Microsoft Imagination _ Richard Harper

Tuesday, 10 February 2009

Microsoft Imagination _ Richard Harper

Professor Richard Harper gave a lecture on how we communicate to discuss our own ideas. He especially, talked about how designers are different from scientists. We try to show how a design outcome looks good when we give a presentation, rather than consider the process. As a result, scientists would not understand how we arrive at the result.

DESIGN => OUTCOME + PROCESS ?
I wanted to talk about a mutual relationship between the design outcome and the process. Which is more important? Can you say one way or the other? In my undergraduate years in Korea, professors did not seem to care about the processes involved in our projects. They marked only on the final presentation of our projects, so we always tried to achieve perfect finish. Finally, we had the professional skills for the design outcome. On the other hand, we rarely, if ever, considered the processes in any of our projects. We sometimes made the final design outcome first and then made a process of the outcome!

Incidentally, I had a kind of culture shocked in 2003, when I studied at the University of Swinburne in Melbourne, Australia as an exchange student. They also considered the process of the project, as herein Dundee but the design outcome did not look as well finished, compared with that in Korea. I was confused at that time. The length of each project was greater than in Korea and there were middle presentations to show what we were doing. This was really hard for me to get used to. I cannot say, however, which is more important between the process and outcome because both of them are equally needed to achieve the optimum end product.
In addition, the Master of Design course is, for me a new experience in progressing my project. In the past, I learned a specific process, in order to achieve my design outcome. I have now realised that I have had a very narrow thinking thus far.

I have, however, strayed from the main theme of my journal! When Richard talked about how to explain our own ideas to others, this story, however, suddenly came to my mind.

We need to use various ways of communication, so as to help understanding. We should try to use tools we have and use them to develop in different ways.

Reflective Journal _ Jonathan Baldwin and Hazel White

Tuesday, 10 February 2009

Reflective Journal _ Jonathan Baldwin and Hazel White

What is a reflective journal? I am beginning to understand, through the writing process. We look back on what we have been doing so far and how helpful it is for our research. Through the reflective journal, my thinking is getting clearer, more reliable and better organised. Jonathan and Hazel give us tips about reflective journals. They suggest the concept of writing letters in the form of a story about what has been learned. I have got it now!
A letter? Yes! Now it is much easier to understand how to write a reflective journal.

What is my writing style? I am used to taking a long time to write something because I This is especially true, when I write something in English; I try to think in English, not Korean and then start to write in English. Nonetheless, even when I do not know the correct English words to explain my thinking, I still try to use in English, by using a dictionary. This is because, the translation of Korean sentences into English is sometimes harder or misleading, when using a dictionary.

By the time I was feeling more comfortable with journals, we looked at Jo’s blog. It was a very good experience to have a look at the efforts of others. We found out how to improve her blog, through objective eyes. Furthermore, I decided to use a Blogger, like Jo’s, for my reflective journal. It looks well organised and I can share it with all of my classmates’ Bloggers, more easily. To have a look at others work is very helpful to me, as a international student. I can learn the words they use to describe the same thinking as me or what they think about the lecture we listened to together. I learn from their blogs something I may have missed in the lecture.

I tell myself that I will try to write regularly, in order to become better.

Funding _ Sara Keith and Sarah Kettley

Tuesday, 10 February 2009

Funding _ Sara Keith and Sarah Kettley

Dear Mr. Noh,

I attended the Scottish Arts Council lecture by Sarah Keith and Sara Kettley this morning. It was talking about how we apply for funding in Scotland. To do research more here, I really need to get funding, so I paid attention. They showed a number of funding websites which do not suit me because I’m a international student. However, some of them accept international students as well, if their requirements are met.

You must be wondering what tips there are to apply for funding after I find out a suitable funding association. Of course, I will check my eligibility and make sure of being concise and clear in my proposal. I’ll show you before I submit them. Could you check my proposal for me? Your view through a business mind, rather than design could offer me something different in terms of advices. Check for any very small mistakes, which it is easy to miss. When you read mine, you will become a funding body, as a judge. What I focus on is what I really want to do. Remember this and check that it is clear what I say and what funding I am looking for.

To submit the perfect proposal, I try to make high quality images. Visualisation is always strong, rather than any writing, as you know. Of course, I need to be concerned about the structure of writing, to make it easily read. I know you are busy at the moment, but I wish you give me feedback as soon as possible. I’d like to submit my proposal earlier than the deadline. I am pretty sure that earlier will bring more benefit.

I feel very excited now. Can you imagine if I get a funding from the Scottish Arts Council? I have not thought about funding before because nobody mentioned it. Now, I have an opportunity to study more here, without being supported by my parents.
In fact, I’m worried about my situation. I mean, whether I can meet the requirement of the councils or not, because I’ve studied this course in Scotland since last September. Fortunately, I have a certain research topic, so I’ll do my best to make funding bodies accept me.

Thank you for reading this.
I’ll send you my proposal soon. You may look forward to reading them with pleasure.
Bye

Best RegardsJu Mi Kim

Effective CV's _ Kirsty Miller

Tuesday, 03 February 2009

Effective CV's _ Kirsty Miller

To know how to make effective CV is useful to us in the real world.
I've written many resumes to apply to companies in Korea and I've received many resumes from applicants when I was working. I know that people always miss out small things in their CV. When I wrote my own CV, I felt it was perfect but it was not. It is difficult to find what is wrong with your own CV, however I can find out what is wrong in others quiet easily.
We looked at a sample of CV and judged how good it was. All of us were good at picking what should be fixed.
It was a good opportunity to look at somebody’s CV, as a judge. Surprisingly, I could see what was wrong, insufficient or good.
That’s why it would be better to show our CV to someone before we submit to a judge as Kirsty Miller said. Fiona showed us her CV. I think she was brave. It was good decision for her. Whenever I’m not sure about something, I’d better show or ask someone and take their advices.
By the way, some requirements were different from in Korea, as here, there is no requirement for photos and personal hobbies, or at least, only those that one work related. The layout of a CV is more casual, rather than restrictive and dull. It was helpful information to a Korean and maybe to all of international students as well.
It is good to know what is an effective CV, which will give a good first impression to judges.

Facilitating communication for people with dementia using multimedia technology_ Norman Alm

Tuesday, 03 February 2009

Facilitating communication for people with dementia using multimedia technology_ Norman Alm

I have already taken a class which was involved, with helping mentally handicapped people, using art. Especially the lecturer was doing a clinical trial for people with dementia, who in hospital at that time. I remember she said their families visited them less and less. The reason is that their families could not talk to them at all. Families were becoming exhausted to trying to converse with them.

When I saw the title of this lecture on the screen, I was sure it would be an interesting project. The CIRCA project is a great idea to help communication, for people with dementia and their families. Norman Alm’s team is creating an interactive touch screen computer programme. So, people with dementia can retrace their past memories little by little, through photos, music, movies and so on, showed on a computer monitor.

Norman Alm talked not only his project but also of the relationship between team members, how important having enjoyable company is in teamwork. If you like the members of the team, The project will be sustainable in the long term and with more enthusiasm.
I absolutely agree with this. During the 2108 group project, we enjoyed our project very much. The more we worked together, the more we liked each other. Finally, we offered our passion to our project, rather than just doing our best.

Design against crime_ Mike Press

Tuesday, 27 January 2009

Design against crime_ Mike Press

Looking at the process of design against crime project was very helpful to less experienced people like me. To look at a mentor’s work, always gives me inspiration. This is why I enjoy reading biographies.

Mike Press explained his team project in stages through twelve tips. It was clear what is important to do in our research. The great thing was not only the content of his project but also his presentation skills. It is amazing speech. Even though English is not my first language, I could understand what he said clearly. Confident and clear voice, impact graphics on each page of his presentation, giving time to having fun between presentation and so on ,,, Those make people respect him and proud of him as a our professor.

The first tip was ‘Yes, I can!’ I’m kind of a positive person and always try to say ‘Yes, I can!’. However, I hesitate to say ‘Yes, I can’ to others because I’m afraid that I may not be satisfied with my answer. Nevertheless, I keep trying to say, ‘Yes, I can!’ confidentially.

Especially, I agreed with Mike Press when he said, ‘Work with the best people and give them their heads’ very much. I had many experiences of group work. I know how much everything depends on who I am with. If I feel bad about someone, I can’t concentrate on my work and this would be very stressful. If I find the best people I really need, I’ll not change, even for a fortune. Well-suited people are of the greatest importance.

Reflective Journal _ Jonathan Baldwin

Tuesday, 20 January 2009

Reflective Journal _ Jonathan Baldwin

Honestly, I’m not familiar with academic writing. Whenever I begin to start writing, I hesitate to start. However, I have not laboured in vain by the time that I finish writing. I believe, ‘Well begun, is half done.’

Don’t think writing is difficult! Practice, practice and practice regularly and then finally, I would be familiar with it. Think, through writing! Take photographs and make diagrams. These are some of the ways to prepare a reflective journal.

Now, I have to choose which methods I’ll use for my reflective journal. I will probably use my own homepage, although, I haven’t made it yet. It’s time to make my homepage right now!