Research Design, or Te Ao Mahora, is about the Methodology and Method side of setting up for our Research Proposal. This week's class took us through research in a design perspective, 'What is Research Design?', and the 'Kinship of Words'.
Inside 'Kinship of Words' we looked at the meaning of five words and how we can apply them to our work. The first was "Whakawhanaungātanga", a Māori word, broken down each piece of it means something singularly, but together can create a story or phrase. Below are the translations for each part of whakawhanaungātanga:
Whaka - the action, Whanau - familiarity/family, Ngā - the being, Tanga - the state
Once put together as it's full self the translation then becomes 'the state of being actively familiar', or more loosely, being supportive of one another.
The next word is Tūrangawaewae, similar to whakawhanaungātanga, its is Māori you can break tūrangawaewae down.
Tūranga - standing, Waewae - feet
What it translates to as the full word is 'the place where feet stand' or 'a place that you belong'.
The third word is Metaphor and the final word is Educate. These two words we know in the everyday definition as 'a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable' and 'give intellectual, moral, and social instruction to (someone), typically at a school or university' respectively. As the two can be linked through symbolic connections and figurative language they can apply tp our research.
During class we were given an exercise, where we were partnered randomly and tasked to ask 20 questions. It was a back and forth of ten questions where my partner and I took turns answering in order (I would answer question 1, then they would, then move on). Both of us wrote notes on what the other said then handed (or emailed) the notes over to reflect on. Below are the fleshed out notes taken from by partner:
Introduction:
Verradia (they/them) graduated in 2019 in digital design
Specialised in game design
VR + Art Gallery incorporating games
What aims does this research have?
Mesh VR and Art Galleries
Connect both to bring more a gamified approach to art galleries - perfect timing because of covid and the abundance of virtual interfaces
An interpretation of art galleries
What do you want to achieve?
Evoke the feeling of being in two places at once through VR and perspectives
Who are you talking to or with through this research?
Haven’t talked to anyone academically
Mentioned it to friends and former lecturers
What are you seeking to communicate through this research to your users/communities?
The feeling or idea of fun in other ways.
Fun is a lazy word for other emotions/experiences
Users would be a mesh of both the gaming community and art community
What knowledge do you want to understand/explore through undertaking this research?
Interference of VR in a physical space with other users and how to work around a physical exhibition in VR with multiple people at once
Specific influences that inform how you think about your research? (Family, cultural etc.)
Never too many restriction in upbringing therefore open minded
Relevant or irrelevant information is always taken in
Passionate about game design and what they are doing
What makes you curious?
Thinking outside of the box
Motivation through connection to the people the project is about/for
Merging art galleries and perception with gaming and perception - the culture of the both in their own way
Fandoms with music, games etc
What crucial knowledge did you learn from your final year undergraduate project or your final design or creative endeavour that you plan to apply to your research?
Most of what was created
Extend past what was mentioned/made from project
How do you use your specialist knowledge - this might be a process question or be a hypothetical question - more along the lines of "How would you like to use your knowledge to answer this research?"
Knows there is a gap right where they are looking into - there are VR games, art gallery games, and VR art galleries but no VR art gallery games. Apply it to create (above) and/or bridge the gap
What methods do you tend to use to help you answer questions posed through practice?
Iteration, Exploration
Have you considered asking the antithesis to your proposal? (antithesis means the opposite of or the flip side) Try to think about your proposal from a completely different perspective?
Thought of perhaps "Why aren't there any VR art gallery games"
"Is there a reason why it hasn't been looked into as much as the two sides (VR game vs Art Gallery)"
Reflection:
'How' do you make?
With no restriction on thinking I am able to broaden my scope to fit more information to how I may need to use it. I go into problems with an open mind and concept as much as I can until an idea I had runs out, then find a new idea starting the process again. It is the default approach for me but also the best way of facing problems.
'What' do you make?
I create games as well as art, mainly 2D. I keep in mind the idea of 'fun' as well as generating 'play' and so in this I stylize my creations to reflect this as much as I can. By using the iterative design process, I can figure out the best form of my work after creating over and over.
'Why' do you make?
I chose to become a designer after following my passion for the Arts, but in a digital medium, gaining knowledge in a field I thought was interesting. My discipline is in Digital Design, more so Game Design. I work mainly as an artist however I know basic programming and am willing know learn more. By entering something I found interesting, I learned more about it so understanding came with that, and functionality/purpose arose from that in what I can do for people.
Comments