Lauren Hyndman: Final Year of Design Degree

The following layout is a metaphor for personal boundaries and having a little bit of control in a big world.

I am researching personal space and 'dens' for my dissertation, and it would be most helpful if you could possibly answer the questions below, and send them back to me. If there is anymore information which you would like to add, please feel free.

The questions can be answered as briefly or as in depth as you see fit, or can find the time for.

Thank you,

Lauren.

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Not everyone would claim to have a 'den', although it is likely that everyone will have an area or a place that they go in order to seek quiet time or to self reflect or to escape. 'Dens' are usually associated with children and therefore an adult may find it inappropriate to have a 'den', but a 'den' can mean different things to different people. A 'den can be a small private room or a relaxing walk alone in the park where your mind can wander.

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1. Define the word 'den', and what it means to you.

2. Would you say you have a den? If so, where, and why?

3. What happens when you are in your den? What do you do? Are you alone? And how often do you go there?

4. How do you feel in your den? Does it change your mood? Do you retreat there when you are in a particular mood?

5. Did you have a den as a child? How does it differ to your den as an adult (if you have one)?

6. If you claim to never having a den, why is this?

7. Where do you go to seek peace and quiet and escape from the pressures of everyday life? What do you do?

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The following questions need only be answered if you are comfortable in doing so, but would help me a great deal if you could.

Name? (how you would like to be referenced to within my body of work - this could be anonymous)

Age? (or age group if you prefer)

Country of birth?

Country(s) spent childhood?

Would you feel comfortable if I were to ask to photograph you in your den? If not, are you able to supply me with a photograph?

Continue reconsidering the design of photograph exhibition.

Photograph Andy Du Feu in his garden, and collect his interview.

Interview Anne Schiffer and photograph (German culture??).

Interview Mariam (Spanish – level one) and photograph??

Photograph children's play areas.

Relationship between childhood dens and adult dens.

Modern day children's den?? How have they changed and why? Technology's influence?

One

Two

Three

I am currently half way through a six day course on a 3DSMax for creating and rendering 3D models.

I have gone through all the tutorials and tomorrow I start using all the tools to help me create a rendering of my own designs... I shall post images of them on here in due course.

Today I combatted a long growing fear of getting into the workshop this year, finally. I started making models using pink foam (technical name?), band saw, and belt sanders, as well as a large range of nifty filing tools. I was very proud of myself considering I hate hate hate band saws. I find them really daunting to be beside. But, I conquered whatever it was holding me back. With a little help from my friends

Anyway... I also had a tutorial with Andy today, discussing his concerns over my project. I feel a little doubtful that I know what I am doing now. So I have made another appointment to see Andy again on Monday, and I intend to have a think over the weekend about where I see this project going now.

The following are the points Andy gave me as feedback;

* Pin point what I want to achieve from the project.
* Write 1- 3 different aims.
* Come up with a brief.
* Come up with a number of ideas on how to highlight issues in packaging.
* Read some eco-design books (Michael Herrmann's tip that he gave me today!)
* Try and establish the change in attitudes of a small group of people towards packaging especially in consumerism.
* Highlight excess packaging used using focus groups.

In today's tutorial today with Wendy, sadly missing a talk on starting up your own business and a talk on intellectual properties, we discussed the following;

* I need to make it clear, the distinction between Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs being a model of motivation, and Norman's Levels being a model of association with objects, and therefore are models that can not be directly compared, as I may have been doing so far in my essay.

* Complete table of different theories and their positive and negative attributes, Maslow, Norman, Crozier, Jordan, Human Givens, etc.

* My Design and Emotion section of my dissertation is beginning to reach completion, additions include parts of a book Anne recommended to me called "stumbling on Happiness" by Daniel Gilbert. Wendy has suggested that I stop fiddling with this section until nearer the deadline.

* I should start to draft the section on why and how children create or use dens (accepting that I have further primary (photographing dens) and secondary research still to do on this.

* At the same time, I should be continuing with my case studies and subjects (acknowledging that my sample is somewhat skewed, trying secondary sources for non-UK culture!).

* Contact new subjects for research;
          - Andy Du Feu (male over 20) - <emailed>
          - Peter Reed (male over 20) - <need to email a follow up questionnaire>
          - Mariam (Spanish) - <need to produce a questionnaire>
          - Anne Schiffer (German) - <need to produce a questionnaire>
          - Anne Briggs
            (claims sleeping is her den... possible?) - <need to produce a questionnaire>
          - Rupert Bozeat 
            (claims he doesn't have a den, I think his laptop is his portable den) - <spoken>
          - My father (maybe cycling is his den!)
          - Juha Kaapa (male over 20 and from Finland) <emailed>

* I really need to produce a gantt chart including all my projects so that I can schedule myself better and not let any of my projects fall behind.

* I am required to complete ethics forms due to the research I am hoping to do. I need to make a note that I would be obliged to report to the police if I notice a child is at risk, but I should not persue it myself.

A quick chat with Andy showed a bit of his anxiety towards my "Attitudes to Packaging" project. He explained that this was due to the similarity of the project to my dissertation in terms of final outcome methods and research methods.

He said that I could get around this by using the research and present it as a campaign to raise awareness about how British people see and treat packaging. I can easily integrate this idea to differentiate the studio and dissertation work.

Actually, I spoke to Robin (one of the wokshop guys) yesterday eregarding my aerosol design. He gave me a few pointers in terms of materials but he has asked me to spend the day in the workshop on Thursday in order to produce quick models of my designs three-dimensionally in pink foam. And possibly using the lathe, wood turning machine.
and robin

I have withdrawn from my involvement in New Designers.

This is due to my work going down a very two dimensional path, and therefore I do not feel like it would suit me to exhibit it there.

How official does that sound?!