Research and investigation
Defining your own problems
Not about one fantastic outcome
Reading list:
What is graphic design for? Robinson
Fundamentals of graphic design AVA publishing
Visual research AVA publishing
Mapping
Data flow
Useful advise - The world outside the studio!
What is research?
- Process is more important than outcome
- Stimulated - Consciously or sub-consciously search for inspiration
- Systematic - Controlled eg maps, organising, structuring
- Gathering data from external sources
- Collecting Information
- Talking to people and analysing what people say
- Asking the question 'What if....?'
Primary - Information that does not exist yet eg questionnaires, photographs, personal usually generated to help solve a specific problem
Secondary - Information already exists gathered for some other purpose
Quantitative - This consists of facts, figures and measurements which can then be analysed. Measurable data can be gathered from a variety of sources but it is the interpretation, manipulation and relationships of this data which is important. It is objective and relies on surveys, questionnaires, statistics etc.
Qualitative -Focuses on peoples beliefs, opinions, interactions and experiences to gather information. This can be derived from interviews, focus groups, documentary analysis etc. Qualitative research is not statistical but gives a real-life account on a particular study or event.
The research we had done for the what if project can be categorised as follows/;
Primary
Qualitative
We are weak in this area other than Charlotte had done a questionnaire asking people how they felt about Leeds having more CCTV camera than New York
Quantitative
We counted the number of CCTV cameras on Briggate
Secondary
Qualitative
- we have gathered news reports and opinions on CCTV. Celebrity opinion such as Banksy
- The cost of running the CCTV service is around 1.5 million annually
