Dissertation Proposal

Dissertation Proposal

We have produced a template for your dissertation proposal, a copy of which is reproduced below. The sections relate closely to the work you did in Level 2 where you investigated a topic by doing a literature search, and using primary research methods such as observations and experiments.

Submission deadline for the final proposal: 5 pm Wed 1 December 2010 - submit via email to your supervisor and to Safe Assignment on the VLE

Please download this form from the VLE.

Please save as a word.doc and change the title to your full name, e.g.: John Smith.doc - do not email the proposal without changing the file name.

Sample template

Student Name	Emma Thompson
Course	Interior & Environmental Design
Supervisor name	Mike Press
Email address	e.l.thompson@dundee.ac.uk
Date	30/11/10

Using the template

Enter your personal details in the box above. The email address will be used by your tutor and others to contact you. You must check this regularly for news on tutorial dates.

Read each heading carefully and type into the text box below.

Email your proposal to your supervisor and load it up on Safe Assignment of the VLE

Total word count: between 250-500 words (excluding bibliography).

Working title (max 25 words)

This should give an outline of your research topic. If appropriate use a title and a subtitle. You don’t have to be too specific at first and you don’t have to word it like a question - but you can if you want.

I want to look at Intervention into old public buildings and how important the interior adaption can be in helping create a positive effect all round and regenerate each building and the surrounding area. Also looking at how important it is to consider the benefits of reusing existing buildings not only on an environmental level but to preserve a sense of identity.

Summary (max 250 words)

Here you should indicate what you already know about the topic. You should already have done some reading around it. Summarise this reading with regards to the research topic and describe the research area.

Focusing on Intervention for this dissertation, I came across many areas linked with the word intervention and so to achieve a better understanding I looked into all. Intervention is the act of intervening in some way. When you relate this to art it becomes an interaction with a previously existing artwork, audience or venue/space. With regards to other areas the terms to come between two periods or points in time or to be involved in a situation as to then alter or hinder an action or development can also be used. All of these relate to this term when talking about the architecture of a building. By intervening on an existing building you are changing it in some way that creates a completely new form altogether, the way in which you interact with it and also the way time is represented from its creation to this present day. There are many areas to intervention but for me the book ‘Built On’ helps define probably the mot common separations. Engaging more with the built environment through complex contents or looking more so at the reuse and recycling side whereby transforming existing buildings to then create a completely new approach. What they all want to achieve is an exploration into new ways to adapt and create inventive and refreshing responses to all ready existing buildings and to show how great the change in the form can be. This can be done through adding on to a building, thus creating a new addition to the existing building that clearly defines the old and new. Even keeping the appearance of the existing building the same but the interior has gained a new purpose altogether. Or looking at how you can change the appearance of the existing built structure.

(Continued over)

Aims: Why are you doing this? (max 100 words)

These are a general statement on the intent or direction for the research – why are you doing this? Refer to theoretical aims and practical ones where relevant. For example: How might this improve your design practice? How does it contribute to the discourses within your discipline? Who else might benefit from your research? Is it aimed at an academic or a wider audience? What do you hope your research will achieve? State your aims concisely.

Investigate the importance of interior design within existing environments. A greater understanding of reusing buildings. Being more conscious as a designer, respectful to the environment. Working within existing environments creating different boundaries. Designers, architects, historians, tourists, the general public I’m sure would value some insight into the results /outcomes of intervention. Show how intervention can create a link between past and present.

Objectives: What will you produce? (max 100 words)

Objectives are the things you will produce in doing the dissertation, e.g. a review of the relevant literature, a collection and discussion of people’s experiences/opinions, an assessment of a debate or collection of work etc.

Like your aims, these will help your tutor (and you) assess your success. They may change over time but aims and objectives are useful to keep you focussed. Again be concise here – you may want to use bullet points.

Case studies looking into a comparison between two buildings maybe one an intervention and the other a normal build, perhaps looking into what each are like to experience. Discussion about views on historic buildings and whether or not they should be left to degrade into ruins or to be put to a new use, related more to sacred buildings. Discussion about whether intervention brings together the past and present.

Keywords (min 5 and max 10)

This should be a list of key terms that help us see if you are aware of where your research ‘sits’. For example, if you are writing on depictions of women in advertising your list might include ‘gender, feminism, representation, advertising, semiotics’. Keywords will help you when doing electronic searched for research materials.

Intervention, existing structures, old public buildings, regeneration, interior adaption, environmentally conscious, potential use, old and new.

Annotated Bibliography (min of 12 books, articles, websites)

Place here alphabetically a list of materials which you intent to use for you dissertation. Format these according to the Harvard Method!

Please make sure you have critically assessed these as being appropriate for your topic and write a short paragraph for each one summarising the content and its relevance to your research area.

Daykin, T. (2010) Closed church buildings re-open with new purposes, [online], Available: http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/hampshire/hi/people_and_places/religion_and_ethics/newsid_8700000/8700180.stm. [27 Nov 2010] This article talks about the restoration of closed churches around England. It shares people’s views on whether or not they should be left to decay or put to another use. Douglas, J. (2006) Building Adaption, 2nd edition, Burlington: Elsevier Ltd. The book talks about the additions made to improve on the 1st edition and focuses on adaptions to buildings. The format is similar to that of a textbook and it’s more for helping people learn about adapting buildings and the different forms within. This book would give me a better insight into the way conversions work. Duffy, K. (2009) Vienna Gasometers Converted to New Homes & Shops: Original Architectural Design Saves Viennese Gasometers, [online], Available: http://www.suite101.com/content/vienna-gasometers-converted-to-new-homes-shops-a168155. This article talks about the conversion of Gasometers into new homes and workplaces in Vienna and how they are trying to create a purpose for them rather than demolishing the buildings. Hayes, H. (2009) Sacred Destinations: Hagia Sophia, Istannul, [Online], Available: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/turkey/istanbul-hagia-sophia [28 Nov 2010]. This article looks into the conversion of the Hagia Sophia from a Byzantine church, to a former Ottoman mosque to now a Museum. It’s a good example of a sacred building showing the successful transformations. Kincaid, D. (2002) Adapting buildings for changing uses: Guidelines for change of use refurbishment, London: Spon Press. Most of the research for this book was taken from the University College of London. They looked into use adaptions within greater London about the mid 1990’s where by solving one of the biggest problems with housing shortage they converted a large amount of offices, reusing existing space. This book came about by investigating aspects of the built environment that has never been highlighted before. The aim of writing this book was more for analysing the current practice going on in the uk at present and showing different ways they have approached the implementation and decision making within the property industry. This has great relevance in highlighting how this approach to reusing existing buildings is due to the lack of space and how this process goes about within the uk. Klanten, R and Feiress L. (ed.) (2009) Built-on converted architecture and transformed buildings, Berlin: Gestalten. This book is a collection of works from around the world demonstrating transformed buildings and the way they came about to undertake their new purpose. This book gives us many different examples of large-scale renovations that have been turned into hotels, working spaces and even housing solutions. It shows the creative structures produced that demonstrates the changes between the past, the present and the future. The book gives great examples of conversions, using space cleverly and demonstrating the unusual but creative interior uses. Lai, W. (2006) China Converted spaces, Singapore: Page One Publishing Private Ltd. This book looks at the conversion of old industrial buildings focusing on specifically in China and looking at how these conversions are transformed into something unique. Through looking into industrial buildings giving examples both in text and images of their transformation into a used building. This shows the relevance towards the interior adaption. Majumdar, M. (ed.) (2001) Energy-Efficient buildings in India, New Delhi: Tata Energy Research Institute and Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources. This book looks into 41 different projects giving detailed insights into different contexts as well as the benefits and techniques used within energy efficient buildings. The insight into the way India goes about this shows a different side to energy efficient buildings. McGowan, M. (2008) Design Intervention: Revolutionizing Sacred Space (volume 1), United States: Plainjoe Studios. This book refers to god and intervention, while also referring to the old testament. It explains how churches are buildings that are effective in using their stories from the bible to share to everyone the story of god. It gives an interesting take on churches and hold religion responsible for the design interventions. Musee d’Orsay (2006) From station to museum, [Online], Available: http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/collections/history-of-the-museum/from-station-to-museum.html [28 Nov 2010]. This website explains everything you could want to know about the conversion of the railway station to the museum situated in France. It’s a good representation of an intervention on an old public building. Stone, S. and Brooker, G. (2004) Rereadings: Interior architecture and the design principles of remodelling existing buildings, London: RIBA Enterprises Ltd. This book was broken down into four chapters, analysis, strategy, tactics and case studies. In each breakdown there is a case study for each chapter and another sub-heading that then looks into works relating to each specific topic. It looks at the association between the old and new and an insight into why certain decisions were made within specific designs. It also helps us to understand the process and understanding that designers and architects make. It gives great examples of work and an insight into the process, which is very informative. Thompson, K, E. (1977) Recycling Buildings: Renovations, Remodelings, Restorations and Reuses, United States of America: McGraw-Hill, Inc. This book looks into using existing structures rather than creating new ones and preserving the buildings heritage by looking into restoring historic sites and structures. It documents the creative ways that architects have given, once again life to buildings left to age. I feel this book has great relevance to what I’m interested in. By preserving the buildings heritage I feel is what a change in the interior purpose does and highlights to people how simple and also visually attractive it is to combine the old and new.

Dissertation Topic

My group once again came together to help one another discuss and further develop their topic, chosen specifically for their dissertations. Some of us decided to stick with the subject we used to create our wikipedia page and others went for a completely different approach. We all gathered in the usual graphics room and talked about the topics we all were interested in.

As you can see this was all our mind maps put together, demonstrating the outcome of our session.

Below is a close up of my individual mind map coverage of Fair Trade. As i found the last assignment to be of interest i decided to carry on from what i had already discovered and further develop this as a dissertation topic.

RSA Project: Modern Age

Recently we were given a project to come up with a design response towards the RSA Modern Age competition. The brief is to design a domestic product or living environment for older people that surpasses conventional expectations. We were given four weeks at the start of our third year to dedicate to this project and get to grips with what we were being asked to do.

Modern Age is based on the elderly and how they are seen within society. We had to create a response that either helps a person growing older in the home they made and know or design something for a purpose built home for the elderly that evokes the qualities of a lived-in home. From my own research and investigations i realised how important it is for society to accommodate for the elderly and treat them as equals and not as a burden. This also brought me on to the area of housing accommodation and from this it was very clear that the elderly want to be able to keep their independence at all costs and therefore want to stay in their own homes as long as they can. From this i came up with my 'Staying Put' concept.

Knowing this, i knew i then wanted to design something that could help them do this and so gave me great inspiration to do so. Seeing as it was for elderly people, i purely wanted to base my design on just growing old in itself as there are issues you have to deal with as your body ages. The main example of this is balance and so i took this forward to to create an idea that helps with this problem.

As you can see i developed an idea of a support bar that would help them move throughout their home. As it is still early stages i have yet to determine what the final outcome of the product will be but it will hopefully tackle the problem of the elderly staying in their home and help with their balance.

Mind Map

This is my finished mind map showing the breakdown of my chosen topic, Fair Trade. This brainstorming session definitely helped me gets to grips with Fair Trade and explore aspects of the topic that at first were not so obvious.

I think, therefore I blog!!

It’s the start of a new year and the start of my third at Duncan of Jordanstone, which can only mean one thing… back to blogging.

Our first week back was packed full of course work and no doubt will continue through out this busy year. Design studies introduced us to an interesting approach to our new task. Mixing up the full year of design students, and separating everyone into several groups created a closer bond between the year. My little group of eight – a mix between girls and guys- all came together to discuss the task and to choose our own topics that we want to research further.

Fair Trade and Design appealed to me and seeing as issues relating to the environment are a big part of my course I thought the relation to this topic would be of great relevance and would hopefully give me some valuable knowledge I could use in other class projects. We all came together to brainstorm our individual topics in a small room in the graphics studio.

The session turned out to be a lot more successful than I had thought and I achieved a lot from listening to other students from different disciplines. My topic was broken down further and was a great help to me in understanding the ways in which fair trade effects design. From this I then took the information I had recovered and then created my very own mind map showing the breakdown of my topic. This was an interesting task as it highlighted a lot of issues that as a designer you have to take into consider whatever discipline you are in.

Images from our group brainstorming session.

Essay - Assignment 5

Social psychology of Identities

Semester one

For my reading and reviewing assignment in semester one we were asked to research a topic that we had come across while brainstorming. For this I looked into Social Psychology of Identities and how people’s identities can change due to a number of factors, mainly due to society. While investigating this area I discovered that environments have a lot to do with this and so looked into other people’s work that backed up this statement. From researching and reading into this theory I realized that this could also be easily connected with the design sector and by using this information wisely I could gather a vast amount of data that could help designers such as myself create design responses. From using the methods that I have developed throughout Semester 2 I will use this to further research this area and demonstrate how effective these methods are in helping me obtain a vast quantity of evidence to support my argument.

From looking into the work of Judith A Howard I was able to achieve a better understanding about Identities. She believes the main reason for people to change in different circumstances, is mainly due to society and the effects that it has on people within communities. It has evolved from the idea of who one is to how your possession and outside influences make you who you are today. I then looked into another writers work to do with this area on identities and his take on things. Goffman believes that identities also change due to society, but looks at other ways in which it is done. He mainly looks into environments and the main ways of segregating people in society. From brainstorming this topic I was able to use the research skills I have obtained throughout semester 2, and break down the ways in which I would go about investigating this. From taking this topic and researching into it further then the methods I have learned would help me go about this and would hopefully be of great use to back up my argument.

To prove that Goffman and Howards views are valid I could use each method to devise a set of results that would hopefully relate to what was said. Now if I was to start off my additional research through observing I would be able to then use this to take pictures and to think I questions relating to my observations, thus leading to experiments. From doing each research method I would achieve different outcomes and so it would help me determine what method I would use in future if I wanted certain results. To see how people are with different people or on they’re own or even participating in random activities. Again I was thinking target areas where you can see both. I thought if I was to sit and observe then start off close to home: university campus. I could look at libraries, the union, social gathering and all. The union shop the art building. People there dress a certain way, why? Maybe to fit in?

Again from brainstorming the idea of an experiment involving people I first thought about the surrounding environment and how I could prove this to be a factor of someone’s identity. I then thought about an actual space, thinking about the size and shape, is the space open so there’s no confinement. What else is present in the space? Maybe a seat or is it just an empty box with a door? From looking at all possible angles I considered, looking into the idea of a prison cell. The confined space each person is given, the set regimes, and matching outfits all take away a person’s individuality. Basing my experiment on this idea, I would use an empty room with maybe a window and door. Allowing people to enter this room for a total of 10 minutes and then observing their behavior for that full time. By doing this and comparing each person I should hopefully see some similarities between people, within this confined space. By standing, walking randomly, sitting at a corner or in the centre of the room, leaning against a wall or lying down, I might be able to conclude how relaxed or uncomfortable people feel when placed in an unknown location. I would look into behavior patterns and the meanings behind people actions to complete the experiment. Now to avoid problems that may arise I would test this theory first of all with one factor. The main factors I would consider would be length of time, adding objects, light and dark and architectural features such a windows. If it didn’t give me the results that I was looking for then I would maybe look into the idea of people locked away in a prison, as the experience is looking into real circumstances. Another but similar experiment might be to lock several strangers away in a house for several days. From doing this I could reinstate how closed environments effects certain people and how. I think the intense environment and different personalities will be the main cause of the problems. Does it make them more confrontational or does it bring them together? I would use this method to show how an environment effects the actions of someone and whether this creates a positive or negative situation for people.

From looking into this theory a lot more I could, just from researching and observing different situations expand on the topic itself. If I were to look at major factors such as wealth, education system, crime all would show different variations and the effects on which it would have on people. This again could be taken further especially looking into deprived areas of the world and seeing how their lifestyle contributes to the ways in which they interact with one another. As the topic itself is of vast quantity and could be looked at from many different angles the different methods would be of an advantage. I would however have to consider certain factors such as age and culture that will vary from person to person.

Goffman E. 1959. The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. New York: Doubleday

Goffman E. 1963. Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall

Howard J.2000. Social Psychology of Identities. Annual Review of Sociology, Vol.26: 367-393

Orwell G.1983. Nineteen Eighty Four. Penguin

Juteopolis Project

Semester 2

If I were to complete this assignment once again, this time using primary and secondary researching then the outcome would be slightly different. Looking into researching the topic of jute, gives me a better understanding towards the proposed topic. From looking at the most recent researching method: Primary research, I will examine the benefits of this method in helping me device a design response. From studying old photographs from around the time of the production of jute for example, just like we ourselves studied photographs in assignment 1 from a certain date, I may have been able to determine what was taking place and come to some sort of conclusion. By looking at how the people themselves lived and what type of clothing they wore can help me create a picture of what their lifestyle must have been like. The little things to do with lifestyle, working environments, family can all be determined from studying the photographs and like my results from our own experience, they probably would have turned out to be pretty accurate. If this was the case I probably would have gathered a good amount of knowledge to design the exhibition space to fulfil exhibitors expectations of what it must have been like to have lived and worked in such a place.

Using the picture idea again, I could have used this to gather information that would have been of great use when designing this exhibition space. If I was to maybe carry out my own experiment where I selected a number of photographs from around the production area, the working environment, the evolution process of wool, to jute to flax and the machinery used and then gave them to people out with my course to study, they could have given me a different outlook. By using this gathered information wisely, the exhibition would have been one that was more than exhibitors had perceived, what with their lack of knowledge in this topic area. The simplistic views of those asked could also effect how detailed or basic the objects and information are on display. By using this theory in practice and adding another picture to the equation, this could result in a completely different response. The extra image could sway some people’s opinions of the actual “Jute” Industry and therefore a completely new approach to the full life scale exhibition. If I relate the image to the main production of jute in Dundee compared to an image of the production in Africa I think the African image would cause a greater response since the setting and context are severely different.

By observing people you can also gather enough source material to use as a form of research. Just like my own observations on the London underground this helped me experience the ways in which people go about certain things causing different effects. If I related this research method to the Juteopolis brief I could find out more about the way in which people move around and exhibit spaces. I would look at how people in groups or on their own enter and leave the space. I would also study what sections interest certain people, what age ranges seem more curious and enthralled, and what type of people like to study the objects and others the text. The ways in which people move around is equally important, as is any other method. More so for this project, this method I believe would probably become most successful. The observations made could help decide positioning and the orientation of objects within a space. The best possible layouts for socialising, looking at work, presenting the objects and access routes could come from this study.

Interviewing I thought would be the most effective since you, yourself are asking specific questions you want answered. However from participating in this myself there are many different ways of interviewing people, each with their own pros and cons. Avoiding closed questions means the data you receive will be more successful in finding out what you want to achieve from your questions. If I was to use this method, I would probably start off at a number of exhibitions asking people about what they see, how does this layout suit their tastes, does it help to show off the work, or does it take you on a set course taking away the unpredicted journey round the space. By asking them about the full experience they had from the moment they entered till they leave it can give you almost everything you need and would have bee a great help. If I was to then use this method to speak maybe to workers who previously worked in the mills and staff working at Verdent work to explain their experiences or stories.

Now if I were to look into Secondary Research and how I could have used these techniques to source data then the response would of course be different compared to the use of Primary research. When looking back into first semester the first method we looked into was summarising complex information and then presenting this in the form of a mind map. By using this form I was able to branch off into a more detailed description of the specific topic. Now If I were to relate this to the studio brief then the data would probably have been of vast quantity, a diverse amount of responses to the topic and new outlooks of the brief. I think the range of ideas would explore the topic well enough, that your final outcome of the exhibition space would be one that represents Juteopolis well, as all avenues would have been considered or explored.

Brainstorming itself helps to break down certain topics but can also help you make connections out with the area you are looking into. For our second assignment, into Secondary research we found that design can be linked to so many other disciplines. Using this principle, this task is will give you a vast amount of detailed research. This would have been useful when designing for the Juteopolis project and would have saved me a lot of time during the researching process. Discussing the project with other classmates may have obtained the same benefits. As well as the standard method of researching, cross search gave us the resources on hand to investigate our own chosen topics. This could have givens us all the research needed to obtain specific information.

With Thanks :

Verdent works - http://www.rrsdiscovery.com/index.php?pageID=130

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle or (Upcycle) 2

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle 2

For our Sustainability project, which is the follow on from the smaller book making and power point brief, we have been asked to renovate and use our “upcycling” knowledge within a current building. The distressed building can be found situated on Seafield Road in Dundee and is the “supposed” living space of our real life client who will work and live in this newly remodeled home. As a book conservator she requires enough space for both her living space and studio within and since meeting her and discussing what she wants the space to obtain is proving to be a challenge.

The main purpose to this brief is for us designers to become aware when designing, that the need to be more environmentally friendly is of great demand. From researching into “Green Design” for the previous brief you begin to understand that the little ways of going about “Reducing, Reusing and Recycling” can be of great benefit in the future.

We have had several power points and lectures based on sustainability. Ranging from the technical side of things down to new and up and coming materials. Richard Atkins who is an environmental architect was a guest speaker a few weeks ago and he spoke about the company he works for and their past and previous projects.

This links in well with the Eco-build conference, that took place on Tuesday 2^nd of March down in Earls court in London. A group of us Interior Designers took this long trip down to attend this four-day event that was of great use to this project. The event consisted of many companies advertising their products and designs that were sustainable or eco friendly. From listening to speakers at the event the main problem to do with this is that the many displays were promoting their eco friendliness, when in fact their products weren’t good for the environment as they give out toxins.

Coming away from this event I have realized that it does take a lot of time, energy and money to achieve an eco way of designing. So by keeping this in mind I will try my best when doing the same for this project, to try and work with what you have and going about it the right way.

Pick 'N' Mix

A while back, at the start of the semester us Interior Designers organized a Fundraiser night out at a local club to raise money for our fourth year degree show.

Throughout this year us second years have had to come up with quick and easy ways to raise as much money as we could for this coming June. Small events such as numerous bake sales, pub-crawls have all helped contribute to the increase in our money raised. The designing of a logo and web page are also other little things that help get recognition for our course.

A while back, a few people considered putting together a night out to celebrate our achievements but also to continue the fund raising until we meet our target.They came up with the idea of a night out, themed “Pick ‘N’ Mix”, where you could pick any song you want, request it or even mix it with another. To continue this theme, multiple bowls of sweets would be found around the club. The first 50 tickets sold would also get a handmade bag of sweets, to demonstrate what was to come. Lucky for us this was a big success both in terms of money raised and the amount of fun everyone had.

So another one is currently underway. “Pick ’N’ Mix” this time presents: Allsorts End of Year Party! We still wanted to promote “Pick ’N’ Mix” but let outsiders know that it’s slightly different, i.e. change in the venue. We also got two brand new Dj’s to help our supporters, bust their moves.

Fingers crossed this will be as big a success as the one before and we manage to achieve our target. If it wasn’t for the class support and the hard work from Miss Matthew and Mr Macdonald then we wouldn’t have done half as well as we have.

Interviewing

For this assignment I decided to use one of the questions given to us, as I felt it was of some relevance.

“How have students dress sense changed since they left home?”

Taking this question and keeping it in mind, I expanded on it. While doing so I realized that what I was suggesting related a lot to the research I have already done. This would hopefully help me link the two together.

Leaving home myself I could relate a lot to this question as I feel my own style has developed over the two years of being at university. I guess from being in the company of many individuals around the same age, you become a lot more aware of how you look and come across to people. This for me was due to the need for good first impressions, and so you want people to remember you for good reasons, one being our outer appearance.

When I first started this brainstorming session, I made a mind map demonstrating the breakdown of each heading and my initial thoughts about the topic. By doing this it allowed me to broaden my thought process. As you can see I tried to quickly achieve a random selection of explanations to suit my question, this hopefully influencing my chose. The why, the constraints and the influences of this change were the most obvious categories to separate the information into. From this I thought that the most obvious people to interview were students and teachers, especially art students, who tend to be more expressive and daring when it comes to their clothing. What I wanted to achieve from this was?? I deliberated for a while on what type of questions would I ask and what would come from each as a result.

The first person I interviewed was an architecture student and still classified as a older “teenager” so from this I would be able to target the two areas at once. I asked each person the same number of questions so I had a good selection of questions among the interviewees. I tried not to ask the direct question but base them on ones that could relate in some way. I found at first, when I asked questions the conversation took a while to flow. The basic answers resulting in no or yes. This may have been due to the way in which I asked my questions or the questions I asked might not have been in-depth enough to give a detailed response. The interviewee might have been nervous and so took a while to expand on her answers. From listening and then collating the information the overall response was more to do with the surrounding environment and how since leaving home and living at university she doesn’t feel intimidated by others and the way others perceive her. University for her is an environment where she can just be herself. She believes a lot of people who’s clothing does change or adapt are usually insecure and try and fit in with others. When I asked if she thinks that a person’s course has a lot to do with it, her reply was yes. She justified this by comparing days where she may be busy or stressed to others and she really doesn’t

The second person I then interviewed was still at school, in her second last year. She was a “sweet sixteen” so her views would be different compared to the older teen. I then used the results from my first interview to decide the order in which the second lot of questions would be asked. The idea of the environment creating different outcomes was quite interesting for me since my full topic relates to surrounding environments. So I felt the issue to do with not living at home and having more independence would hopefully give me answers that would address the question. I highlighted the fact that this could be because the parents overlooked on what they were doing and so had less freedom of choice. “Do you think this has something to do with the parents?” This was the way in which I phrased the question, getting straight to the point. “Sometimes, if they were to dress for example slutty then their parents would disapprove and so would ask them to change.” I then developed it further and asked what she felt was her main influence, thus hopefully targeting the main cause of change within an outward appearance. She opened up a lot more from this and continued to expand on the questions without my need to encourage the conversation. Magazines, adverts, since she is tall she also compares her physic to that of others her type and looks at how they use this to their advantage. Key similarities that I noticed between most of my interviewees was how they believe that people dress, is mainly down to their inner confidence and that most people don’t have this and so copy others, thus creating “trends”. They look at how others are going to perceive them and so are constantly aware of what others will think. I know myself that this is one of the reasons why I doubt some pieces of clothing and debate whether to buy them or not. Again this relates to the outside environment and the pressure that comes with “fitting in”.

The last person I interviewed was another older teen. This interviewee has travelled a lot in her lifetime and experienced a lot of different cultures so it was interesting to see how she would react to this. From being exposed to different cultures I wanted to know if she was at all influenced by this or from leaving home and coming to university and if it affected her style. I asked her if she thought her style had changed and if she could explain. “ Nope its not changed but its developed” This I thought was a very honest answer and is true for a lot of people, because as you get older what you thought looked good before may not suite your style now. She then went on to explain how when she was at home she had to wear uniform to school everyday so wasn’t allowed to wear normal clothes during weekdays like she can now what with being at university. She then explained how she is has become more experimental with her clothing because she has to consider what to wear everyday.

From this I also asked whether this brought with it, its own pressure to dress as well as others, but her response was no again. She believed that she felt it a lot less pressure here than she did at back home in Shanghai, which I thought was interesting. She feels more accepted here because everyone is from different cultures, races and ages. One question that I didn’t ask the others was whether she like to shop on her own or as the typical image within a group.” Definitely with people need some advice and second opinions” Although this person seems very comfortable with what she wears and doesn’t feel the pressure to fit in, the answer given makes her sound rather insecure when buying clothing and although she says she doesn’t do it to fit in, she subconsciously does. Getting back to the question itself she doesn’t believe this is true as it has made no difference to her style.

Overall from doing this interview process, its been interesting to see how the answers do not all agree. They were all aware that certain environments do have some influence on your outwards appearance. From looking at others your own age and magazines and adverts can subconsciously influence your taste and just like my last interviewee, everyone at some points wants to dress to fit in. If I was to use this method in the future I would to expand on my area and interview more people to broaden my results. I would maybe also discuss my questions before hand to see how I could achieve the results I want.

Assignment 3 - London Underground

For this assignment we were to take part in our own observations to see for ourselves the way people react in different places, situations or to certain rules. This is to help us in the future solve many problems that may arise and can be solved through this form of research. I decided that my trip to London gave me great research material and as I was experiencing the use of the underground for myself, the basis of the research would be strong.

The London underground is a well-known and used means of transporting busy workers, locals, tourists from one place to another. This quick and so-called “easy” experience is one that can be quite daunting at first what with all the mannerisms and etiquettes that you have to follow to succeed on the underground, but once they have been cracked the process becomes second nature, as I know from experiencing this myself on a class trip to London.

The full process from start to finish is a journey in itself really the purchasing to the elevators to jumping on and off platforms. This can all be a bit much to take in but through the use of rules set out to follow, it works extremely well. From looking into these I can then study the way people behave and react to them.

On entering the tube there was usually a large gathering of people that would obstruct others from entering. This was most likely tourists, travelling in large groups all huddled together. From our groups own personal experience we were normally pushed for time trying to get to and from events and so the time it would have taken to stand and wait around for the queues to shorten, would have gotten us nowhere. So what we thought would have been the best place to stand reading "Ticket and Advice" actually wasn't. From observing the way "Locals" carried out this process helped our group of 20 and so we learned to follow them. Down the left hand sidewall of the station there were 6 or 7 self-serve machines. This was the key to purchasing your daily ticket in a quick and easy manner. One of the first rules learnt was to be approach the machines with your card or cash already in hand and know what zone you were using for that day. This, if not done caused a hold up and created a bit of a fuss, from the people behind who obviously knew what they were doing. In our group we seemed to rely on the older person to help us out if we needed advice, suppose going by the saying “older is wiser”.

Although this method worked to our time advantage it was still a daunting process that took a while to work out. The lack of encouragement from the locals also didn't help, but over the several days we were there, our groups finally got the hang of the self serve machines and managed for a short time to fit in with the underground users.

The next “barrier” was the ticket barriers themselves. Keeping your ticket out at all times you then pushed the ticket through the slot in the barrier, making sure it was up the right way up, then they would open to allow you to pass through. From my own experience this was not always the case, as a result from a dud card. You then had to move fast, and try and grab the first elevator that approached the platform. Although no one really knew why everyone tried to squeeze in so tight since there was usually another one a couple of minutes later. However the wise decision to make the lift a one-way system allowed people to enter and leave in an orderly manner, thus taking away the hustle and bustle of the situation. From being closely packed into the elevator one of the main mannerism I noticed was that people tried to avoid eye contact with one another. What with being so close to a complete stranger people had the tendency to stand facing the exit and look intensely at the doors and so when they opened, it was back to the fast moving pace of the underground.

From leaving the lift you then walked along the tunnel usually down some stairs and on to the platform where you would stand for a couple of minutes then hop on a train. Even in this short space of time this was probably thee most or one of the important things you will learn about travelling this way. This rule was however visible in the form of signs pinned up on the walls and was drawn to your attention. The rule was to “keep to the right hand side” when using the escalator stairs, thus creating a structured system where busy people who had no time to stop, could charge up the left hand side and others who were not so time conscious could rest for a few minutes. The importance of this rule was clear not just from the signs but as a result from getting in their way. Your timing has to be precise especially in large groups of people. Most of the time when you escaped from the elevator, you could hear a train slowing approaching the platform. When this happened most people reacted as if it was their last train home and so quickly picked up the pace to an almost fast walk/run. Now you can imagine what with a large group of people this was a difficult task and making sure everyone made it in time for the train seemed almost impossible. The one thing that was apparent though when we were in our groups was the instinctive reaction to split up and enter through separate doors. Once they were open you had to move fast to squeeze in before they closed, some people would even risk getting crushed between the doors to make it on that one train. There was a real sense of panic between the new comers as this was obvious to all. No one wanted to be left behind on the soon to be deserted platform.

Ok so a lot happens from the time it takes you to decide what zone, purchase a ticket, use the elevator, walk along tunnels and keep to the right hand side of the stairs before we actually get to the train itself. If you have managed to get this far then you have near enough experienced the full underground trek and so its just a matter of repeating and fitting in. When you do finally make it onto the train it’s more of the same situation as the elevator. The awkward glances, the weird closeness you’re forced to have with people, the unsociable music listeners. The usual scene normally consists of young groups of people taking really loudly causing people to stare, the tourists who stand looking at the map, confirming their route to take, the locals who travel back and forth and so carry around a newspaper, the strangers that end up striking up a conversation and the very few who sit and stare into space. From my short time down in London I was about to differentiate people into these different categories quite easily and found that everyone seemed to take a certain role to recapture some of their own personal space.

While travelling on the train, I would usually take in the surroundings, as I was still not accustomed to this way of travelling. What I noticed and from observing was the flow between passengers getting on the train and others getting off. The transition was really quick; normally more people would jump on than off. There were a limited number of seats so most people would try and grab one, as soon they were available. This was usually businessmen and woman who were regular tube users and were not hesitant to dive on in there first. Others would stand huddled together at the opening to the train, usually the ones last to arrive or the tourists gathered in large groups. You got the few who would keep an eye on seats, then change before the train would stop. Standing was definitely trickier what with the harsh movements so you did find yourself swaying back and forth into random people. You never really found people standing in-between the area where others were sitting down, as there wasn’t a lot of support, most people who were getting off would have to barge past them and there is always the risk of falling on someone’s lap, which I did see for myself. The one thing that stood out for me was the age difference. Since most working people use this form of transport to get to their work this explained the majority of people this age, however there was never really people younger than us, using this. Between certain times there were more young than old and vice versa.

From taking this time while down in London to stop and observe the ways in which people react to the set out rules and regulations and going about their daily business, its interesting to see the similarities in behaviour between people. It demonstrates a whole range of techniques from how quickly people adapt to their new surroundings to the ways in which people when comfortable behave different to one’s that don’t. I’ve learnt a lot from taking part in this observation the most important probably being that while doing this it can help solve many of the design problems out there and could also be of use to me in the future. From watching peoples mannerisms you can see the ways in which designs work better or can create problems.

Town Town

Austrian architects Coop Himmelb(l)au are being awarded the Sustainability Award of 2010, MIPIM Architectural review future project awards for their tower, thats designed for the Erdberg area of Vienna.

The 30-storey tower will combine a high rise slab structure with a cylindrical tower, both wrapped in faceted skin.

Green to the Extreme

Talk about designing for the environment.

London Designer Asif Khan has designed a range of tables and chairs made from freeze dried flowers. His design is part of the Designers in Residence program, at the Design Museum in London. The project named Harvest (how appropriate) aims to produce furniture from plants found around london.

They use a plant called Gypsophilia as it has a natural ability to interlock. The plant material is put in moulds and freeze-dried over several weeks before it is bonded with resin.

Valentines Day

Valentines Day!

The day that most single people hate, but for the fortunate loved up ones its a day to take time and appreciate that special person even more than you already do.

The heart is the most commonly used symbol that represents love and finds itself displayed on anything and everything around this time of year, so it was to no surprise when Moorhead & Moorhead designed this 7000 pounds of heart shaped ice, to be displayed in Times Square, just in time for Valentines day.

The blocks of ice have been designed to absorb and magnify the lights of the illuminated chaos of Times Square. The two architects have said that it is expected to slowly melt away in time, to celebrate its "temporary nature".