Reflecting and Learning
Reflexive journalling is an important part of working in an art/design practitioner context; this gives added dimension to the nature of the design process from a personal point of view. All participants could profit from greater reflective observation, in the form of a continued stronger learning cycle; this is due to the fact that unspoken knowledge made explicit encourages greater understanding of, and an increase in, confidence. Often students and practitioners in Art and Design do not engage enough readily in reflection-on-action nor do they always recognise the fact that they naturally reflect-in-action, thereby negating the fact that it is happening at all. A description of the learning pack available for encouraging reflective process in applied art/craft /design students and practitioners is available from learningthrumaking@cumbria.ac.uk including tutors help notes. (…Learning Pack)
For this practice-based research, multiple research methods involved a bricolage of artworks and process. Methods used include drawing, designing, sketchbook work, photography, mind-mapping, reflexive journalling, prototyping and final outcomes. Information yielded includes visual and theoretical data combined. A distinct advantage of this project is the fact that a literal interpretation of the making process, which is usually a silent response to materials, can give greater understanding of the intelligence, which is involved in making. If you are an applied arts practitioner or student and wish to add your process to the body of research information, please complete the artist questionnaire the process of reflecting is valuable in order to reflect upon your practice.