Week 07 – Collaboration

Wednesday August 31, 2011

 

Today we did a group exercise where we were to step forward if we were comfortable admitting that we were a part of a series of questions or they applied to us, for example:

Are you Working Class?

Have you ever cried sometime this year?

We then had to analyse how we felt about ourselves and also our peers stepping forward to certain personal questions.

 

Group Exercise

 

Acknowledging Differences – CROSSING THE LINE

 

 

Reference (image above): crossing the line

 http://www.flickr.com/photos/wili/233609781/

 

• 10 mins: Instructions

• 15 mins: Participation

• 10 mins: Blog

• 1. Write about your feelings

I found some of the questions becoming quite personal and had a small reluctance to step forward on those that applied to me. This was a result of feeling like I didn’t know my classmates well enough as my family and friends. Once I noticed them move forward on sensitive topics I was able to put my embarrassment on the line and make my move forward more comfortable and with pride.

 

• 2. Write about how you think other people felt

I think the others shared similar reluctance to step forward on the sensitive topics and some questions they didn’t understand fully so they refrained from stepping forward.

 

• 3. Write about how the exercise helps you understand and accept differences

Once we all moved forward on an embarrassing question we gained more respect for each other and became more comfortable to portray our own choice, differences and situations.

 

Give examples (from the exercise or your own life) for all 3 topics above

When the question was asked: “Do you have a learning disability?” I was the only one who stepped forward. Even though I have not been told I have a learning disability I find I am not able to soak in information under certain circumstances.

 

My classmates had a puzzled look on their faces and it looked like they were surprised to find me having a learning disability as I often contribute outspokenly to the class content.

 

Josie then thought it was my colourblindness to which I had totally forgot about but was very true. I accepted that being colourblind was definitely a learning disability but I have learnt to make do so it didn’t not even enter my thoughts when I stepped forward.

 

 

Blog Exercise (cont.) – 15 mins

Professional discretion and judgement may relate to:

• assessing when to keep quiet

• being aware of and responding to different personality types

• knowing when it is appropriate or inappropriate to share information

• knowing with whom information should be shared

 

• Add 2 items to the list above
• Respecting everyone regardless of your views
• Being aware of cultural backgrounds and social origins,

 

2. Give a REAL example from your own experience to illustrate all 6 points

 

FACEBOOK

 

 

Reference (image above):Facebook logo

http://www.bsfreemarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/facebook-logo2-300x300.png

 

 

My actions and comments

      Assessing when to keep quiet – When someone on my friend list posts their heartfelt view on Pit bull Terriers being non violent dogs with a placid nature

 

      Being aware of and responding to different personality types – There has been times when I know a person has low self esteem and I have a really cool or funny comment to write but not using it in case it came off as offensive

 

 

      Knowing when it is appropriate or inappropriate to share information

I have about 1200 friends on facebook whom I all know for some reason or another and some I am close to, some I am not. I generally will not post comments on my status on what I am up to or how I am feeling because I don’t want all those people to know every aspect of my daily life.

      Knowing with whom information should be shared

      If I know information about another person shared in confidence about another person on the same friend list I will refrain from sharing that information if it is for the right moral reasons or if it is none of my business

 

Respecting everyone regardless of your views - I try to share information along the guidelines of good morals so I don’t offend the majority of friends on my list who might see it. In reality, at least one person may be offended but that is life.

 

      Being aware of cultural backgrounds and social origins – Anything that makes me feel bad with an open mind, is going to disrespect others more so than something that is light-hearted. I tend to steer clear of generalizing on race and culture yet I will joke about stereotypes in a light-hearted fashion if it is deemed appropriate.

 

 

3. What is the difference between discretion and judgement? in your own words?

Discretion is knowing how and when to be respectful and judgement is using the skills based on your knowledge to implement this.

 

4. Why do you use these two things in a professional setting?

(explain by using examples)

Discretion can be used when designing a poster unique to a certain culture you would make sure you check with that culture or a member of that group whether or not your design is respectful of their representation.

Using the right judgment in the design industry relies on your knowledge of moral values and gaining an understanding of anything strange or uncertain you would like to explore before designing something new.

 

 

 

YouTube Clip

 

Positive Action Themes: Respecting Others' Ideas

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OKH5PgQLLs

 

Commentary

This clip is taken from a primary school class where the basis of our learned behaviour comes from. There are two scenarios within the video: the right way and the wrong way to respect each others’ ideas. These are acted out. The video clip is clear, concise and educative. Its very good that kids learn this at an early age.

 

Reflection

 

Today’s class was successful in finding out a lot about our classmates and learning lessons on judgment simultaneously. Many pre-judgments we had about certain aspects of our classmate’s lives were changed or outlined in our group exercise. I learnt to be proud of who I am and what I represent by stepping forward in front of semi-strangers. This was strengthened by taking a risk, becoming vulnerable and seeing our classmates do the same. 

Week 07 – Origination

Wednesday August 31, 2011

READING: The Laws of Simplicity; John Maeda

 • Intro and Law 6 – Context

http://lawsofsimplicity.com/2006/07/23/law-6-context-2/

Law 6

Context

“What lies in the periphery of simplicity

is definitely not peripheral”

1. What does the word ENTROPY mean and why is this relevant?

It is like a natural flow of energy gathering momentum into disorder. Maeda implies that we need to fight against this

2. If you are attuned to everything around you, does it help you deal with what is in front of you and why or why not?

You need to concentrate on what you are doing but also be aware of your surroundings to make sure you are on track and take in important information from valuable sources that you would usually block out. Contexualising with what is going on around you.

3. How is this different from FOCUS?

You need to look at the bigger picture step back look what’s going on before you apply your attention to a certain area.

4. Being comfortably lost is a balance between what 2 feelings?

Anticipation
Uncertainty

Reference (image above):Comfortably Lost

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6143/6002625471_4be2b2f1f8.jpg

5. Describe a recent scenario when you found yourself to be “comfortably lost”. Did you enjoy the sensation?

Moving to Sydney I didn’t really know where I was half the time because it was big and daunting yet I knew I could ask a local or get on my Google maps. It was just fun to explore.

6. If you couldn’t hold back the urge to write on the “don’t write on this page” page –

What would you write?

I would draw my creative patterns all over it

Thinking Game – Lateral Thinking DISCUSSION

Reference (image above):Thinking Man

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8mTnmB_jfli6mHiCs76Y7QsJ7V37429rxUOT2s7Uerma4noYX8qHiTbsNvwiCHOegaXGJc-GbeoXMftpUYxUcYLR4nU1zbsMnmaGVNIcEKSFa6iUhsOlESDFcCq6Zsm2n6a12hdLCsVM/s1600/thinking-man.jpg

Edward de Bono’s “6 Thinking Hats”

• Which HAT best represents your group?

Our group is “Branding” and so the best hat could be the white hat

• Why?

White signifies clarity

This will help think about the key fundamentals of the Brand “Ten Squared” and what it stands for.

• Describe an Exhibition Group meeting where you may adopt the BLACK hat

If our Logo and tagline design exceeds the time allocated according to the time line and/or the design itself does not represent the exhibition successfully we need to shift it on track

• In your blog write 6 labeled paragraphs on your group’s progress to date, using each of the 6 hats as a perspective.

The white hat

White signifies clarity

We thought about the key fundamentals of the Brand “Ten Squared” and what it stands for

The yellow hat

Yellow instils happiness

We explored and applied the successes of other brands and visualised the positive outcomes

The black hat

Black is like a canvas for perspective and criticism

The branding went off on a tangent so we had to be aware of the timeline to keep on track

The red hat

Red is like the moods

We discovered what we liked and didn’t about the design ideas for the branding and the exhibition

The green hat

Green resembles growth and new life

We allowed our thoughts and ideas to develop the Brand

The blue hat

Blue can be associated with calm and control

We made sure everything was in perspective and asked each other for input on how the Brand is developing

YouTube Clip

Indigo Introduces de Bono's Six Thinking Hats®

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4IkCdBTxxE

Commentary

This was a clear and concise outline of the definition of the 6 thinking hats used in design. I liked how the narrator got to the point straight away and explained all the elements in less than a minute. This clip goes to show that you can explain something that seems complex in less than a minute.

Reflection

We are delving deeper into understanding the thought processes going into the design thinking process and the six hats really bring this home in conjunction with Maeda’s book. I find that I conduct most of the processes anyway but there are always a few aspects I haven’t thought of that can save a lot of time and money down the track. I am inspired at Maeda's attempt on breaking down the laws of design but I believe he can condense these even more. He puts alot of his own personality into the book which is comforting in a sense that you can relate as a human. I think however, in a 14 week design course you tend to be in a rush and want just the bare essentials of his teachings. You can then apply it practically to your own work without wasting precious time. 

Week 06 – Collaboration

 Wednesday 24 August 2011

Today we began our new subject called “Collaboration.” This subject allows us to improve our group interaction, behaviour and respect of others.

Ethical behaviour – BLOG EXERCISE

Trustworthy and ethical behaviour in collaboration may relate to: 

•   acknowledging discomfort or anger 

•   being prepared to fully participate 

•   communicating in an open way 

•   honesty 

•   honouring commitments 

•   sensitivity to social, cultural, personal situations and dynamics 

•   showing respect 

•   understanding of the consequences of actions

Add 2 items to the list above - then SORT the 10 items into 2 groups. 

§ Being assertive

§ Expanding cultural knowledge base

 1. Essential

 2. Secondary  

(give at least one example for each group)

1.Essential

showing respect 

•   communicating in an open way 

•   being prepared to fully participate

  •   honouring commitments 

•   sensitivity to social, cultural, personal situations and dynamics 

Example: Acknowledging someone when they enter the room

2.    Secondary  

•   understanding of the consequences of actions

•  •   acknowledging discomfort or anger 

•   honesty 

§ Expanding cultural knowledge base

§ Being assertive

Example: Accepting the punishment of your actions if you have done wrong

Trust & creative partnerships - GROUP EXERCISE

PART 1: Whos Got a Dollar?

•   Demo

We were asked to pledge our aspirations for this unit on a dollar then the next person $2, next person $5, $10, etc

•   Silent Reflection

I was unsure what this exercise was originally about.

  1. Would you volunteer your money - that is, take risk?  I would if I knew where it was going

  2. How did you feel?  confused

  3. Did you feel a little sheepish? yes 

  4. What about when the ante was upped to ten dollars?  There was more at stake

  5. Twenty?  Come on!

  6. Did you think the volunteers were foolish?  Undecided

Trust & creative partnerships - GROUP EXERCISE

5 mins:

PART 2: Eye Contact

PART 3: Eye Contact with Touch

PART 4: Proximity – comfortable / closer / further

15 mins:

PART 5: Blog

•   draw quick icons / diagrams to represent the above exercises

Gazing into the opposite person’s eyes for 60 seconds

before shuffling to the next person

Gazing eyes & holding hands

Kum ba ya!

Gazing up very close almost touching rhino horns

References (Images above): WB Drawings of Class interactions week 6 collaboration

•   comment on your feelings and observations

I felt uneasy at first gazing into the eyes of my colleagues. I felt like I was staring disrespectfully at them and the tension caused me to laugh. I didn’t want the other person to think I was laughing at them but it was a natural reaction to the situation. When we were asked to hold hands and gaze into the other person’s eyes it brought another dimension into proceedings – touch. It was actually a nice warm feeling of being human and sharing a sense of humanity that we seem to distance ourselves from these days.

When asked to gaze right up close face to face this became a little awkward. I felt like I was invading their space and they were invading mine a little because we are classmates and don’t really associate outside of university.

When we were asked to gaze from 10m back it was a lot more comfortable after being up close and personal which shows that once we are subject to new extremes our tolerance levels change accordingly.

•   in relation to creative partnerships, address these 2 items for each exercise

  1. ETHICAL BEHAVIOUR – acting in a way that is respectful of others and their culture/sex/race/values/etc.

  2. TRUST  - We can trust others but when we feel we are let down by their trust it often makes it harder to trust again especially that person.

Youtube Clip

McCain's Lack of Eye Contact: A Sign of Contempt?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty9BTcERiYY

Commentary

This clip shows how by not looking at someone can be seen as contempt. John McCain looks like he ignores his opponent Barack Obama. This can be interpreted in a couple of ways but generally people have different ways of dealing with competition and awkward situations. This can depend on race/background/upbringing, etc. This is interesting as McCain will never be proved as having contempt because it may just be the way he reacts to competition.

Reflection

Being the first week of Collaboration I wasn’t sure what was in store for today’s class. It was fun to do something practical. I feel I have already taken part in similar getting to know you group exercises in the past but it was good to refresh and reframe. Even after many years of getting to know people we still tend to distance ourselves from them and lose that human interaction feeling from time to time.