Mastering Unfamiliar Themes: A Simple Guide to Kickstart Your Design & Technology Coursework

Embarking on a  Design & Technology (D&T) project can be an exciting journey but students often find themselves at a crossroads when confronted with a theme that feels distant from their daily experiences. 

This post aims to guide you through the initial phase of tackling a difficult and unfamiliar theme in your D&T coursework, helping you move past the daunting 'stuck' syndrome.

1. Embrace the Challenge

Understanding the Theme:

• Start by defining the theme in your own words. 
• Research its meaning, history, and relevance in today's world.
• Connect with the theme on a personal level. 
• Ask yourself: How does this theme affect me or the people around me, even in the smallest ways?

Mindset Shift:

• Recognize that challenging themes spark creativity. 
• They push you out of your comfort zone, leading to more innovative ideas.
• Embrace the learning opportunity. 
• Working on an unfamiliar theme is a chance to gain new knowledge and skills.

2. Conduct Thorough Research

Exploring Various Perspectives:

• Dive into books, articles, documentaries, and online resources to gain a comprehensive understanding of the theme.
• Interview people or individuals related to the theme to get firsthand insights.
• Gathering Inspiration:
• Explore similar projects done in different fields or contexts. 
• How have others approached similar themes?
• Create a mood board or a visual diary to collect ideas, images, and concepts that resonate with the theme.

3. Brainstorming and Ideation

Free Your Mind:

• Engage in brainstorming sessions without the pressure of coming up with the 'perfect' idea.
• Use mind mapping to visually organize thoughts and discover connections between seemingly unrelated concepts.

Seek Diverse Opinions:

• Discuss your ideas with friends or teachers. 
• Fresh perspectives can spark new ways of thinking about the theme.

4. Narrow Down and Focus

Identifying Key Elements:

• From your research and brainstorming, identify elements that intrigue you the most.
• Consider how these elements can be integrated into your D&T project.
• Break down the theme into smaller, manageable parts to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Conclusion

Tackling an unfamiliar theme in Design & Technology coursework can initially seem daunting, but it's an excellent opportunity for growth and creativity. By understanding the theme, conducting thorough research, brainstorming, focusing your ideas, and starting with a simple prototype, you can effectively begin your journey and move past the 'stuck' syndrome. 

Remember, every great project starts with a single step. Embrace the challenge, and let your creativity flourish!

Part 1/2: Theme: Definition + Exploration & Study

INTRODUCTION

THEME

To cover the 'theme' thoroughly and to understand the 'theme' well, what does that require us to do? Some observations? Do some definitions? Give examples of them? What else?

To study and explore the theme is more than just pasting pictures and writing 'reviews' on what you see. It is not even just churning out on the next page or two of mood or theme boards mindlessly especially if you do not even know what they are for and what to do with them later; just your 'checklist' says so.

If you look at what you have researched and and find they hardly reflect the 'theme' clearly, you have not done any work. If you cannot explain your work, you have not done any work either.

You will be spending considerable efforts defining and understanding the 'theme'. This is an important base work and you got to do it well. 

Because that will be the basis to your entire coursework - for the 'theme' is the reason for your coursework which leads you to an identified need and then to a solution. 

You need to be reminded of the 'theme' throughout your coursework and not deviate from it. But you cannot to stretch this process for too long. You think about how long it requires to simply define and understand the 'theme'.

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DEFINING THE THEME

Defining the theme is one of the very first step you do before you begin exploring and studying the theme as widely as you can. 

1. Making use dictionary definitions is one good way to begin.
2. You should also offer your personal interpretation on what the definition of the 'theme' means.

You should use both illustrations (graphics) and annotations (descriptions) to present your definition as clearly and as widely as possible.  'Words only' definition presentations are boring and does not present ideas to be understood quickly and effectively.

• Interpret your 'theme' with understanding. 
• Comment on you research works (on data, facts, images, etc) showing meaningful interpretations and thoughts on them. 

How do you know if you have done a good job defining the theme? 

A very simple way to check. Give it to someone who does not know the theme. 'Hide' the theme (do not give the cat away), and get the person to guess what might the theme be after looking at your work. If the person guessed it right and gained good knowledge about the theme - You got it.

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Click 'here' for examples on how how a theme can be defined.

An example theme starter

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EXPLORING THE THEME

Planning for Theme Exploration

A Broad Plan is necessary to begin engaging the theme. 

Think broadly and quickly on what you want to cover and how you can approach studying and exploring the theme as widely as possible.

The above example shows a very quick draft on what I can include and find out in order to explore the theme. Point forms using a mind-map are very simple and effective to do. Once you have this draft, you can proceed with more in-depth exploration and study.

Note that you should cover the theme as widely as possible but you cannot possibly cover everything. 

However you also do not want to be seen as not having sufficient content. 

So sometimes it is about knowing what is necessary and how much is enough and to be able to balance between covering firstly enough 'breath' (widely) and secondly enough 'depth' (deeply).

Next, I'll show you a way you can cover both 'breadth' and 'depth' for any given theme.

1. Begin with a Broad Plan (like the above). That will provide you with enough 'topics' to investigate and explore. Find out facts about those stuffs. Build up a good understanding on the topics you have noted. Make notes of interesting stuffs, products, events or activities along the way.
2. When you begun exploration, you will notice that you will be covering some issues lightly and some more in-depth. Notice that you will only bother to cover a topic in detail if that interests you!
3. You may have incidentally found or identified a problem area, an interest area or an area for improvement. Once you find those, you begin studying them in detail - 'Deeply'.

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Technique

'Is there a particular technique I can use?' You may ask. 

One that will alway work in almost every situation is the 5W1H technique. 

the 'Who', 'What', 'Where', 'When', Why', 'How' Technique.

The 5W1H technique enables the explorer (you) to move between exploring the theme both broadly and deeply.

You can use the 5W1H technique repeatedly at any point in your journal where you need elaboration.

Next... Identification of Design Opportunities.

Part 2/2: Theme: Definition + Exploration & Study - How to use 5W1H

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An example

Definition for "AMUSEMENT"

"A State | An Experience | A Provision... for

Funny | Laughter | Enjoyment | Entertainment | Diversion of Attention"

And you go...

'I finished my definition of the theme, what do I do next?'

Sounds familiar?

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The beginning of a project starting with a theme can be very daunting. You may either have too much information coming in all at once or you may think of nothing at all or you may be clueless on what next. You may find difficulty recording information systematically and effectively despite making attempts to do so.

The following tip can help you transit effortlessly into the exploratory stage. 

Suggested Method:

"Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?" (5W1H)

Craft and ask relevant questions with '5W1H'. Some examples on how you can apply 5W1H to define and explore the 'theme' broadly are shown below. 

Note: 

For the examples that follows you can replace '...' with your given theme, e.g. 'Entertainment'.

WHAT?         

Digs out definitions and provides understanding, clarity, functionalities, processes of the theme.

• What is the meaning / definition of this word / phrase? e.g. 'entertainment'.
• What is related to...?
• What does ... do?
• What does ... look / feel like?
• What is the process of ...?
• What problems do people face with ...?
• What could be the problems faced when showing ...?
• What could be the frustration with ... be?
• What else is related to ...?
• (Research outline question #1/3) What do I know about ...?
• (Research outline question #2/3) What I do not know ...?
• (Research outline question #3/3) What do I need for find out about ...?
• Converting to a design challenge question by asking "What if...?"

WHERE?         

Locates the sphere of influence. The locations, the place, the space, the environment.

• Where might we find ...?
• Where does ... take place?
• Where else might ... take place?

WHEN?         

Specifies the time. Past, Present and Future.

• When does ... start / stop?
• When does /does ... not happen?
• When else does ... / does not happen?
• When will the activity be considered ... and when it is not?
• Is there a good / bad time for ...?

WHO?         

Focuses on Target Users / Target Groups / leading to design NEEDS.

• Who is / are involved in ...?
• Who are the people involved in ...?
• Who can / cannot be involved in ...?
• Who are the receiving end of ...?
• Who else are involved in ...?
• Leads to Design Needs analysis using P.I.E.S.

HOW?         

Questions on functionality, processes, methods, techniques.

• How does one know if he/she is being shown ...?
• How is ... done?
• How is ... achieved?
• How is ... so?
• How else can one show / be shown ...?

WHY?

Getting to the hard facts and evidence and the root cause. Seeking fine clarify.

• Why is there a need for ...?
• Why can't ... be ...?
• "5 Whys" technique: challenge assumptions and finding out root causes.
• Converting to a design challenge question by asking "Why not...?".

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Tips:

To present your exploration and study of the theme, use images, on-location photographs and researched data as supplements. I won't be surprised in doing so, you might already identified some design opportunities.

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Conclusion

The ability to free the mind to explore is very important. Do not be too concerned that you may not do it right. Ask yourself this basic question: "Does what I am about to do contribute to the understanding of the theme?" Be creative in your presentation of information.

FAQ: Your email enquiry - my answer

Your Question:
'How do I know if my mind-map for the theme is sufficient? I have done part of it now I don't know what else to add'.

My Answer:
My two suggestion for you is as follows:
1) Make sure you understand the objective for doing anything (e.g. the objective for doing a mind-map for your design theme) before you start doing. Do you know yours?
2) Once you understand the objective for doing something, you will surely know (a) what to look out for (i.e. what research areas to focus on), (b) what it will lead you to do later, and (c) know when you have reached enough information and its time to stop.

Due to the nature of the theme, my mind-map for exploration of the theme 'Storage' is as follows:

1) Begin with the theme (in this case 'Storage') somewhere in the middle of the page. 'Storage' now is your BROAD CONCEPT. Now list out the DETAILS.
2) Branch out by listing the DETAILS, i.e. locations where 'Storage' can be found. (e.g. Home, School, etc).
3) Now each DETAIL (e.g. Home, School, etc.) in turn becomes a BROAD CONCEPT. Of which other details will branch out.
4) e.g. 'Home' now becomes a BROAD CONCEPT. Branch out DETAILS, i.e. the various parts of 'Home'. (e.g. Kitchen, Bedroom, etc.)
5) Take e.g. 'Kitchen' as a BROAD CONCEPT, it is now about time to list out a) items that requires storage, and b) existing storage solutions.
6) The next stage will be to complete your mind-map with relevant photographs and images of the examples you have listed at the end of your mind-map.

Following this internal link for an example of the steps shown above:
3NA Storage Innovation Research Starter SOS
http://designjournalsos.blogspot.com/2011/01/3na-storage-innovation-research-starter.html

Additional (Important) Information:
When you think you are done you ask yourself if you have done a good job exploring what 'Storage' is (and more challenging, what 'Storage' is not). If someone comes and looks at your mind-map without the title 'Storage' in the middle, will he be able to say,'Ah, I know this is an exploration on the various types of storages', or 'Oh, I didn't know that this can be considered as storages', or 'Oh I didn't know much about storages until I see your mind-map on it'. etc.

What is next?
Hopefully what you have done will enable you to identify one or more of the following design opportunities:

1) a problem area that requires a better solution than existing ones or for a problem that may not have an existing solution yet, and/or
2) an area of improvement to existing solutions, and/or
3) challenge yourself to an opportunity for creating an alternative solution. Come out with a different way or a different experience to do something.

Hope that helps.

Regards
mrdaniellim

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Theme Exploration Example: 'STORAGE' - Research Exploration + Identification of Design Opportunities

Theme: Storage (N Level: 2010)

Identifying design opportunities

There are a many ways to arrive at a design opportunity to work on, the image above shows briefly another way to do that.

Think through and make sense of the contents and apply them tastefully in your design journey. Have fun....

Do take care when you draft your design situations or problem statements - make sure you have sufficient research to ensure your facts are right and justify all your claims. Be careful of over-generalization of issues.