Introduction to GDE751

Understanding Phase 1: Research and Discover

After reading the guidance more closely, it became apparent that the first phase is not about deciding on a final outcome. Instead, it is about reviewing my practice to date, identifying recurring themes, and refining these into a meaningful research question that can support a substantial body of work over the next six months.

Phase 1 is divided into two sections. Weeks 1–2 focus on reviewing previous work and evaluating personal objectives, while Weeks 3–4 focus on questioning, refining, and developing areas of interest. Rather than rushing towards a solution, the emphasis is on understanding what I have already explored throughout the MA and using those insights to inform the direction of my final project.

Reviewing My Practice: One of the first activities I undertook was mapping out the key projects I have completed throughout the course. Looking at these projects together has helped reveal several recurring themes within my practice.

1. Backpacking &Travel Project: This project explored ways of making travel lighter, easier, and more efficient. At its core, the project focused on practical problem-solving and designing solutions that improve everyday experiences for travelers.
2. Stained Glass Project: This project was specifically meant to revolve around your local area, so I created a piece of stained glass that represented both me and my area, where I grew up.
3. NeuroRoutes: NeuroRoutes was a project that focused on creating travel materials that support neurodivergent individuals when navigating complex transport systems. Themes of accessibility, inclusion, reducing anxiety, and designing for often-overlooked audiences became central to the project.
4. No Days Off: My photography publication explored ethical travel by encouraging people to look beyond tourist experiences and engage with the labour, culture, and communities that shape destinations. The project highlighted storytelling, awareness, empathy, and responsible engagement with place.

Although these projects differ in their outcomes, they share a number of common concerns. Travel appears repeatedly as a context, but more importantly, each project explores accessibility, inclusion and identifying needs that are often overlooked.

Reviewing My Design Values: Alongside reviewing my project work, I revisited the values and vision statement I previously developed for myself as a designer.

My Core Values: Inclusivity, Adaptability, Transparency, Collaboration, Abstract Thinking.

Vision Statement: "Spotting the gaps. Designing the solutions."

Revisiting these values was useful because they closely align with the themes emerging from my previous projects. Rather than seeing each project as separate, I am beginning to recognise a consistent approach centred around identifying barriers, understanding user experiences, and creating thoughtful interventions.

Initial Areas of Interest

At this stage, I am not attempting to define a final project. Instead, I am identifying broader areas that I would like to investigate further.

Current areas of interest include: Accessibility and inclusive design, Neurodiversity, Equality and representation, Ethical travel, Human-centred design, Underrepresented communities, Improving everyday experiences through design.