Making work and reflecting on what you’ve made

June 25, 2009 at 7:13 pm · Filed under THESIS STUDIO MUSTS

If you have read your summer assignment, you have hopefully done some of the reading and also done some research in your chosen topic and field. If you were a PhD student, you would have to read all the relevant literature in your field of study. What we do as designers is very similar. We study all the work that has been done in our fields PLUS we familiarize ourselves with methods and materials to produce our projects. Most beginning designers are really good at creating work but they lack the skill to present their work and the core arguments they are making for the work. 

When artists and designers really become experts, they are able to speak about their work in CONTEXT of others who are also producing work that may address the same questions. 

We used to make the summer assignment all about asking good questions but we found that questions are better asked AFTER something is produced.  This may sound a bit backwards but most artists/designers are good at expressing themselves visually and physically. This is why we encourage you to MAKE many iterations of sketches and prototypes of your work. You will then be better able to reflect on what you’ve made and also decide who can help you assess what you’ve made. This will give you something tangible to show people. You can get their reactions to your work and make adjustments that satisfy you and your audience or user. 

Summer is the best time to find your mentors, peers, and user/audience group. Even if you have nothing made, starting the conversation with a company, an organization, a group of people who need what you are making is ESSENTIAL.

—Anezka

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