Lecture Week 2 – Key Notes

Reference past projects and modules where relevant.

Always align your work to the learning outcomes, consistently referring back to them: LO1: Research Select and deploy appropriate research methodologies to inform the needs within a project. LO4: Distil Position a creative strategic insight that has been distilled and refined through an informed investigation. LO5: Imagine Deliver appropriate and innovative ideas that embrace risk, have contemporary relevance and question the boundaries of the discipline. LO6: Make Select and utilise relevant tools, skills and technologies in the delivery, iteration and sustainable production of an outcome. LO7: Collaborate Demonstrate inclusive and empathetic strategies to plan and execute a project across distributed collaborative situations. LO8: Design Realise a final solution that evidences its strategic journey and clear relationship between form and function. LO9: Communicate Communicate effectively in a range of contexts and situations to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

It’s good to take detours outside your comfort zone, especially into areas that interest you, but keep in mind you have only four weeks, so don’t take this too far.

Make sure your work is driven by a central question. This should be organic and open to refinement:

• What is my research area?
• What is my question?
• What is my positionality?
• What is my methodology?

Storytelling is key, your work should clearly communicate how you arrived at your final outcome.

• Identify what interests you.
• If an outcome is the “how” and an idea is the “what,” then your research and insight are the “why.”
• Watch Design is Storytelling by Ellen Lipton on YouTube — it offers useful tools for strengthening storytelling in your work.

Research your audience. For example, if your audience is backpackers/travellers:

• They are often budget-conscious, curious, and adventurous.
• Understanding your audience is vital as a designer — don’t ignore what is in front of you.
• Adapt your brand values based on your audience and their needs.

Investigate the history of your audience. For backpackers, explore the history of backpacking, travel culture, hostels, and similar topics.

Creating mockups brings a design to life. Theresa often photographs environments and adds the finished piece later to make it more realistic. You could do the same, photographing hostels where your “thneed” could be useful and adding your design afterwards.

Consider the full lifecycle of your product:

• How will it be sold?
• How will it be advertised?
• Who will make it?
• Cover all bases.