Sunday 23 January 2011
What If... - Self Evaluation
What problem did you identify?
After looking through each of the groups research we made, we realised that what we all had in common was the fact there is so many unused shops and building in Leeds basically going to waste, when they could be used for something more useful.
What evidence did you find to support your decisions?
The main part of the evidence we found was the photographs that were taken amongst the group of the unused shops and building. Also, as well as this we used google maps to locate certain areas with a large number of these shops, as well as sing the internet and found a blog relating to a similar problem where someone has actually counted that there are 92 unused shop spaces in Leeds.
What methods did you use to gather your evidence and what forms did it take?
We used quite a broad range of methods to gather evidence within our research. The main aspect of it was the interactive posters we made and went and stuck on a specific unused building in quite a busy area. After a little encouragement from Will, we got quite a decent response on them. As well as this we got the photos of the actual building, as well as setting up discussion topics on forums specific for Leeds and a Facebook page where anyone could comment.
What methods of research did you find useful and why?
The most useful method we used I think has to be the interactive posters. I think this because we got the most responses on these which later proved to be vital within the final idea decisions. It gave us back pretty much a variety of immediate responses from the actual public we were wanting to target, so we knew we couldn't go far wrong with it. Also, whilst we were in the area where the posters were up, we got some more general primary quantitative research about general statistics of that area, such as the ratio of men to woman, and how many cars drive past, etc.
How did this inform your response to your problem?
As said previously, by getting the amount of responses we did on these posters it gave us a lot better understanding as to what the actual public in this area would really want from the unused building, rather than just a couple of random responses from people who haven't got a clue. This helped us with the decision making as to where to move the project on to.
What research could you have carried out that could have proved more useful?
We could maybe have tried to look into what the specific building we chose was used for previously before it became unused, as well as getting to know things like who owns it and what not which could have then helped with the later stages of the project by enabling us some more adventurous outcomes than what we actually came up with.
List 5 things that you have learnt about the design process over the last 2 weeks:
The last 2 weeks has proved to me how important actually going out and experiencing for yourself what it is your working with, in our case the buildings and the area, it allows you to get a better understanding of it and really helped to come up with more appropriate ideas to use. Also, basically just the amount of research to collect, both primary and secondary, really helps with the development of a project with the more that there is available. It was interesting to see this project pan out with none of us not really knowing where it would end up, so I learnt to let a project just run its course and not try to come up with a solution from the word go. I also learnt that the solution to a problem doesn't always necessarily need an immaculate outcome, so long as the idea and concept and evidence is behind it. Finally I learnt how working close knit as a group really helped to push forward the project and not leave anyone behind not really knowing. I do feel a bit more confident at the end of this group brief than I did the previous about my own personal group working skills, which is definately a bonus tfor me personally.
List 5 things you would do differently next time:
One thing I would like to at least try and do differently would be to involve myself that little bit more within the group, without becoming too overpowering obviously. I will definately in the future let and projects I am working on pan out without trying to focus them down a route I would like to do, rather than what could potentially be a better solution overall. Within this brief I do think if we had more time, and a better funding, that maybe we could have gone on to actually do the final ideas rather than just having to Photoshop them. I will start to gather more research at the start of briefs, both primary and secondary, to help inform and decisions or what ever I may need it for later within the brief. I will generally just make sure that I am more focused and motivated throughout the whole of briefs to ensure I am solving them to the best standard I can achieve.
After looking through each of the groups research we made, we realised that what we all had in common was the fact there is so many unused shops and building in Leeds basically going to waste, when they could be used for something more useful.
What evidence did you find to support your decisions?
The main part of the evidence we found was the photographs that were taken amongst the group of the unused shops and building. Also, as well as this we used google maps to locate certain areas with a large number of these shops, as well as sing the internet and found a blog relating to a similar problem where someone has actually counted that there are 92 unused shop spaces in Leeds.
What methods did you use to gather your evidence and what forms did it take?
We used quite a broad range of methods to gather evidence within our research. The main aspect of it was the interactive posters we made and went and stuck on a specific unused building in quite a busy area. After a little encouragement from Will, we got quite a decent response on them. As well as this we got the photos of the actual building, as well as setting up discussion topics on forums specific for Leeds and a Facebook page where anyone could comment.
What methods of research did you find useful and why?
The most useful method we used I think has to be the interactive posters. I think this because we got the most responses on these which later proved to be vital within the final idea decisions. It gave us back pretty much a variety of immediate responses from the actual public we were wanting to target, so we knew we couldn't go far wrong with it. Also, whilst we were in the area where the posters were up, we got some more general primary quantitative research about general statistics of that area, such as the ratio of men to woman, and how many cars drive past, etc.
How did this inform your response to your problem?
As said previously, by getting the amount of responses we did on these posters it gave us a lot better understanding as to what the actual public in this area would really want from the unused building, rather than just a couple of random responses from people who haven't got a clue. This helped us with the decision making as to where to move the project on to.
What research could you have carried out that could have proved more useful?
We could maybe have tried to look into what the specific building we chose was used for previously before it became unused, as well as getting to know things like who owns it and what not which could have then helped with the later stages of the project by enabling us some more adventurous outcomes than what we actually came up with.
List 5 things that you have learnt about the design process over the last 2 weeks:
The last 2 weeks has proved to me how important actually going out and experiencing for yourself what it is your working with, in our case the buildings and the area, it allows you to get a better understanding of it and really helped to come up with more appropriate ideas to use. Also, basically just the amount of research to collect, both primary and secondary, really helps with the development of a project with the more that there is available. It was interesting to see this project pan out with none of us not really knowing where it would end up, so I learnt to let a project just run its course and not try to come up with a solution from the word go. I also learnt that the solution to a problem doesn't always necessarily need an immaculate outcome, so long as the idea and concept and evidence is behind it. Finally I learnt how working close knit as a group really helped to push forward the project and not leave anyone behind not really knowing. I do feel a bit more confident at the end of this group brief than I did the previous about my own personal group working skills, which is definately a bonus tfor me personally.
List 5 things you would do differently next time:
One thing I would like to at least try and do differently would be to involve myself that little bit more within the group, without becoming too overpowering obviously. I will definately in the future let and projects I am working on pan out without trying to focus them down a route I would like to do, rather than what could potentially be a better solution overall. Within this brief I do think if we had more time, and a better funding, that maybe we could have gone on to actually do the final ideas rather than just having to Photoshop them. I will start to gather more research at the start of briefs, both primary and secondary, to help inform and decisions or what ever I may need it for later within the brief. I will generally just make sure that I am more focused and motivated throughout the whole of briefs to ensure I am solving them to the best standard I can achieve.
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