5. Inquisitive Democratisation

The recommendation to use project planning software was investigated with the suggestion of Asana or Mural. Asana seemed easy to use and an effective way of sharing information, Mural was complex and more a brainstorming platform. With a monetary subscription after four weeks and lack of engagement to look into this from all but myself, Christine and Aqeel, was this the best option? A planning schedule only works if all team members are on board. Alongside a WhatsApp group, Teams naturally became the  platform to use, with a place to upload files, images and links, keep in touch, pin important messages and engage in online meetings.

1. Asana Project Planning (2023)
2. Mural Brainstorming (2023)
3. Teams Chats and Updates (2023)
4. Teams Files Storage (2023)
5. Remarkable Note Taking Tablet (2023)

Meeting agendas, task allocation and planning deadlines were created in word and uploaded to the Atelier chat. Personal planning instigated with detailed module folders for group work and for my own practice. I have also used a rolling jobs list on my note taking tablet, a place to gather thoughts, lecture notes and a rolling weekly task list, erased as completed or moved on if not achieved. And sometimes, just old-fashioned pen on paper, a tangible respite for the tired eyes of digital screen engagement and need for charger cables and USB ports on the frequent train commute.

6. Handwritten notes, sketches and annotations (2023)

When making concrete lists I found that unforeseen disruptions; printers not working, public transport chaos and life events, set these rigid tasks as failures and created more stress than just prioritising achievable tasks and being decisive in the most effective use of time. Such as when you have small chunks of time, work on the easiest task to complete – uploading images , referencing, organizing sketch books, writing emails. When focused concentration is needed – choose a longer day with more uninterrupted time. And the most useful time management skill to avoide procrastination – DO IT NOW!

7. DEADLINES actiontracker, (2023)

The idea of giving individuals a valid platform within the project, was to enable a freedom to develop subject specific practice, a desire and motivation to organise their own time effectively. To gain insights and overview, I made a point of engaging in important action research, assessing when ultimate deadlines needed to be upheld and for the necessary acquisition of knowledge. Talking to technicians for understanding processes and software, making inquiries with lecturers and staff with specialist fields, subject specific understanding, ideation and reflection with team members, fellow students, friends, and colleagues. At times I felt I may have failed the group by not having the administrative whip cracking Gantt chart of a commercial project planner. As the deadlines drew closer some individuals needed a stronger push, sticking to current competences in Word, I felt it necessary to produce a simple table of tasks, names, dates, status and deadlines being more effective and easier to follow than tackling the templated frustrations of Excel.

A micro – managed ring-fenced approach with strict blocks of Gantt Chart time leaves no room for technical difficulties, life events or changing the trajectory with resourceful dealing of problems. Becoming severely ill Caitlyn felt overwhelmed learning Sketch-Up halfway through the project to recreate the furniture designs. To alleviate the workload and reassure her confidence, it is best to work with what we have available, so how do we tackle this problem? As it was evident Caitlyn is skilled in digital manipulation of her own artwork, I suggested 360 photography and enhance the images of her sculpted furniture. Yet due to Caitlyns illness this process was not possible, Zaki rendered one of the tables in Sketch-up and Shinto developed molded shapes using Rhino software.

8. Modelled Furniture, Matthews, C. (2023)
9. Rendered Furniture, Vincent, S (2023)
10. Rendered Furniture , Vincent, S. (2023)

The way I have tackled an area where I am feeling lost, a task going off-piste, or beyond my comprehension, I have arranged meetings with individuals to discuss the issue. For example, Aqeels 3D artwork, his use of software script trajected the idea into some unknown periphery of technical jargon that I needed to de-code!  During the talk his direction became apparent – inspired by the geometry of our building, the digital artwork uses 3D graphic effects and image layering akin to the AR software Artivive. Scanning an image shows other artwork to demonstrate archival production – a window into the detailed intricacies of artistic development. Using the sensory Arduino software would also be applicable, the engagement of the passerby manipulating the image. Both would add extra dimensions to the immersive gallery experience. Without these one-to-one discursive meetings the idea exchange may not have had a position in the ArtBar.

11. 3D Artwork, Zadi Batool, A. (2023)
12. 3D Artwork, Zadi Batool, A. (2023)

Images

  1. Asana Project Pl;anning. (2023). Asana. https://app.asana.com/
  2. Mural Digital Whiteboard. (2023). Mural. https://www.mural.co/
  3. Team Atelier. Microsoft. (2023). Teams Chat. Microsoft. https://www.mural.co/
  4. Team Atelier. Microsoft. (2023). Teams Files. Microsoft. https://www.mural.co/
  5. Remarkable note taking tablet, Sivinska McCartan, C. (2023)
  6. Handwritten notes, Sivinska Mccartan, C. (2023)
  7. Word DEADLINES Document, Sivinska McCartan, C. (2023)
  8. Matthews, C. (2023) Modelled Furniture [Presentation Slide]
  9. Vincent, S. Matthews, C. (2023) Modelled Furniture [CAD rendering]
  10. Vincent, S. Matthews, C. (2023) Modelled Furniture [CAD rendering]
  11. Zadi Batool, Z. (2023) 3D Artwork 1. [Digital Artwork]. Huddersfield.
  12. Zadi Batool, Z. (2023) 3D Artwork 2. [Digital Artwork]. Huddersfield.