Lindsay Dakin is a photography student at the Emily Carr University of Art and Design. She works in principally analog photographic mediums, and divides her time between processing film and printing in the darkroom, and shooting in various locations with a variety of subjects.

"People’s creative messes inspire me." Quite possibly my favorite quote from the entire project.

For more information on the project, and to listen to the interview with Tobias, feel free to check out the work|spaces project blog.

Chapter opener.

For more information on the project, and to listen to the interview with Tobias, feel free to check out the work|spaces project blog.

Clothing rack color wave.

For more information on the project, feel free to check out the work|spaces project blog.

Just plain color wave.

For more information on the project, feel free to check out the work|spaces project blog.

So does working in a basement all day ever get to you?

For more information on the project, feel free to check out the work|spaces project blog.

Spread tests for Tobias Ottahal’s chapter of my grad project work|spaces

For more information on the project, and to listen to the interview with Tobias, feel free to check out the work|spaces project blog.

"The desk is always temporary, never staionary"

For more information on the project, and to listen to the interview with Tobias, feel free to check out the work|spaces project blog.

"In my workspace, I require…"

For more information on the project, and to listen to the interview with Tobias, feel free to check out the work|spaces project blog.

As part of my Design Research and Methods class, taught by the inestimable Deborah Shackleton, I am writing an article (possibly for publication) intended for a design journal. The focus of the article is on the process and methodology of a specific design project, and the project I selected is this one. The paper will explore the various developmental stages of work|spaces, with a particular emphasis on the interview/research process, and exploring the checks and balances I have established to ensure that I accurately represent the participants in the project. It will also address some of the ethical considerations that arise in working with people in a project that exists within the public sector.

The Paper’s Abstract and Revised Outline

Abstract
The project “work|spaces” was developed as an undergraduate thesis for the Bachelor of Design degree at the Emily Carr University of Art and Design. It investigates the push-pull dynamics between individuals and their working environments drawing on a series of one-on-one interviews to produce much of the content material. Through a series of directed conversations, participant’s personal interactions with their working spaces were identified and then key points were selected to be visually interpreted by the designer. These interpretations are informed by the personas developed for each individual participant. The final goal of the project is to produce a publication which can serve as a reflective tool for readers to reexamine and consider their own working spaces.

Keywords
action research, interviews, working spaces, publication design, persona development,

Introduction
Statement of the project thesis. Statement of basic motivations behind the issues addressed by the project. Outline the key role played by the project participants. Highlight the participant’s involvement in the project, and refer back to the current methodology of action research.

Project Conceptualization
Review the planning of the project and it’s evolution. Document design criteria and objectives. Provide preliminary examples of research into the current state of the art in the area. Overview of the planned method for generating content through one-on-one interviews.

Where to Look (Participant Selection)
Discuss the criteria by which participants were selected. Address issues in accessibility and securing participation from individuals. Consideration of potential ethical issues that may arise from the process.

Gathering Content (Interview Process)
Informal versus formal interviewing process. Using an adaptive method of questioning to direct interview to determine relevant content. Ensuring to keep the discussion in line with the investigations relevant to the project. Moving from factual information to emotional and visceral responses to working space. Securing consent for publication online and in the final publication. Ethical considerations in discovering content unrelated to project that might be potentially damaging.

Interpreting and Translating Ideas (Persona Development)
Cover the process of filtering through the interviews for salient points to address and interpret in the publications. Explanation of the process for creating mood boards to develop a visual aesthetic for each individual. Examine initial documentation of working environments, and evaluating it in the context of the interview results.

Checks and Balances (Ensuring Veracity in the Content)
The interaction between the participants and the designer were recorded and documented to ensure authenticity. At key junctures in the process of developing the project, results were subjected to informal review by the participants to maintain an ongoing dialogue and evaluate the veracity of the conclusions and interpretations made by the designer.

Visual Content Generation
Overview of the various production methods used to create the visual components of the publications content. Examine methodology in selecting visual modes of communication to respond to individual personas.

Publication Layout Iterations
Overview of the preliminary layout decision-making and determination of typographic elements.

Conclusion
State intended outcomes for audiences, including audience of final deliverable, as well as readers of the paper. Summarize key research points. Relate intended project outcome back to current state of design epistemology and highlight potential contributions.

References

Image Reference List