Reflection on my research methods
This blog has surprisingly been the single most demanding experience I have had to endure-in particular having to critically evaluate my own work, managing and planning my time when collecting information and spending large amounts of time reading articles that end up not being relevant to what am trying to achieve. If anything, the experience has left me humbled with a better appreciation for efficient planning and organisation.
I started out with little to no clue on what or how I would approach the topic Participatory Design Processes that I had set out to research since my knowledge of the subject was from a project I was attached to as a graphic designer; I was curious to know more about the subject, how it worked and possible practical applications that I could look into for my development and I think from the work I did in the bibliography and the critical assessment, I got most if not more insight into the origins, principles and ideas that underpin the subject matter.
As for practical applications I found a mixed bag of practical applications of which are usually carried out on a large scale to solve some rather complex problems facing groups of people for example, Alejandro Aravena is solving global challenge of urbanization with participation from the communities. From my understanding of the research these are sizeable projects to implement, this detail lead me to question whether or not I had made a mistake in my initial focus on Participatory design processes plus I could not quite figure out how to connect this to my practical work but I still managed to get much needed context not only of the topics but the research helped to jump start the process of inquiry into what else was possible with greater emphasis on practical applications for my practice work.
What I think helped the most was the opportunity to pick a keyword for the practice 1 assignment. The broader research gave me the needed spark to look into more contemporary works for example Modern design and the latest in visual design languages.
Research Findings
Through my research I effectively expended my knowledge and understanding of participatory design processes from both a theoretical and practical perspective. This was achieved by reading journals on the subject and viewing talks of practitioners who are at the forefront of this approach to find community backed solutions to problems.
The most useful research I have conducted has to be that of visual languages that emphasis clarity since this coincides with my own work and being able to take the time to explore this particular topic has helped to inform my own design work since principles like being Authentically digital and Do more with less; and influences such as the Bauhaus philosophy of stripping away superfluous decorations so as to focus on the essence of the functional which is the hallmark of the New Typography-Modern Design Movement are current ideas that have very practical uses.