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…

Mindful meditation!

I did not realise when I started the Mindful design practice module that it would have such an impact on my project and my thinking. Each day started with a meditation session facilitated by Kumanga Andrahennadi which encouraged my thoughts in self awareness and understanding the importance for me to acknowledge the state of my body and mind in the present. I enjoyed learning the practice of meditation and I reflected during the week about the impact it had on the group. It was definitely enabling the class to acknowledge thoughts and feelings we hadn’t recognised previously and this was very interesting and enlightening. The week ended with Dr Louise Valentine leading a discussion on Mindful inquiry and she left a collection of books from her library for our interest. I picked up ‘The power of mindful learning’ by E Langer  and read this over the weekend, the Author states ‘The capacity to achieve an outcome is different from the ability to explore the world and understand the experience’. Reflecting on this enabled me to see that this way of thinking and researching could have a significant impact on my Masters project. Exploring and understanding, especiallywhen navigating round a new context are essential and insights into perspectives will enrich research.

I was encouraged by the weeks learning to continue to read about mindfulness and I soon became very aware that common themes around self awareness and behaviour change could significantly impact my project.

I was relatively open to the practice of meditation and how self awareness through this method could influence individuals towards clearer understanding and behaviour change. I was however unsure about how transferrable the practice could be and it’s impact. I enjoyed a few more sessions of meditation in different environments over the course of the module and I believe it has had a positive impact on me. So with this in mind, I encouraged my kids to engage in the practice, I thought that they could benefit from being able to have some calm moments in their day. They were really open to this and followed my instructions precisely. I talked them through the process and smiles developed on their faces during the meditation and I could see they were enjoying the experience. Since the first time, they have often asked for meditation time with me. This then led me to think about the team at work. There are many challenges faced in the working environment and although we reflect individually and as a team, there are times, especially through the sadness, distress and loss which impact our daily lives. I invited Kumanga to introduce the team to mindfulness and meditation. This proved to be a positive experience for the team and we are now discussing how we could explore this practice further. It feels that we may have found the missing piece to enable us towards addressing some wellbeing issues and improved quality of life…

I would be interested to hear your thoughts…

What and why?

There is so much to learn when we think about what motivates us to do things and in turn influences how we do things.

During the time I have spent with staff working in Out of Hours Community Nursing I have actively sought to embed the working environment within values. These shared values around person centeredness, respect, empathy, truth, quality and compassion influence our working practices, behaviour’s and outcomes. During a time of constant challenges within the NHS and the constraints these challenges bring I am surrounded by a group of individuals (the team) who go above and beyond their job description to enable the service we provide to function.

After listening to Simon Sinek’s TED talk about inspirational leaders I was inspired about his thoughts around What we do and Why we do. It confirmed my experiences, people who understand and believe in the ‘why’  make the ‘what’ better, they inspire others in this and in turn this results in more effective outcomes. Although I understood this from my observations I was interested in, if or how others understand this concept. Are there ways of introducing this into the working environment and what the benefits would be?

Our first team meeting of 2014…

I asked the team to split into pairs and gave them a task, collectively they would have 2 minutes (due to time constraints and the need to be intuitive). There would be 30 seconds to explain to their partners WHAT they do while their partner took notes and swap, and 30 seconds to explain WHY they do while their partner took notes and swap. I started the clock and the room engaged in a gush of insight as the pairs exchanged their thoughts. Although the team wanted more time, I had to be the ‘time cop’, however noting the response, I then asked the group to join together again and we went round the table sharing first WHAT their partners did and then WHY they did. Great information and insight gained for two minutes work…!

After this I then asked what was most insightful and grabbed their attention, the ‘WHAT’ or the ‘WHY’? It was unanimous, they all found that ‘WHY’ gave the inspiring answers. The team found this engaging and throughout the meeting and since the concept has been discussed.

So then…

What do I do?

I visit people in their own homes between the hours of 1700-0830 and deliver Nursing care.

Why do I do this?

– because I believe in enabling choice for people to stay in their own homes when many choices are taken from them due to illness or disability

– I believe in a person centred approach where I listen, respond and work with people to meet their needs

– I believe in respecting peoples beliefs and work with them to create an environment where they are enabled to maintain their health needs or a dignified death

– I believe in enabling an environment conducive to learning, knowledge and information sharing and support.

– I believe in co creating an honest and trusting environment where individuals can reflect effectively

– I believe in an environment where individuals feel valued and work in collaboration and participation to creatively work towards positive outcomes

So should we start thinking more about the why’s than the what’s within our daily working lives?

Can these thoughts leave our teams increasingly inspired and motivated in innovation?

The feedback received from our first team meeting of 2014 and since has suggested, yes, the team were inspired by the task and yes they are motivated in improving the service to make peoples lives better and do this daily.

It would be great to hear your thoughts…