Reflecting on preparing reflection cards

During the prototyping Masterclass week, it was suggested that we reflect at the end of each day and this could be the basis for the submission of some reflective postcards. I liked this idea and the step by step approach which encouraged it’s management when there is so much to do.

Over the past seven months I have become increasingly aware of visual representation and the impact it can have. This is an aspect which has seriously challenged me and one which I have been determined to improve my abilities in as I see how effective visuals can enable. This was definitely in my thoughts as I started thinking about what I wanted my postcards to represent and what they should interpret. My aim for the week was not only to reflect on the work I was involved in, it was also to visually capture the work in a way which would engage and provoke a response. With every activity I had my Ipad ready to take photographs. Although I am no photographer, I have spent the past seven months observing how people take photographs, how they visualise, I have asked questions about how and why and have attempted to implement my new knowledge into visualising.

With every picture I took during this module I thought about what I needed it to show, how it could be interpreted and how I wanted it to look. This is a very different way to my normal picture snapping.

 

My written and visual reflections came together very naturally. My thought processes during the week were in sync and I think that this showed in the end product.

I have been really surprised with the effectiveness of reflecting in this way and will continue to use this during my Masters project. I think that I will start to implement this into reflecting in my workplace also. It enables prompting and progression and stimulates memories for the visual part of ourselves also. During my project I will try to do this on a weekly basis and keep the reflections as cards hanging up in the studio. They may act as prompts for inspiration as I work.

 

 

 

 

You can read all of the reflections here.

I would be interested to hear your comments…

Conversation storyboards

During a recent project I have been having conversations with people about keeping well. I feel I am privileged to have people sharing their stories with me. It was agreed that I record the conversations. Afterwards I transcribed them as I usually would. As I was transcribing I wondered if I could document the transcriptions in a way which a reader would find inviting.

I am becoming increasingly aware of presenting information which engages. It made me consider how I could visualise the conversations so that people needing access to the information would be intrigued to read and enjoy the experience.

Although I do not have a background it art, have never considered myself an artist and before September 2013 never believed that I could have the skills to visualise, I have challenged my thinking over the past nine months.

To interpret information visually for people is about enabling understanding.  The Masters of Design for Services has enabled me to recognise what it means to visualise. I used to think it was all about being able to draw, however my perspective is now very different, it is about interpreting information so people can understand and engage with it.

So, how could I visualise a conversation? I decided to use a story board. The questions were inserted into the writing boxes and the answers/anything the other person said was inserted into the ‘picture’ boxes. I really enjoyed this process and those needing to read the information fedback that it was a more engaging experience. I was, however not prepared for the added bonus. When I was exploring themes and patterns in the conversations for the research, these were easier to see because of the visual representation of the conversation.

The goal was to enable others, however the process doubled it’s value and enabled me as well.

I would be interested in your thoughts…

Visualising frameworks

 

Mycelium work as networks that connect and bring life to land. Nature works so well, so how can we use these natural systems metaphorically to visually represent ways  future ways of enabling collaboration and participation

I had an interesting discussion around my Masters project in relation to the ‘House of care’ framework. This framework has proved successful in that it has engaged people in England in managing their Long term conditions needs.

 

When introduced to the framework, the history of it’s adaptation was explained, from the Chronic care model, below.

The first part of the model was being implemented but there were issues with the ‘Productive Interactions’ element and the collaboration between Patients and Healthcare professionals. The framework was adapted to enable this into the ‘House of care’ within NHS England, see below

 

This has recently been adapted further in Scotland  where defined steps have been introduced, see below.

The introduction of the community resources and assets is where the question for the project was founded.

I liked how ‘bite sized chunks’ had been introduced, this helps the user manage the whole, however I was immediately challenged by the visual structure of the ‘House of care’.  It made me think of, walls, boundaries, barriers, compartments and containment.

I was intrigued at the collaborative orientated Healthcare professionals (HCP’s) section. It made me question where co design begins and how           it is implemented, are professionals deciding when and where to introduce participation and how does this fit in with the concept?

The roof space, (I imagined bearing down on the rest of the building) is the organisational structure and process, giving the feeling of a top down approach.

The really positive aspects for me were the words, which suggested that the intention is to have a strategic conversation with shared decision   making.  However visually, I wonder if it could be represented differently.

I am positive that patients can influence how services are designed and implemented and can be co producers as experts in their subjective knowledge. This is possible through enabling participation and collaboration.

I reflected on the discussions which had taken place and it led me to thinking about systems which work within nature. Natural systems grow and develop. I thought about Mycelium, ‘A mushroom is the reproductive fruit of mycelium (or fungi) which live underground. Mycelium operate as networks that connect and bring life to the surface of land’. In relation to a framework for innovation, I wondered whether this kind of organic metaphor would be more effective. Instead of compartmentalising, the mycelium networks and connects and instead of having foundations, and walls, it grows and sprouts, bringing new life.

There are many challenges and perspectives around frameworks, and I appreciate what I may find challenging in a visual another person may find helpful. It has to be said though that when we are designing frameworks and visualising them, they need to be developed for the future. If we develop frameworks which visualise limits, we are encouraging those who use them to maintain their practice within the limitations. Surely as time moves on and change is ever with us, the frameworks we develop and the visuals which support them should provide scope for future thinking and creativity not yet realised. So then, should our visual representations reflect this?

 

I would be interested in your thoughts…