Reflect on Reflecting

We had a discussion with Hazel and Jonathan today to check up on how our reflective writing is going. It is a tad confusing because I'm not sure if they know what they want from us. I understand that it's thinking through writing and it's to encourage deeper thinking, but I'm not sure if anyone is clear on what we are meant to be writing about. Tuesday's lectures yes? Everything else yes, but only if it links to Tuesday's lectures?? Is anyone else any clearer than what I am? Care to explain? I get the understanding from the class that quite a few of us are wondering if we are doing it "right" and I know that Jonathan explained that there is no right or wrong way to do it but it's being examined so there must be. I think it might be quite helpful for either Hazel or Jonathan to maybe leave a comment on people's reflective writing just to let us know if we are on the right track or not. Today's session didn't make it any clearer for me, if anything I'm a bit more confused. Didn't realise until I started writing today's entry. Is there anyone on the same boat or do I stand alone?

Reflective Writing

On Monday we were introduced to one of our new modules; Designing Innovative Research and it was Professor Richard Harper that introduced it. He led us into thinking about how to change humans. It's a big question to ask, but looking back it seems simple, well in the way that he put it.

We had a discussion first of all on how designers think and how that differs to how others think, like scientists. We show ourselves in the way of our portfolio a nice clean pretty package with finished objects photographed to look appealing. But we don't like to show the rough side of us, like our sketchbooks, prototypes or failings. But isn't everyone like that? Why would anyone want to show that they are bad at drawing cars or can't spell or struggle with maths, etc. It's a bit like superman telling everyone that kryptonite can kill him, it's giving away his biggest secret and why would we do that? But that's what makes us human, our little flaws, our mistakes, our failings and people sympathise with that. I suppose you can tell that I'm British because apparently we like to tell people what we are bad at.

It is knowing all this that makes people like Richard Harper able to do what he does. Getting inside people's head and figuring out what they like and what makes them happy. The bottom line is that sharing makes people happy. Taking pictures and showing them to people, being told a joke and passing it on to friends, finding a link to something that someone would be interested in and passing it on. I found myself asking, Why do we buy things if we aren't going to show people? The coolest phone, you want people to see it. The best song you've ever heard you want people to hear it. People like to share.

?

Does no one want to write me a story...? I understand it means you taking a few minutes out of our busy schedules but please if you have a tiny bit of spare time just write me a little story.

Does this tell you a story...?

Tell me a story using this image and title("blood, sweat and tears") as your inspiration. It can be as elaborate or as simple as you like just tell me a story...

You can either leave me a story on my blog or email me: kepickering@dundee.ac.uk

Storytelling...

Today we had a storytelling workshop, it was fun but I didn't know how what she got us to do had any relivance to us and our practice. But the traditional element and the project that she is developing "digital storytelling" will hopefully play a big part in my project. I was hoping for a bit more guidence with storytelling, maybe a bit of constructive critiscism. I guess it's how we take it and interpret it, there is no wrong or right.
I want to develop this into my studies as I am interested in memories and memory loss so i'll be working quite closey with the elderly and who are better at telling stories than old people?!

Diamond Prayer

Another couple of jewels that I have knocked up. It's a bit of tongue and cheek regarding religion...and that's all I have to say on the matter...

Diamond love

This is a ring that I am currently in the middle of making. I love it because it is tacky, it's blingy but it also has a nostalgic sentiment with the love heart sweets encased inside. It's a little bit of childhood memrobelia wrapped in a contemporary blingin' way!