Category: Self-reflection

Customers & Experts‘ feedback on the temperature of the hands

This blog is a collection of data on customer feedback related to artefacts following this intervention

The data sources were all provided by JEM staff and those who participated in the questionnaire have given their consent to be photographed as evidence.

Customers selecting canvas bags

The canvas bag is priced at 280 RMB （30 GB） based on the cost of the embroiderers’ work. A total of 15 consumers participated in the test and their age/gender/ and reasons for willingness and unwillingness to buy were collected.

Feedback from customers

Source of data collected: JEM

The data was collected between November 10th and November 23rd, with a total of 15 customers participating in the survey and a total of 3 of the 10 canvas bags sold.

According to the feedback collected from the customers, the reluctance to buy is a big factor in terms of price, which may include the overall consideration of the material of the product itself and the brand factor, all of which are a reference point for the commercialisation of hand embroidery into the market. The relationship between price, hand embroidery, design and product quality.

Evidence of consumer purchases No.9 canvas bag

According to the feedback from the data, this consumer bought the most popular canvas bag No. 9, they love this bag because of its colour and the meaning of the words embroidered on it, which is in contrast to other forms of canvas bags, which shows that the ability of creative expression of these craftsmen was not in the same line, which made the researcher realized that the owners who have the power to control the production of the embroiderers need to apply a combination of design-oriented and commercially-focused interventions to regulate and enhance the commercialisation of the crafts in the industry, rather than completely allowing them to create freely, except for those freelance craft artists or artisans. but this also feeds into the need for standard design guidance in commercial production. So it is a delicate relationship between commerce and art.

Feedback from Experts

Dean Wu and teachers at Hunan Arts and Crafts Institute’s Hunan Embroidery Art School

Dean Wu said he liked these embroidered canvas bags , but he argued that more design elements needed to be incorporated into it, otherwise it would not form a standard item to sell.

Moreover, two experts gave external feedback on the intervention. Zaihong Jiang and Yu Binxia, represented different views of embroidery practitioners and researchers. Yu said that the fundamental goal of this innovation-pursuing intervention should be to keep the essence of embroidery, this traditional handicraft, before creatively developing it. For example, the essence and hallmark of Xiang embroidery is the Mao stitch. Without this feature, technical innovation will be in vain. In other words, keeping the tradition alive is as significant as breaking the mold. On the contrary, Jiang believed that the embroidery product would be a great hit as long as it won over customers by reflecting modern aesthetics favored by the younger generation and cultural trends because she thought buying the handicraft is the best way to pass it on.

# AC Knowledge # AC Enquiry # AC Communication # AC Process

Feedback of David’s tutorial

As David and I talked more deeply, my research questions were evaluated.

Research question: How can creative exploration in traditional Chinese embroidery help to elevate the perception, status and profile of practitioners to raise the value of their craft in China?

Questions from David:Design output? Creative education in embroidery training – to produce better commercial ideas? Collaboration with brands? Covert embroiders to artsist?
Research: William Morris arts and crafts movement in the UK
Harris Tweed

Report criteria: Introduction (what why how)/ methodology (about how pri/sec/ what’s your biases)/ findings(biggest part include difficulty, what went wrong or right)/ conclusion

# AC Communication # AC Process

Refine my research question

  • How can I help the tranditional Chinese embroidery to embrace the technology?
  • How can tranditional Chinese embroidery embraces the technology?
  • How can traditional Chinese embroidery embraces technology-based innovation?
  • How can I help tranditional Chinese embroidery embraces technology-based innovation?
  • How can I hep trandtional Chinese embroidery industry embraces design innovation?

Based on my experience so far, I came up with these four research questions that could match my current journey and look forward to seeing what david thinks next week

# AC Enquiry

Slef reflection of David’s tutorial

David gave the following advice.

  • The subject of my research question, we （How can we….). He argued that the process so far did not strong related with the subject, and it seemed like I was doing it all by myself and didn’t see where we were.
  • The current question does not match my current process，it need evolve.
  • The priority of my research question needs to be considered, whether embroidery or technology takes precedence.
  • The new methodology for my research question seems to be technology only, not reflected in other methods.
  • He currently see a combination of technology and embroidery in my project, but at this stage I need a specific purpose to be added to it, such as education, toys etc.
  • I need to clarify my own position in the project, what role I am to play as a pioneer, intervener, embroiderer, etc.

Based on David’s advice about my research questions, I thought I’d wait until I’d done all the interventions in UNIT 3 before I sublimated it. Under this, I’ll try as many different types of interventions as possible.

My next step will be to add a specific purpose to my current project, I will try to see if I can incorporate an educational purpose on an embroidering. As well as whether this can be achieved by making interactive embroidered toys, toys where it has to be clear why it has to be embroidered, and if it is not embroidered, whether it can work or if it can achieve the same purpose.

# AC Knowledge # AC Enquiry # AC Communication # AC Process

Self-reflective of Zuleika’s feedback

Ctitiques from Zuleika

Suggestion:

  • Conduct a larger intervention with the Chinese tranditional embroiderers
  • Do more secondary research on the tradtional crafts movement in China
  • Refining research question in unit 3 and conducting more intervention with stakeholder groups
  • Further research into the very well established field of conservation and preservation

What can I do for these traditional Chinese embroiderers? I need to do more in-depth research for this issue, such as asking people who in the embroidery industry, to avoid falling into the trap of a saviour mentality.

DO more secondary research on the Chinese traditional craft movement. As well as investigating some secondary research on the preservation of traditional embroidery.

These studies will provide me with a deeper and broader understanding of the industry and may also provide sufficient background for my next interventions.

# AC Process # AC Knowledge # AC Enquiry

Evaluation of interventions

This blog is trying to transform new information I received into knowledge

I have to ask myself, what has been learned from my intervention and my reflections on it? What went wrong? How I corrected that or maybe I didn’t correct it? I need to find ways to ensure that my evaluation is both objective and purposeful.

Ways of data collecting

  • Qualitative Observation (collect information by observing the target group to learn more about the project)
  • Video Recordings (focused on groups intercating with “melding experiment”
  • Photos of suggestions filled in by stakeholders on sticky notes
  • Final Interview (Through asking stakeholders questions and writing on paper about their experience of the interaction and suggestions）
Qualitaive observation

By qualitative observing my stakeholders, I find out which interactions are enjoyable and which are annoying – a permanent feedback process.

Observations may help explain behaviors as well as social context and meanings because the evaluator sees what is actually happening.

Ericsson et al, 1993

The 22 stakeholders who participated in this offline intervention were observed and collected reactions and feedback. Through my observations, the faces of each of the 22 participants expressed surprise at the intervention, and each of them enjoyed the interaction, which means that the direction of the intervention through the combination of embroidery materials and interaction is exciting and confirms that the direction is feasible.

In addition, I received a lot of encouragement and likes by posting my intervention video online on Reddit in the embroidery community and on Tik Tok, where the intervention video has 632 likes.

However, I observed that when they touched the crocodile clips to try to interact with the computer, they would impatiently try multiple touches if they were not sensitive,which indicated that I need to explore conductive materials in the embroidery itself, such as conductive thread, or other more sensitive conductive materials for the audience to interact friendly with.

At the same time, since the poster that attracted stakeholders to this intervention was “free hand-made embroidery”, when stakeholders were attracted to it, they would come up to me and ask what it was about, and then I would give them embroidery bookmarks first and then invite them to my intervention. This process suggests that my stakeholders may be suspicious or doubtful towards the statement and I need oral explaine this, so next time I should indicate on the poster ” Experience Tech+Embroidery, Get Free Embroidery”, which will make my stakeholders more clear of their participation.

Interview

Through a short interview with each stakeholder who experienced the intervention offline，and the following questions were asked

  • Do you prefer the embroidered bookmark on the left, or the interactive embroidery on the right? （Closed, fixed-response question (Structured)）
  • What would you suggest for this interactive embroidery? （Standardized, open-ended question）

Reargarding the first question, 22 stakeholders who participated in the offline intervention said that interactive embroidery was more to their liking than normal embroidery bookmarker, and suggesting that the way of embroidery craft + technology is the future.

Regarding the second open-ended answer, because of the issue of crocodile clip sensitivity, some were suggesting a more user-friendly experience. Then some were suggesting that it could be animated accordingly to the embroidery and then influenced by the interaction. Others suggested that the overall appearance of the interaction could be improved and made more aesthetically pleasing. These suggestions I need to accpet and try to overcome so that before the next intervention to make an iterative piece.

# AC Knowledge # AC Enquiry # AC Process

Bibliography

Atsdr.cdc.gov. 2022. Chapter 7: Evaluation Methods | Principles of Community Engagement | ATSDR. [online] Available at: <https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/communityengagement/pce_program_methods.html> [Accessed 25 August 2022].

McNiff, J. 2002. Action research for professional development; Concise
advice for new action researchers; 3rd Edition. Jean McNiff.

Delve. 2022. What is Qualitative Program Evaluation? — Delve. [online] Available at: <https://delvetool.com/blog/programevaluation> [Accessed 25 August 2022].

Feedback from RR’s Tutorial and self-reflection

Feedback

One of the questions I asked Richard today is that I’m at a point where I’m struggling how to move to the next step in the iteration, which is going head to the evaluation step, as I’m confused which of the stakeholder suggestions I’ve received whether are useful.

When I talked to Richard about the feedback I received until in Chinatown and online social platform, I was not satisfied with it because I wanted to get feedback from more ethnically diverse people. He thought that was one of the reasons why I was in a struggling situation, and he suggested that I need to do a bit more testing with that version of the project with different kinds of people and different places before I have enough feedback to make another iteration worthwile as I’ve really only got one or two bits of sustantially back.

Self-reflction

When I researched the three places where Richard suggested I can go for the intervention including Camden Lock, Brick lane and Shepherd Bush Market. I found that these places are indeed famous in London and are focused on crafts, music and international cuisine, which means that people in these places are more likely to spend time in the area rather than in a rush like in Chinatown. I reliazed that when I consider making an intervention next in terms of location, I should consider the type of area, such as which places people pass by in a hurry and which places people are willing to stay and enjoy that area. And include whether the area’s main purpose is about crafts, because that’s fits my embroidery project, and the feedback I get from interventionn can be more efficient, targeted, and diverse，and I’m planning to do my intervention in these three places this week.

# AC Knowledge # AC Enquiry # AC Process # AC Communication

Workshop of Creative Self-thinking

In this blog, I use the way of Disruptive Creative Thinking and Reverse Assumption to re-define my project.

Disruptive Creative Thinking

Richie Manu for showing us his concepts and knowledge about innovation on June 8. This blog is also a review of some of the innovation concepts based on what he imparted in class, and repurposing that knowledge into my projects, displaying this picture not only helps me apply the creative concept of my own project, but also helps others to better understand my direction of my project.

Assumptions — Reversed — Solutions

Through this innovation workshop, I found a lot of disruptive directions in which I could make attempts as a change maker! The next thing I want to do is to conduct a “Melding experiment” of my project.

# AC Knowledge # AC Enquiry # AC Process

Summary of Monday’s class

This blog has mainly helped me gain a deeper understanding of what intervention means and how it can be linked and enhanced to my personal project intervention and extension of the question of my project

What is intervention

David Mills for explaining the definition of intervention to us again.

Definition of intervention (Resources from David ‘s presentation)

From my understanding, an intervention is a behavioral strategy that affects or changes the outcome. There are many types of interventions, such as medical interventions for addicts in the medical system. the intervention can be to send the addict to a rehabilitation medical center for treatment

Intervention (TV series)

According to the results I have collected, the success rate of these addicts who are sent to rehab medical centers is 5%-10%, but if there is no intervention for these addicts, the probability of success is 0.

Difference between intervention, testing and experimental process （Cai views)

An intervention, challenges how I understand the challenge/research question. It is not about validation of my intuition but challenge it. It is not there to solely to react to a hypothesis.

A test/ testing is a tool with a hypothesis based research

Experimental process is about methodological and ontological enquries

Based on Cai’s point of view, I want to apply it to my own personal projects， Help me better understand these concepts and relate them to my personal projects.

Applied acknowledge in my project

My question

How can we encourage the Chinese traditional embroidery industry to embrace new methodologies?

Intervention#1

  • The intervention of this project is an artifact-based intervention that receive the reactions and respones of stakeholders through works that combine Chinese embroidery and technology.

“Melding experiment”

Experiments combining traditional Chinese embroidery with sensors, potentiometers, animation, etc.

# AC Knowledge # AC Enquiry # AC Process