Week 05 - Origination

Class Format

Following the usual format todays class began with a review and quiz about the reading for this week. Chapter four from John Maeda's 'The Laws of Simplicity' actually got me a little bit excited when he mentioned the work of Mike Nourse where he used samples from GWB, which I elaborate on in my video entry below. After this the groups within the class presented their collaborative projects.

 

Group Exercise

Reading Quiz

Answer the following questions as succinctly as possible in your own words.

1. Describe the relationship between teaching and learning according to Maeda?
   - 'The single most helpful thing for my teaching was to experience the other side of learning.' Meada considers the processes occurring between teaching and learning as organic and constantly evolving. He also positions learning occurring more effectively where the student has a passion for the subject.
2. Describe the importance of the use of metaphors in learning, why would you use 
them, how, give an example?
   - Metaphors create similarities through comparison. Alike things are simpler and easier to learn. Maeda's relates this to the visual representation of a trash can in the desktop environment. Hit the ground running. Easy as pie.
3. BRAIN - what does the acronym stand for – why is it important?
   - Basics are the beginning. Repeat yourself often. Avoid creating desperation. Inspire with examples. Never forget to repeat yourself. It is important to Meada because it represents the fundamentals of both his teaching and learning philosophy. Hearing, seeing, doing.
4. Describe a situation where you have been required to teach someone a skill.
   - Teaching drawing at the University of Tasmania during my post graduate degree.
5. How could you apply the BRAIN principle to it?
   - There was certainly a beginning with the basics, repetition and the use of examples. I can't really whether or not I avoided desperation.

Exhibition Presentation

Today Cherill, Katelyn and I presented our design concept for the bicycle helmet cover. I think it went very well as we are a little ahead of schedule. We spoke about the research we have done in relation to exploring, challenging and refining the design. This included describing the interviews we have had with specific experts in related fields such as a cyclist, seamstress, printers and fabric suppliers. We touched promotion of the product via a website which we had begun a mock up for and the shooting of a video for a viral marketing campaign. Over all our presentation was well received.

 

Research

Video

Above is a version of Ministry's 'Rio Grande Blood' which like Mike Nourse uses a lot of GWB samples. This is a fan produced video remix (as there does not seem to be an official video clip for this song) and while it may appear long in the timer, it fades to black at 4:30 until 7:10. Obviously amateur it is still quite clever and worth a watch. The sentiment of the song reflects that of Mike Nourse's video, which Meada references to illustrate his point about repetition. About the music itself, I have been listening to Ministry since the release 'Jesus Built My Hotrod', the track shown here is from their latter years where they seemed to slip into some sort of dub coma. While I appreciate you may (depending on your own audio sensibilities) find this track a little difficult to hear, I do urge you to hang in there until at least the 2 minute mark. Thank you Mr Maeda for giving me this excuse to make a tenuous link between yourself and Ministry.

 

Images

I thought my photograph from this post would make a good helmet cover. Having only the slim link of both being light paintings I was reminded of this image when I received an RSS from My Modern Met about the work of Darius Twin.

 

Reflection

The Maeda reading for this week was concerned with the concept of Learn as relates. You can probably appreciate that I fun linking his illustration of two elements from his acronym to a song by Ministry. So that I learn it here it is again, 'Basics are the beginning. Repeat yourself often. Avoid creating desperation. Inspire with examples. Never forget to repeat yourself.' (from the 'The Laws of Simplicty', chapter 4). Learn stuff and it gets simpler and easier to use.