Last semester the Textiles department were given a project brief regarding ‘Culture’, as I am new to Dundee I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to get used to my surroundings and learn about the city. I decided that I would look into the history of Dundee and was initially drawn to the Victoria Docks and what Dundee has to offer the locals of today. I would also look at how Dundonians are keen to progress past the tackiness that the ‘Beano’ brings to the city although it is an important parts of Dundee’s heritage and many locals have differing opinions regarding the subject. I would say my research was relatively successful although it only consisted of photographs and a few articles on the history of Dundee, I realise now how I could have thoroughly researched this topic using primary and secondary research methods I learned in semesters one and two of Design Studies.
Had I been more aware of the different types of research methods that could have been beneficial for me I would have done a few things differently. I would first of all checked the main library for books and online journals instead of relying on the faculty library, also the ’cross search’ tool for more varied results. I planned to find blue prints and route maps of the vessels but I gave up when I couldn’t find what I was looking for, here the main library could have helped me in my search as well as informing me of any current projects on going in Dundee at that time. Doing so I would be gathering information from different sources to broaden my knowledge on the topic I was investigating then I would have gone on to create more in-depth mind maps by asking fellow classmates to expand my knowledge base on a more visual level.
Another aspect form Design Studies I could have used to my advantage is the ‘semiotics’ experiment seen in assignment 2 looking at the concept of polysemy. For this type of research I would have looked into how Dundee is looking to remove itself from the initial association with the ‘Beano’ and Dundee being seen as tacky, for this I could have interviewed members of the public, older residents, students and tourists. For example, showing images of the old ‘welcome to Dundee sign’ and also the ‘Desperate Dan’ statue seen in the town centre. It would be interesting to see the different opinions of different age, sex and race, I could maybe then have added text to see if I could influence the results or get a more passionate reaction from the subjects.
Perhaps a research method I could have used would be to undertake a ‘Design Safari’, (a term coined by Chris Davis, founder of Live/Work in 2008) this would integrate ethnography into my own work and research, I could have visited the docks on more than one occasion and observed how people behave around the area, both around the water front and HM Frigate Unicorn to the more regenerated City Quay flats and Retail Village. Do they differ? Are the majority of people around the docks dog walkers or tourists and the Retail Village just locals looking to pick up a pizza? I could also observe if there is a difference in the order that people behave around the contrasting ‘new and old’ elements of Victoria Dock. Do they treat the newer buildings with more respect? Is there less graffiti? In order to fully answer these questions I would have to actually carry out the experiment properly.
For more receptive results I could have included a probe to try and inspire my subjects, with a disposable camera, pen and note pad inside this would encourage them to continuously think about their answers throughout their time around the area, what do they see differently from me? To look more closely at their surroundings, do they behave in a different manner when they know they are being monitored? This would also encourage students new to the area (like myself) who are not familiar with Dundee to venture out beyond the University campus, for this experiment I would have to ensure all participants were safe throughout.
On looking back I think that these research methods would have helped develop me initial studio practise in directions that I left unexplored, although not all methods I have learned would be suitable all the time, I see a clear link in how the skills we learn within Design Studies are directly linked to our studio work which before hand I ignorantly assumed were irrelevant. I think my normal research methods of taking photographs, location drawings and basic mind maps are visually helpful and none the less important, I see how by interviewing my peers I can find out exactly what they are looking for and thoroughly meet their needs. Although I still see myself as a training art student I realise that I cannot rely on what I produce in the studio to carry me through and this has been an important lesson. Of course practise makes perfect and the more experience I have of fully researching my briefs will not only help me now but also when I progress to level three, vastly important when I come to write my dissertation and by the time I am (hopefully) a fully pledged designer will be a second language to me.
Perhaps at a later date I could go back to the ‘culture’ brief and apply all the methods I have discussed and see the difference in my outcome and find that I would be more satisfied with the final outcome.
Sunday 1 August 2010
Assignment 5
Throughout semester one of Design Studies, I researched the topic of service design for public transport, particularly trains and train stations. For this I used secondary research methods, reading journals and articles on behavioural psychology. The aim was to investigate how the general public use the services and to find out their attitudes and feelings towards them. Although secondary research was both beneficial and appropriate I now feel that to obtain accurate results I would have to carry out further research methods and experiments.
To begin with I would undertake a ‘Design Safari’, (a term coined by Chris Davis, founder of Live/Work in 2008) in which I would visit my local train station and both Glasgow Central and Queen Street, this way I could observe passengers behaviour and detect any patterns or differences. While carrying out my observations I would try to blend into my surroundings as much as possible as to not influence the results. It would be interesting to see the contrast in ‘ rules’ and ‘common etiquette’ between the bigger train stations and the smaller local stations. Would ample security of police officers around Glasgow Central create a regulated atmosphere with little crime? And why is the same level of security not apparent in Glasgow Queen street, is it because it doesn’t need it? Another interesting aspect is that of the seating arrangements, do they sit in clusters, pairs or in strange sequence? I would like to be able to visually document examples of insolent behaviour but I don’t feel this would be very safe, especially not in my local station. The differences in behaviour and ethic will also differ on the social background of the passengers, I would have to take this into account and get as wide a variation as possible in order to get a balanced view.
During my observations it would also be important to report on the surroundings as this is very influential on how the passengers behave. Are the stations well maintained? Are the standards substantially lower for the local stations than in the grander city centre stations? If so why? What are the seating arrangements and are there plenty of seats? Is the station properly lit? This alone would darken moral. Likewise the conditions on the trains are just as important, do fellow passengers enhance the overall experience? Do they feel safe? I feel that with this research technique the fact that my observations would be based round particular times and day I would have to repeat the process for as long as possible and try to work out an average. This could on some occasions prove to be a problem had I not sufficient time to carry them out fully. Regardless I see this type of observation carried out to its full potential to be a very successful and reliable approach to finding out about human behaviour.
Another research method that could prove helpful would be to interview some of the commuters, doing so I would certainly achieve more informative results and first hand opinions by doing so. My chosen method would be a simple set of interview questions designed to encourage subjects to elaborate fully, I would conduct my interviews over a long period of time and as frequently as possible. I feel that a questionnaire would be more suitable as a large number of subjects will be rushing to get to their next destination although a simple recording would mean that I could ‘walk and talk’ with the commuters. My method of delivering the questionnaires would be to discretely circulate the passengers either sitting or standing for a period of possibly ten minutes, just enough time to get comfortable and just enough time to scribble down some answers before they catch their next train, I would say ‘targeting’ passengers leaving the station would be more at ease than those coming into the station providing they are punctual. English speaking tourist would probably be very receptive as their opinions would be based around first impressions and gut instinct, especially when looking at how the surroundings effect passengers. The only disadvantage I can see with this method is that the subjects would have time to write down a considered answer rather than an immediate answer which recording could ensure, also they could disregard something as being irrelevant when it is in fact highly important to my investigations.
A very important opinion I could not ignore would be that of the employees and security, they I imagine would be extremely opinionated in response to my questions and here I think a voice recording would be perfect as they would have more time on their hands and I imagine will insist on making their opinion heard. Although in this case the interviews could be biased and no doubt very negative yet still important. This would also be a perfect opportunity to interview somebody higher up in the company, I wonder if the senior employees are aware of the minor issues and hand and if they have any intentions of resolving them. Although this could cause some friction and I would want to be held responsible for any uproar!
Throughout all this primary research I would have to continue to use the research skills I would normal use like the library, online journals and the ‘cross search’ too. I would also be collecting as many images and video as possible to produce balanced and factual results. My experiments would have to run over an extended period of time to ensure I got as much data as possible although not all research methods I have learned would be suitable on this occasion I feel it is all about convenience for the subject as well as myself throughout and of course I could never put either myself or others in danger. Although these are my assumptions on which would suit the situation best I will learn through experience with trial and error but I can only hope to obtain as impartial information as possible.
To begin with I would undertake a ‘Design Safari’, (a term coined by Chris Davis, founder of Live/Work in 2008) in which I would visit my local train station and both Glasgow Central and Queen Street, this way I could observe passengers behaviour and detect any patterns or differences. While carrying out my observations I would try to blend into my surroundings as much as possible as to not influence the results. It would be interesting to see the contrast in ‘ rules’ and ‘common etiquette’ between the bigger train stations and the smaller local stations. Would ample security of police officers around Glasgow Central create a regulated atmosphere with little crime? And why is the same level of security not apparent in Glasgow Queen street, is it because it doesn’t need it? Another interesting aspect is that of the seating arrangements, do they sit in clusters, pairs or in strange sequence? I would like to be able to visually document examples of insolent behaviour but I don’t feel this would be very safe, especially not in my local station. The differences in behaviour and ethic will also differ on the social background of the passengers, I would have to take this into account and get as wide a variation as possible in order to get a balanced view.
During my observations it would also be important to report on the surroundings as this is very influential on how the passengers behave. Are the stations well maintained? Are the standards substantially lower for the local stations than in the grander city centre stations? If so why? What are the seating arrangements and are there plenty of seats? Is the station properly lit? This alone would darken moral. Likewise the conditions on the trains are just as important, do fellow passengers enhance the overall experience? Do they feel safe? I feel that with this research technique the fact that my observations would be based round particular times and day I would have to repeat the process for as long as possible and try to work out an average. This could on some occasions prove to be a problem had I not sufficient time to carry them out fully. Regardless I see this type of observation carried out to its full potential to be a very successful and reliable approach to finding out about human behaviour.
Another research method that could prove helpful would be to interview some of the commuters, doing so I would certainly achieve more informative results and first hand opinions by doing so. My chosen method would be a simple set of interview questions designed to encourage subjects to elaborate fully, I would conduct my interviews over a long period of time and as frequently as possible. I feel that a questionnaire would be more suitable as a large number of subjects will be rushing to get to their next destination although a simple recording would mean that I could ‘walk and talk’ with the commuters. My method of delivering the questionnaires would be to discretely circulate the passengers either sitting or standing for a period of possibly ten minutes, just enough time to get comfortable and just enough time to scribble down some answers before they catch their next train, I would say ‘targeting’ passengers leaving the station would be more at ease than those coming into the station providing they are punctual. English speaking tourist would probably be very receptive as their opinions would be based around first impressions and gut instinct, especially when looking at how the surroundings effect passengers. The only disadvantage I can see with this method is that the subjects would have time to write down a considered answer rather than an immediate answer which recording could ensure, also they could disregard something as being irrelevant when it is in fact highly important to my investigations.
A very important opinion I could not ignore would be that of the employees and security, they I imagine would be extremely opinionated in response to my questions and here I think a voice recording would be perfect as they would have more time on their hands and I imagine will insist on making their opinion heard. Although in this case the interviews could be biased and no doubt very negative yet still important. This would also be a perfect opportunity to interview somebody higher up in the company, I wonder if the senior employees are aware of the minor issues and hand and if they have any intentions of resolving them. Although this could cause some friction and I would want to be held responsible for any uproar!
Throughout all this primary research I would have to continue to use the research skills I would normal use like the library, online journals and the ‘cross search’ too. I would also be collecting as many images and video as possible to produce balanced and factual results. My experiments would have to run over an extended period of time to ensure I got as much data as possible although not all research methods I have learned would be suitable on this occasion I feel it is all about convenience for the subject as well as myself throughout and of course I could never put either myself or others in danger. Although these are my assumptions on which would suit the situation best I will learn through experience with trial and error but I can only hope to obtain as impartial information as possible.
Assignment 4 : Discussions and Notes
The answers varied most among men, I interviewed many of different ages and status, for example one 19 year old ANNONYMOUS student regarded a teddy bear as his most treasured possession. It was given to him as a gift from his father the day he was born. The gift surprisingly resorts this very ‘laddish’ man to seem very vulnerable into a boyish state, interesting. The other example was of a middle aged recently married business man who associated a carved elephant tusk as his most treasured possession. His on the other hand is estimated to be worth £10 000. I can see how he would cherish such an item although it was given to him by a grandparent so increases the value to him even more.
Another contrast in opinion was with two of my male friends of roughly the same age (late twenties) both with different personalities to see if their answers would differ, I was extremely surprised to find that the more ‘self obsessed pretty boy’ had the more emotive answer. His was a German Officers belt from WW1 given to him 6months ago, his great grand father had acquired it during the war while fighting for his country. The item of course is irreplaceable to him and when I suggested how exceptionally cool it would be to actually wear, the look on his face was enough to tell me he has probably never even taken it out the box other than to photograph it for me, bless. The other a more reserved and generous guy gave the answer of “ma I-phone” aside the fact that he works for Apple and his life revolves around selling and repairing them he still regards this as his most treasured. I was quite disappointed at the lack of sentiment in his answer yet it lead me to wonder why. Was it because it connects him with his friends and family? Or the sheer fact that it looks and sounds good? On further mind picking it was simply because it “cost him a fortune” typical guy!
Assignment 4 : Interview Questions
I decided to approach subjects I already knew for my interviews, firstly they would be more likely to open up to me and also they are more accessible. My chosen method of recording the answers was to take notes, I myself was far too intimidated by the thought of being recorded never mind my subjects, hopefully I will become more confident with practise. My general outline of questions were:
1. What object do you treasure most?
2. Why? (most subjects already found the need to justify their answer already)
3. When did you get it?
4. Was it given to you or did you buy it yourself?
5. How much did it cost? Was it expensive?
6. What does it mean to you?
7. How would you feel if it was broken/lost?
8. Do many people have the same?
9. What feelings does it give you?
10. Would you let someone else borrow/have it?
1. What object do you treasure most?
2. Why? (most subjects already found the need to justify their answer already)
3. When did you get it?
4. Was it given to you or did you buy it yourself?
5. How much did it cost? Was it expensive?
6. What does it mean to you?
7. How would you feel if it was broken/lost?
8. Do many people have the same?
9. What feelings does it give you?
10. Would you let someone else borrow/have it?
Assignment 4 : Interviews
For our next task we chose from a list of questions as a topic on which to conduct our interviews. The questions varied from those which would encourage more sentimental answers to those more design related, I was hoping for a bit of emotion so I chose ‘what object do people treasure most and why?’
Above is my brainstorm, as I was thinking about the differences it was apparent that the majority of people will have an object of sentimental value than actual value and depending on age and sex that they would consider their most treasured. I was also interested in responses that subjects would associate a relative or living thing as an object, as my hamster would be the thing I treasure most I thought this might have something to do with the persona own personality, only one way to find out…
Assignment 3 : Design Safari
People watcher is a funny statement, it gives off connotations of some long coated dark 'Jack the Ripper' looking character, suits me perfectly!
Therefore the next assignment will be rather fun. I chose to carry out my experiment in a shopping centre and local supermarket where I work part time, luckily within the supermarket there is a clothes department not quite 'All saints' but it sort of relates to my discipline. I think my findings were majorly influenced by the surroundings as the shopping centre is situated in a 'run down' area in Glasgow therefore there can sometimes be a very negative attitude projected form some of its customers but overall there is a friendly and community based environment.
Firstly, customers almost always walk directly ahead, personally I expected most people to 'keep to the left' considering the majority will be drivers, reason being that there is a huge escalator slightly to the left that is visually dominating that leads upstairs, to the clothes department. This I suppose is kept separate for two reasons, firstly because once your up there the aisles are narrower making it harder to get past trolleys and in turn making you spend more time. The other is that the light bulbs are strategically placed upstairs in the very back corner, sometimes to the companies regret as on numerous occasions have I witnessed customers say "oh never mind then".
Generally customers navigate in a clockwise direction, subconsciously directed by the shop layout? Or to do with our own preferences? Maybe its both.
Women usually operate in small groups, sometimes with countless hyperactive children on the loose but due to the time of year mostly with friends, they shop at a far more relaxed pace and seem to wander endlessly in their own worlds, maybe shopping gives them a sense of escape? Doubt it, sooner or later the will be bombarded by a reckless trolley driver who forgets its not just them on the road.
Men on the other hand are usually more straight to the point and would much rather ask a willing and helpful member of staff for every single item on the shopping list. I think that women associate shopping as a social experience and men with a more practical and 'get it done and get out' approach. I found this especially with the well dressed 'professionals' who barely ever use baskets and would much rather carry their items, but majority flocked around the sandwiches and bottles of juice.
I think mostly all 'rules' of common etiquette are disregarded in supermarkets and people do not treat them with much respect, far different from the behaviour I would expect to see in a coffee shop or library for instance but far more fun to watch.
Therefore the next assignment will be rather fun. I chose to carry out my experiment in a shopping centre and local supermarket where I work part time, luckily within the supermarket there is a clothes department not quite 'All saints' but it sort of relates to my discipline. I think my findings were majorly influenced by the surroundings as the shopping centre is situated in a 'run down' area in Glasgow therefore there can sometimes be a very negative attitude projected form some of its customers but overall there is a friendly and community based environment.
Firstly, customers almost always walk directly ahead, personally I expected most people to 'keep to the left' considering the majority will be drivers, reason being that there is a huge escalator slightly to the left that is visually dominating that leads upstairs, to the clothes department. This I suppose is kept separate for two reasons, firstly because once your up there the aisles are narrower making it harder to get past trolleys and in turn making you spend more time. The other is that the light bulbs are strategically placed upstairs in the very back corner, sometimes to the companies regret as on numerous occasions have I witnessed customers say "oh never mind then".
Generally customers navigate in a clockwise direction, subconsciously directed by the shop layout? Or to do with our own preferences? Maybe its both.
Women usually operate in small groups, sometimes with countless hyperactive children on the loose but due to the time of year mostly with friends, they shop at a far more relaxed pace and seem to wander endlessly in their own worlds, maybe shopping gives them a sense of escape? Doubt it, sooner or later the will be bombarded by a reckless trolley driver who forgets its not just them on the road.
Men on the other hand are usually more straight to the point and would much rather ask a willing and helpful member of staff for every single item on the shopping list. I think that women associate shopping as a social experience and men with a more practical and 'get it done and get out' approach. I found this especially with the well dressed 'professionals' who barely ever use baskets and would much rather carry their items, but majority flocked around the sandwiches and bottles of juice.
I think mostly all 'rules' of common etiquette are disregarded in supermarkets and people do not treat them with much respect, far different from the behaviour I would expect to see in a coffee shop or library for instance but far more fun to watch.
Assignment 2 : Adding text
When I tried the experiment again with adding text I didn't really get much change in the stories, either I wasnt very effective in choosing the text or I'm not as manipulative as hoped... either way I still learned from the experiment.
Assignment 2 : Adding fourth image
Before I gave my subjects my three images I intentially altered one, I changed the bride in the red phone box to a black and white image, I done this to see if once I produced the ‘red box’ version, would my subjects react to the colour.?
This time round with the men the subjects became more sinister … just a wee bit of fun!!
Assignment 2 : Stories
Below are my three images selected for assignment 2B, We were asked to ‘collect stories’ from a selection of people from different backgrounds, to my surprise I have realised that my friends have extraordinary imaginations, below are some of the results,
Ross McMahon, 19, Student.
"It's strange how the top of the world seems so much like the top of a beer bottle... you start there and it feels so wonderful, so inspirational that you don't want to go to the bottom... but when you get there it's even better - or worse - than the top, depending on your mood. You're either really happy - elated even - or you're sad and feel like ending it all. You don't want to wait to see what life has in store for you whether it be getting married or bachelor (spinster?) hood. But one day you might just receive a phone-call that like the bubbles in a bottle or the gas in a balloon, force you to rise to the top once more and relive the feeling that you're above everything, supreme."
Fiona Clark, 32, Pharmacist.
The night before his wedding the groom has a stag do with his ushers and best man. As you can see from the empties they had a lot to drink maybe too much. At the end of the night the best man ties his mate naked inside this basket in the middle of a field with his suit on the floor. Thinking they are funny the men do a runner and leave the groom stranded. When the groom wakes in the morning he looks at his watch and realises he’s 20 mins late, he looks up and sees sky and a flame, shit. He is 1000ft above ground and his clothes are spread all over the basket, suddenly his phone goes off , it’s his wife from the phone box outside the church. “Where the hell are you?”
“ In the balloon darling it’s a surprise!!”
The pilot drops the balloon onto the grass outside and the rest is history…
Ross Pamplona, 26, Graduate.
Dave loves collecting beer bottle caps, everybody in the village knew about his collection and occasionally added to it, one day Mrs Fallacious brought him an old one with a thistle on the top, as he was giving it a clean smoke started to fill the room. Next thing he realised he was being whooshed into the sky on a hot air balloon, “ what how did this happen?” he screamed.
Suddenly the balloon came crashing to the ground but the fall was broken by a tree, underneath the tree was a man in a black suit and a woman in a huge wedding dress.
After plenty of discussion Dave found he was miles from home, the bride offered to call Davis mother and let her know her son was on his way home, while the groom took Dave to the nearest bus stop.
Sadly this was to his great regret as at the bus stop was a gang of teenagers spurring for a fight.
Hours went by and Davis mum and the bride were waiting patiently on their loved ones return, little did they know the only time they would see them again was if they were digging in the far northern field of the village where they were buried.
Alasdair Irving, 37, Business man.
It was a Saturday afternoon and I was in the house, watching the football and opening another bottle of my favourite beer -Budweiser- (any extra points for product placement?) when a shadow covered the sitting-room window. I looked outside to see a flotilla of hot-air balloons float by. The biggest balloon was advertising Budweiser, saying "For a Year's Free Bud call 0800-budweiser from any public phone box". "Fucking right", I thought, spilling the pile of bottle tops over the floor, as I sprinted to the phone box at the corner of the street. However, when I reached it, there was a sizeable queue, with a bride on the phone. The bride suddenly screamed "I've won the year's supply of beer!" Feeling a bit dejected at not winning it myself, I congratulated her anyway. "Thanks" she replied "This is the happiest day of my life!" I retorted "It really is- wedding and free beer!" "No!" she snorted "The wedding was yesterday!"
Kate O’Neil, 34, nurse.
I couldn’t wait for my wedding day, we had everything prepared from the church, the cake and the dress. All I needed was for my husband to be to turn up on time… this was the only problem.
An hour and a half late I decided to phone to see what was going on, shouldn’t the bride be fashionably late?
My battery had died so I jumped across to the nearest phone box.
“Err hello?” my man asked with a strange tone, “Where the hell are you?” I screamed , “I’ll be right there honey” he shouted then hung up.
Twenty minutes later balloons filled the air, I thought I only asked for bubbles?
Just then I saw him in all his glory floating down to the ground like a bird.
As he landed I ran over shouting “about time!”
I was only jealous that the crowd had gathered for his ‘big’ arrival and not mine…
Well you know what they say virginity is like a balloon, one pr*ck to steal your limelight and its gone forever, just like my perfect day.
Craig Hamilton, 24, Solicitor.
Working the grave shift within this hotel is a soul destroying experience. Corridors lay bare, boisterous and demanding spawns are now dead to the night, intoxicated middle class middle aged middle of the road men are now captured within a dreamless coma, all that remains is party waste cast aside from the wedding reception. I must attempt to clear this catastrophic mess before the first zombie guests attend for breakfast.
The main desk phone starts to ring. I answer. Room 137 again…what is he complaining of now? First it was the sink leaking, then the towels were not daz white, then to top it off the cupboard did not close with enough haste for his liking. I half expect a request for me to go up and wipe his ass. He states that there has been a lot of commotion from the room next door…a lot of screaming and banging. Not surprised, that is where the bride and groom are “resting” for this evening.
Grudgingly and with streams of embarrassment I knock at the newly weds door. It opens slightly ajar from my touch. I announce that I am the hotel night manager and I am just checking that everything is in order. No answer. I proceed to enter the room very slowly. A flood of balloons block my vision ahead, this was not unexpected as I had prepared and filled the room with countless balloons and flowers the night before. I gently fight through the maze, trying my best not to burst any.
I push my way through to the centre of the room, there is a clearing. The groom is relaxing on a couch…trousers and shirt still on. This is a surprise. However he does not seem surprised to see me. He stands up and walks to the fridge. As he does so I catch a glimpse into the bathroom…the bride is still in her dress…face down in the overflowing bathtub. The groom casually throws me a beer…“I have a proposition for you…”
Ross McMahon, 19, Student.
"It's strange how the top of the world seems so much like the top of a beer bottle... you start there and it feels so wonderful, so inspirational that you don't want to go to the bottom... but when you get there it's even better - or worse - than the top, depending on your mood. You're either really happy - elated even - or you're sad and feel like ending it all. You don't want to wait to see what life has in store for you whether it be getting married or bachelor (spinster?) hood. But one day you might just receive a phone-call that like the bubbles in a bottle or the gas in a balloon, force you to rise to the top once more and relive the feeling that you're above everything, supreme."
Fiona Clark, 32, Pharmacist.
The night before his wedding the groom has a stag do with his ushers and best man. As you can see from the empties they had a lot to drink maybe too much. At the end of the night the best man ties his mate naked inside this basket in the middle of a field with his suit on the floor. Thinking they are funny the men do a runner and leave the groom stranded. When the groom wakes in the morning he looks at his watch and realises he’s 20 mins late, he looks up and sees sky and a flame, shit. He is 1000ft above ground and his clothes are spread all over the basket, suddenly his phone goes off , it’s his wife from the phone box outside the church. “Where the hell are you?”
“ In the balloon darling it’s a surprise!!”
The pilot drops the balloon onto the grass outside and the rest is history…
Ross Pamplona, 26, Graduate.
Dave loves collecting beer bottle caps, everybody in the village knew about his collection and occasionally added to it, one day Mrs Fallacious brought him an old one with a thistle on the top, as he was giving it a clean smoke started to fill the room. Next thing he realised he was being whooshed into the sky on a hot air balloon, “ what how did this happen?” he screamed.
Suddenly the balloon came crashing to the ground but the fall was broken by a tree, underneath the tree was a man in a black suit and a woman in a huge wedding dress.
After plenty of discussion Dave found he was miles from home, the bride offered to call Davis mother and let her know her son was on his way home, while the groom took Dave to the nearest bus stop.
Sadly this was to his great regret as at the bus stop was a gang of teenagers spurring for a fight.
Hours went by and Davis mum and the bride were waiting patiently on their loved ones return, little did they know the only time they would see them again was if they were digging in the far northern field of the village where they were buried.
Alasdair Irving, 37, Business man.
It was a Saturday afternoon and I was in the house, watching the football and opening another bottle of my favourite beer -Budweiser- (any extra points for product placement?) when a shadow covered the sitting-room window. I looked outside to see a flotilla of hot-air balloons float by. The biggest balloon was advertising Budweiser, saying "For a Year's Free Bud call 0800-budweiser from any public phone box". "Fucking right", I thought, spilling the pile of bottle tops over the floor, as I sprinted to the phone box at the corner of the street. However, when I reached it, there was a sizeable queue, with a bride on the phone. The bride suddenly screamed "I've won the year's supply of beer!" Feeling a bit dejected at not winning it myself, I congratulated her anyway. "Thanks" she replied "This is the happiest day of my life!" I retorted "It really is- wedding and free beer!" "No!" she snorted "The wedding was yesterday!"
Kate O’Neil, 34, nurse.
I couldn’t wait for my wedding day, we had everything prepared from the church, the cake and the dress. All I needed was for my husband to be to turn up on time… this was the only problem.
An hour and a half late I decided to phone to see what was going on, shouldn’t the bride be fashionably late?
My battery had died so I jumped across to the nearest phone box.
“Err hello?” my man asked with a strange tone, “Where the hell are you?” I screamed , “I’ll be right there honey” he shouted then hung up.
Twenty minutes later balloons filled the air, I thought I only asked for bubbles?
Just then I saw him in all his glory floating down to the ground like a bird.
As he landed I ran over shouting “about time!”
I was only jealous that the crowd had gathered for his ‘big’ arrival and not mine…
Well you know what they say virginity is like a balloon, one pr*ck to steal your limelight and its gone forever, just like my perfect day.
Craig Hamilton, 24, Solicitor.
Working the grave shift within this hotel is a soul destroying experience. Corridors lay bare, boisterous and demanding spawns are now dead to the night, intoxicated middle class middle aged middle of the road men are now captured within a dreamless coma, all that remains is party waste cast aside from the wedding reception. I must attempt to clear this catastrophic mess before the first zombie guests attend for breakfast.
The main desk phone starts to ring. I answer. Room 137 again…what is he complaining of now? First it was the sink leaking, then the towels were not daz white, then to top it off the cupboard did not close with enough haste for his liking. I half expect a request for me to go up and wipe his ass. He states that there has been a lot of commotion from the room next door…a lot of screaming and banging. Not surprised, that is where the bride and groom are “resting” for this evening.
Grudgingly and with streams of embarrassment I knock at the newly weds door. It opens slightly ajar from my touch. I announce that I am the hotel night manager and I am just checking that everything is in order. No answer. I proceed to enter the room very slowly. A flood of balloons block my vision ahead, this was not unexpected as I had prepared and filled the room with countless balloons and flowers the night before. I gently fight through the maze, trying my best not to burst any.
I push my way through to the centre of the room, there is a clearing. The groom is relaxing on a couch…trousers and shirt still on. This is a surprise. However he does not seem surprised to see me. He stands up and walks to the fridge. As he does so I catch a glimpse into the bathroom…the bride is still in her dress…face down in the overflowing bathtub. The groom casually throws me a beer…“I have a proposition for you…”
The Rhetoric of the Image
The Rhetoric of the Image
Below are some of my notes taken from the essay by Roland Barthes,
Semiotic theory - study of signs and symbols
Epistemology - the study of origin, nature, methods and limits of human knowledge.
Basically describing how photography has changed how we see things.
We cannot recreate form , everything is a copy.
What we see in photos are never the same as what we see with the naked eye
Heuristic - serving to indicate
How text and image are related, is one 'better' than the other? Or vies versa?
We cannot see an image without automatically giving it a meaning
Images and their meanings can be altered by who sees it and how they are feeling at the time
Adverts make us see what the advertiser wants us to see and they know how to manipulate and target us.
Within my own work?
As a designer I will always have to come to a compromise with my clients, I will never see the finished product the same was a my clients and depending on background, age, race and sex will influence the way my client sees the finished product.
Below are some of my notes taken from the essay by Roland Barthes,
Semiotic theory - study of signs and symbols
Epistemology - the study of origin, nature, methods and limits of human knowledge.
Basically describing how photography has changed how we see things.
We cannot recreate form , everything is a copy.
What we see in photos are never the same as what we see with the naked eye
Heuristic - serving to indicate
How text and image are related, is one 'better' than the other? Or vies versa?
We cannot see an image without automatically giving it a meaning
Images and their meanings can be altered by who sees it and how they are feeling at the time
Adverts make us see what the advertiser wants us to see and they know how to manipulate and target us.
Within my own work?
As a designer I will always have to come to a compromise with my clients, I will never see the finished product the same was a my clients and depending on background, age, race and sex will influence the way my client sees the finished product.
Assignment 1
Looking at my friend’s photographs I would say she was a typical 90’s child. The photographs are very similar to my own childhood, as is the type of décor in the background. I would imagine she listened to much the same music as myself, spice girls maybe even collected the cards religiously like I did!!
I would she is a typical ‘girly girl’ everything is pink and glittery. I would say she had a happy childhood, I think she maybe a bit hyperactive at times, every photo has the same cheeky smile which shows her personality.
Financially I would say she would be pretty average yet very spoiled, there are no siblings in photographs which suggests she is an only child, will find out soon if im right…
I would she is a typical ‘girly girl’ everything is pink and glittery. I would say she had a happy childhood, I think she maybe a bit hyperactive at times, every photo has the same cheeky smile which shows her personality.
Financially I would say she would be pretty average yet very spoiled, there are no siblings in photographs which suggests she is an only child, will find out soon if im right…
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