Minutes of my First Review

The review started with a presentation. I had summed up my month of research into eleven slides, and two charts, and I talked my panel through it. I had also determined an output for my project – a book that generates awareness about the craft sector. I stated that I wanted it to be for new practitioners of textile design, ones that are fresh out of college, or just starting out in the field. After listening to all I had to say, and asking questions related to the information I had gathered, the feedback I was given was that I should now to take a stand and include my opinion on all that I had found out. Also, on its own, to use just Bailou as a model might not create the impact I want it to, and to therefore look at other such organizations as well (e.g. Weavers Studio and SASHA), and then draw the various contrasts and/or comparisons. I will also be going down to the village to learn their side of the story, and to strengthen this I was asked to maybe hold a couple of workshops or discussions that helps me gain an insight on which form of intervention the weavers think is most apt. To help in this whole ‘ice-breaking’ situation, we also brainstormed on the kinds of workshops I should/could conduct - the outcome of which would be the main crux of my project. Ideas such as generating combined mood boards, or working with music, or with colours were some that were discussed. Also, to gain complete access to information, I would need to strike a level of comfort with the weaver and his family, and the workshops might help with speeding this process up a bit. Another thing would be to find out their interest points and talk about them, rather than go in there with a closed agenda. To do this, the IDEO cards were recommended. Another question that was put on the table was to perhaps look at other business models and see if they could be related and could in fact enhance the model that has been adopted by Bailou currently. Also, to look at models that has been used by other companies for other forms of craft. I was advised to read through Anita Roddick’s ‘Body and Soul”, and also “The Craftsman”. In terms of my proposed output, I was asked to write the preface for the book – to include what would engage the reader to go through the whole thing, “concisely packaging” my whole project into a couple of paragraphs (that would be helpful for me too). I was also advised to expand the mediums I was using to record my research, and to include film and photography as well, even if they weren’t going to be included in my final output.

My next review is scheduled for the 22^nd of September, and this month will have a lot more active hands-on work that will be included. The last month had been my groundwork, so the pace of things should pick up now.

18th August, 2008