia Plath

I attended this workshop to understand how spoken narrative can be translated into images and 3D objects.

I chose Metaphors, not just for it’s striking visuals, but for the structure reflects the poems subject (I don’t want to spoil it for you). We were provided with a box template, paper fasteners to attach it together and lots and lots of collage materials and paints. Brigid’s work is predominantly collage and we were invited to attend her exhibition at St Andrews town hall.

We only had 2 and a half hours to make up out poem houses, so I used mine as a sketch, just playing around to see what would happen. I decided to make the inside of my box bold and red and the outside drab but inviting. Brigid supplied tags, punches, matchboxes, luggage tags, and a range of media that I had not thought to use previously. As a jeweler I am familiar with tags and punches, however I have never thought to use them on paper.

What implications can this have for visual communication?

Visual communication doesn’t have to be a 2D image or a polished info graphic produced on computer and I am intrigued to find how this workshop might influence my practice.

Pilot Focus Group

Pilot International Forum

7th March 2010

I invited some people to trial a focus group in our flat.

What I have learned:

• I will be very clear about what it is that I intend to find out
• Use a free room in the University
• Tea and cakes to thank participants, yet do not require too much effort and won’t detract from gathering data
• Make up engaging participant information sheets and consent forms
• Borrow video camera to capture raw data, then I don’t need to worry about jotting notes or taking photos

What Makes a Good Layout?

To find out what makes good and not so good layout, I’ve been having a look at leaflets and newspapers.  Both leaflets and newspapers are often text based and are designed to deliver information whilst they are skimmed over by the audience.

Picking up an incredibly text heavy leaflet from a university that welcomes new students, I was neither inspired to explore the university or find out more about the services that it offered.   I am a visual learner and like many dyslexic people, I am out off by dense text.

Rather than pick faults, I’ve tried to find opportunities to improve the leaflet. The layout could be improved to reflect the rage of students within the university and the different methods through which they learn.   Including effective use of images and other visuals such as charts and graphs will reflect the values of this university, which accommodates a range of different students and disciplines.   Highlighting key words will also reflect the values of the university by someone who is skimming over the leaflet.

The newspaper, a contrast yet in a similar vein to the leaflet, has a completely different layout.  The images relate to the context of the articles, so as well as break up text; the reader can understand the purpose and theme of the article by skimming over the images.  The images usually have a strong background colour or are high contrast.  A deep understanding of semiotics is evident through the use of symbols as well as photographic images.  Longer articles also have key words to catch the eye of a skimming reader.

The news is also broken down into categories, such International and Business news.  This helps readers to quickly find what it is that they are looking for without looking through the entire days news.

So, what does this mean for the layout of this blog?

Rather than relay on text, I can include images and charts.  As well as make the blog more interesting for a wider audience, I can also reflect the aim of my Masters Project: to bring down language barriers and appeal to people who’s first language isn’t English. Breaking up information into different categories also helps the reader to find the right information that they are looking for.  This is something that can be arranged in a blog so that readers can quickly find appropriate information.

Central Station Pops Up in Dundee

Dundee has a wealth of creative talent and Central Station; a creative networking site for people interested in art, design and film showcased a sliver of that talent through the Dundee Pop Up 2010.  Each member was given the option to pick and choose events though out the day and could meet up with others at the Rep that was the official hub of Central Station Dundee Pop Up.

http://community.thisiscentralstation.com/_Dundee-Pop-up-Tour/group/109748/126249.html

Central Station Dundee Pop Up 2010

Selecting events from a menu of informative talks and tours, Central station members met at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design.  After a getting to know other members, I chose to attend a talk from three recent graduates, Jeannette Ginslov, Cat Lee Mar and Joanne Hodge.

Jeannette Ginslov works with film and choreography where she talked about her film CoNCrEte.  Jeannette Ginslov explored emotion and tension in the body, using contact improvisation.  The tension is also reflected in her use of the camera.  Rather than frame the performers to make them look nice, the camera takes a predatory characteristic where it is up close to the performers.  To view the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a0bb-O9i_s

Cat Lee Marr, who came from Belfast especially to talk to Central Station members, is a sound artist who interest is in associating sounds with image. Cat Lee Marr developed an installation where electronic components interacted with a film of birds perched and fluttering around a wire.  Cat Lee Marr also created a performance in a sugar beet silo by translating the photographs of the surrounding landscape by punching holes into music box paper.  http://www.catleemarr.co.uk/

Joanne Hodge, who has been mentioned before in this blog talked about her the development of her work and how her ideas changed as she progressed through her course.  With a background in printed textiles, Joanne Hodge is now artist in residence at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art of Design and is also designing ballistic clothing Tayside Police. http://www.joannehodge.co.uk/

Following these informative talks at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art of Design, we then visited Generator Projects, which works to promote up and coming artists in Dundee.  Generator Projects holds annual events such as “They Had Four Years” which promotes recent graduates, helps artists to secure funding and networks with an international creative community.   Generator Projects is also looking to engage artist and audience by holding artists talks events. http://www.generatorprojects.co.uk/HOME.html

Following Generator, it was a short bus trip to Real Time Worlds, a software technology company that specialises in the entertainment industry.  Established in 2002 Real Time Worlds has created some of the most popular worldwide games including “Lemmings”, “Grand Theft Auto” and double BAFTA Award winning “Crackdown.”  Although several games companies have shipped off abroad, Real Time Worlds has no intention in leaving Dundee. There is enough creative talent in Dundee to support this thriving gaming industry with a diverse range of specialists from architects to computer programmers and animators to music composers.  http://www.realtimeworlds.com/

The Hannah MacClure Centre in Abertay University provided the final venue for artists and designers’ talks and networking.  Yann Seznec, (aka the Amazing Rolo) artist, musician and sound designer talked about his Gelkies.  Gelkies comprise of digital components in a jar that Yann Seznec has allowed to develop their own characteristics. Yann Seznec set up an installation where Gelkies were introduced to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh and currently has an exhibition in the Hannah MacClure Centre where Different kinds of Gelkies with different characteristics are displayed.  http://www.theamazingrolo.net/

Also speaking was Jon Gill, SuperGuy of Superfly.  Superfly is an exhibition that brings art out of the gallery and into the streets.  Open to everyone, you don’t necessarily have to be a professional artist and anybody can display his or her work on posters around Dundee.  http://superfly.org.uk/

Mel Woods, programme director of Master of Media Art spoke briefly about Girl Geek Scotland.  Girl Geek is a community set up by both Mel woods and Mona Simpson and is open to women interested in technology, creativity and computing.  Events run in Edinburgh, Dundee, Glasgow and Aberdeen, with networking opportunities, guest speakers, dinner and drinks for those who attend.

Ben and Gail from Yuck n’ Yum spoke about this quarterly Fanzine that promotes creative arts in Dundee.  Yuck n’ Yum runs events where free art was given to members of the public and Bluetooth was used to send free art to peoples’ phones.  Yuck n’ Yum welcomes black and white submissions the deadline for the next issue is 15^th march, submissions@yucknyum.com.  http://www.yucknyum.com/

Sooper Double D’s Jo Basford and Lyall Bruce spoke about their digital illustration collaboration.  Making a feature of their completely opposite approaches, Lyall Bruce uses computer to create colourful illustrations, while Jo Basford uses hand draws with black ink taking a tactile approach.  http://www.sooperdd.com/

Barry and Brianne of Aricka in collaboration with the DCA organise Kill Your Timid Notion, a festival that celebrates image, film and performance art.  In Kill Your Timid Notion, the process of creating is just as important as the final pieces themselves and encourages collaboration.  Aricka encourage people to get involved and take part in the processes used by artists to create their work.  In return, participants can exchange their time to gain free entry to festivals and day events.   http://www.arika.org.uk/

Strawberry Fields is collaboration between illustrator Genevieve Ryan and writer Jo Swingler.   Strawberry fields aims to encourage writers to respond to images and illustrators to respond to stories.  Both are successful in their own right too. Jo Swingler will appear in Gutter Magazine next month and Genevieve Ryan is resident at the Owl and Lion Gallery Edinburgh. http://genryan.blogspot.com/2010_02_01_archive.html

Colliderscope is another collaboration between musician Fiona Soe Paing and animator Zennor Alexander.  These surreal pieces explore the space between lost identities and found objects where meaning is created from random events. http://www.colliderscope.com/

Georgina Follet then spoke about the V&A building in Dundee.  Set to open in 2014, this contemporary design museum is to be built on its’ own separate island (with a beach for the seals) in the River Tay. Rather than archive the historical work of Scotland, this museum will be dedicated to contemporary design and focus on the processes involved in the making as well as the final pieces themselves.  A proposed practice centre will provide intellectual and technical help and support for those wishing to take part in research and design practices as well as nurture collaboration.  During the planning of V&A Dundee design museum, people are invited to engage in cultural activities throughout Dundee.  http://community.thisiscentralstation.com/_Dundee-Popup-This-Is-VA-Dundee/BLOG/1819531/126249.html

The key word of this event is collaboration.  Central Station helps creative people find each other and opens up potential for collaboration.  However, it is not only creative people that are invited to take part.  With up and coming opportunities such as V&A Dundee, people all over Scotland, especially in Dundee are invited to take part in artistic and design activities and the creation of pieces.