I see that you all have preconceived notions about the what thesis is and how you should prepare your summer homework. Many of you think that thesis is a “lone gun” kind of experience. This is completely untrue. Thesis in the MFA is a combination of theory and practice that is expressed FIRST in a tangible form that is tested with many short, dirty iterations that become more and more refined as  and supported with a writing process that helps analyze and evaluate the process along the way. If any of you are familiar with Scrum or Agile Development Methodology will know what I’m talking about. The process that I’m outlining here is actually very similar to the production process every film that I’ve ever worked on whether it was for a company or myself.  The Scrum process is based on DAILY accountability.  I know that most of you will be facing the work world (unless you are lucky enough to be independently wealthy) and you will need to learn to become very rigorous about the work that you do and how well you are doing it. The Scrum process is definitely a process is based on collaboration and team work. However, I think that there are aspects of it that may be useful even to the single thesis student. (By the way, I encourage all of you to consider working in teams on thesis). If you want to see a very short software company’s version of how Scrum works here is Axosoft’s 10 minute explanation:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5k7a9YEoUI&fmt=22&_kk=agile%20methodology&_kt=ea6d7c8b-06e6-4c03-bfda-d71ff64b5ef9&gclid=CIyIvtbi-5sCFdFL5QodxAKh9Q

Simple Scrum style steps to take for your own thesis:

CREATE A LIST OF WORK TO BE DONE

Begin to sort and organize your list into the most important tasks (greatest risk) and down to the less important parts.

The most important part of thesis during the summer is to get a user/participant group that you can rely on. This should be a group that is invested in the aims of your thesis. Many of you will say that you have no idea who would be interested in your thesis. My answer to you will be that you have to make your thesis matter to someone other than yourself. Otherwise, you are doing a thesis just to do a thesis. We would like you to do a thesis that will actually advance your career into a direction that will be your future employment or endeavor. NOW is the time for you to begin thinking about this.

After you’ve listed everything you will need to do to complete your thesis project, begin committing your thesis to a calendar and time estimates for each step.

Let’s begin here and let me know how you’re all doing.

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

Many of you have proven to me that you are not reading the Thesis Summer Assignment at http://thesis.cdt.parsons.edu — you should know the password and user name by heart now. The summer assignment required a Thesis Site to be up with specific categories that you will be updating throughout the thesis process. This will be the site that we require as a department for your thesis archive. It will be the site that will contain all the versions of your work, your abstract, your domains and precedents, your impetus–etc. etc. In other words, the Thesis Site is a formal web-based document.  A blog that you can literally throw up in five seconds these days, is much more informal. This blog, for example, is an informal way for me to “talk” to you from time to time.  The Thesis site where all the requirements are posted is a much more static and formal document. The blog is dynamic.  I expect that all of you are keeping a blog, a production notebook, and/or a sketchbook where you jot down ideas. You should figure out what works best for your own thesis and process. 

Remember that keeping good notes and reflecting on your process is the difference between a mediocre and excellent artist/designer.

Many of you are still in a bit of a quandary about what your thesis will be about. Many of you have questions about how it will serve your future career path. 

Over the past 11 years of Thesis Projects, we have found that the projects that are closes to the student’s heart are the projects that become successful. The main questions that you have to keep asking yourself about any project that you create as an artist and designer are: Who is it For? and Why does it Matter? The worst thing that could happen when you show up in September to pitch us your Thesis is that we say….So What? 

Make sure that you know the answers to these two fundamental questions and you will also know that you’re on the right path to a great career. Once you have become a contributor to a group of people other than your own familiar crowd, your ideas will take on a life of their own.  Once you understand how to manipulate (all kinds of) media so that it does matter to a group/community/organization/company/you will understand the very fundamentals of promoting yourself and your ideas. After all, we don’t only want to get jobs to pay for the things we want in our lives, we want to have meaningful careers.

Anezka

It seems that many of you are still mulling over your thesis concept. Rest assured that this is exactly where you should be.  If you follow the first few steps of the Thesis Summer Assignment, you will probably become more inspired.

Most of all, your thesis should be something that inspires you. You should work with ideas that are familiar to you. Literally the things that you’ve already been doing in your life thus far. It helps to make lots of lists. See this inspiring TED talk by Stefan Sagmeister: http://www.ted.com/talks/stefan_sagmeister_shares_happy_design.html about Happy Design. 

If you are overwhelmed by the prospect of starting a whole year’s project, the best thing to do is to take small steps. There is nothing more daunting than a blank canvas or an empty studio. The best thing to do is to “mess around” with ideas. This is why I encourage students to MAKE things rather than overthinking things. In the case of animators, you should be thinking about characters that can express themes or ideas that you’re concerned with.  Is your idea dark like Don Herzfeldt’s Billy’s Balloon? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpc5vgi9zbM&feature=fvst . Or are you more of an optimist like Rohini Metharam’s Ranga’s Meatshop? http://www.surkelmedia.com/rangasmeatshop/ — a Thesis 2009 project. 

Go to see lots of work in your chosen medium as well as other work. You never know where inspiration might be hiding.

Most of all, make something once a day–whether it is a sketch– a few words on your blog — or a few words in a word document. Building concepts take time. If you have a concept, pitch it to everyone you meet. Also be thinking of who might be interested in your concept and contact people with whom you can show/talk through your idea.

Remember that the smallest and most focused ideas are often the  best. Check out Drew Cogbill’s Pigeon project from last year. Very inspiring and simple. http://drewcogbill.com/thesisblog/?p=194

Best,

Anezka–don’t hesitate to contact me.

Research Chapter 3 “From Topics to Questions” and “From Questions to Problems” PLUS:

“What Do Prototypes Prototype?” Also good summer reading: Design Research, Methods and

Perspectives Brenda Laurel, editor MIT Press 2003 (read the articles that pertain to the kind of

research you are doing).

2. In a sketchbook or weblog jot down a few sentences every day about any patterns that you see

in the topics that you have chosen to study or focus on in your life; or perhaps you want to just

pose some questions that are compelling and new to you. As you question, you are beginning the

thesis process. Why are the concept(s) that you are coming up with so important to you or anyone

else? Upload ideas to your thesis blog. (You may choose to further the concept of your second

semester mini-thesis or not).

3. Keep a list of key words that are specific to your thesis concept as you are learning about it.

Please make sure that you let me know that you’ve created  
a website according to the specific instructions on the thesis site:
http://thesis.cdt.parsons.edu user: dtthesis pwd: aeiou CLICK ON  
Thesis Summer Assignment.

If you do the assignment step by step, we guarantee that you will have  
a great thesis by the time that you come back in fall.

I will be giving TWO Thesis workshops in August. I’m still scheduling  
them but one will be near the beginning of August  and one near the  
middle of August.  These are mainly workshops to get your ideas heard  
by others and also to bounce your ideas/prototypes around.

Don’t wait until then to begin your work on Thesis, however. You need  
to start now. Minimally, you need to have:
1. a familiarity with the general field that you are studying
2. have mentors and colleagues who you can consult when you run into  
snags along the way (don’t rely only on the Parsons community!!)
3. your target audience, collaborators, and user groups identified.
4. 3 produced prototypes that sketch out the beginnings of your  
thesis. A warning to ALL of you: Animators/Digital Movie makers-get  
your characters(actors)and worlds designed and selected and tested.  
You can always worry about the narrative later. Watch lots of movies.  
Interface designers: sketch out information flow and try your ideas  
out on people that don’t know you. Game Designers: make lots of paper  
prototypes and play your games with people who don’t know you all  
summer. P-comp makers: learn all necessary software and do hardware  
and materials research for your project installations/clothing/widgets/ 
etc. Those of you embarking on fine art journeys–get into the studio  
and make stuff every day.  HAVE FUN!!! Get inspired every day. KEEP A  
SKETCH BOOK.