My Brand

As part of our Design Led Product & Service Innovation module we each had to present our personal brand to the rest of the group. Module leader Tom Inns introduced us to the 'Brand-me Code Model' which we were to use to inform our presentations.

I decided to create a representation of myself from which a summary of my brand values could be revealed. The main 'me' is made from balsa wood and felt. The 'speech' is hand-stitched onto till roll. As the film played, I recited a little rhyme providing more detail about my brand and my self.

One day I will record a proper film with voice over but for now they remain separate. Celebrate the scroll.

I am Rosie,

This is who I am,

I'll try to describe me,

As best as I can.

-Benefit-

I think a lot

About things you may not.

I investigate all

That's going on.

I bring things together,

In some way that is clever

And then spot everything

That's wrong.

-Positioning-

I can write a nice story

Jackanory,

I naturally do so

In rhyme.

But the art of speech

Is out of my reach,

And so preparation

Takes a long time.

-Style-

Comfort is key

In everything for me,

But still everything must be,

Just so.

I try to fit fun

Into all that is done,

So to craft

Is the way that I go.

-Mission-

I hope to promote

Some deeper thought

In those that usually

Just jump straight in.

I sometimes find

That people see blind

And want to stop them from

Just looking in.

-Vision-

In the future I see

A still confused me,

Always learning but not

Getting too far.

It sure would be great

To collaborate

And to be happy

With the way things are.

-Values-

I make a big deal

About how others might feel.

I try to avoid things

That offend.

This has, though, been known

To get over-blown,

So I rely in common sense

In the end.

10 minute dreams

Our group project for this semster of Design Ethnography is a go-go! I am working alongside Lindsey and Chris and we are makign good progress.

A blog following the project can be found right here.

Synthesis houses.

For today's DE session we were asked to synthesise all the information relating to people in space collected in the previous tasks; to provide an overview of our findings.

Re-visiting it all and jotting down key points helped to remind me of all I had discovered. Then I made a cake. I have come to realise that I like to immerse myself in information and then to stop. Going away and doing something else allows my thoughts to settle which, in turn, helps the next part of the process.

The explorations were all based around people and place. Within these headings, sub-threads quickly emerged: open-plan space // private space, relationships with space // relationships between people within space. It was these sub-threads that I wanted to represent.



I made two 'houses' to represent open-plan space and private, enclosed space. Inside each is a set of people explaining how they relate to that space. Those belonging to the open house are holding hands because it is a sociable place to be. Those belonging to the private house are holding hands (because they will still talk to each other at some point) but their connections are perforated because, ultimately, they are kept separate.

In the end, I wasn't happy with the result. In an ideal world I would have liked to go back and complete further small studies in order to add to the richness of what I portrayed. Our class discussion did, however, remind me that there is sometimes a need to keep the information very basic. Such communications can be used to provide a quick overview of themes or to prompt discussion. I created work to be used in that very way throughout my undergraduate honours project - conducting research, representing, discussing that representation, representing new findings, etc.

Our next task is to finalise this output and to compose an auto/ethnographic report on the synthesis process.

I can think!

Today my mind started to work again. I could feel it happening. It's very nice.

I often wonder.

I've just updated my website.
http://www.ioftenwonder.co.uk/

A little stitching.

Last week I felt the urge to stitch. This happens. I stitched my workbook. Stitching through paper is always nice... see how pronounced the individual stitches are.

I'm fascinated by the reverse side of stitched letters. It becomes another language. I like to think there's a lost culture somewhere that would recognise it as their own. One day I'm going to compile a 'Reverse Side Stitched Alphabet Guide'. I will stitch the alphabet (through paper of course) in the way that seems most natural to me. Others might be invited to do the same. This would make a lovely book. Every alphabet will be different depending on stitch method. How would they compare? What would they reveal about the stitchers? I like this.

Go.

It would appear that we are already in week four of the course. Goodness. Seems like a good time to start a blog. The hope is that I will use this space to document my thoughts about Design Ethnography. I am also certain that some additional wonderings will slip in from time to time.

Woop.

Super.