Insight :Loud Whispers

"I lost my voice."

Of all times, i lost it on the date i have my design principles lecture. I looked at the slides, and tell myself, how can all these wordy text speak for themselves? How many students are able to connect to it, if i don't talk? How many are reading it? and how many would actually have brainstorming in their minds on those topic?

No, i refuse to take a leave and cramp all those classes together, they came all the way here, i shall not let them go back with nothing. And so i took out my notebook (as in the one you write on with a pencil) and start drafting activities.

First activity, involves them to put their 1 week lighting assignment on a table, and sit themselves in a circular planning. The student who made the lighting product shall not speak on the first phase. All students are required to express, what they think the concept is, what's it's category (pendant light?table light?accent light?task light?) and the materials used. At the end of the discussion, then only the maker will reveal the entire concept and intention behind their design work.

The outcome: To let the group think critically while they aid their friends in the critic session.

2nd activity was inspired by the one i did with my Buddhist Friends weekend outing. I wrote the colors(white,brown,red..) in each paper and folded them. Each color that is randomly drawn by the student, will require them to express:

What does the color makes them feel? why?

What kind of

PRODUCT,(gadgets, chair, etc)

 SPACE, ( bedroom, retail , hotel, restaurant)

and FASHION is it suitable for.(goth, pop, street)

The outcome: To evoke realization towards character of colors and it's functions.

3rd activity involves writing their names into small pieces of paper, and each name that is picked, would have to be described in the questions given.

Eg:

Mike picked Gin in the random draw.

So Mike is required to describe,

*State a few character that you found in Gin?

*What color represents Gin and why?

*What color is suitable for Gin and why?

*What is Gin's favorite color and why?

Outcome: To enhance the ability to decide and link colors with characters of clients in the future.

4th activity is consist of name of venues in those pieces of papers. Students are require to work in pairs, going to the shop, and analyze + sketch the building's color scheme, lighting, logo's color, uniform color, furniture color,floor color,wall color,ceiling color etc.

The focus on this activity is to analyze just on the color scheme and lighting.

The students will then require to brainstorm if the color scheme show the true identity of the shop effectively or not. The question that follows by would be, if you are the designer of that space, what color scheme would you like to propose for them as a change.Explain why.

Outcome: To let the student obtain basic analytic and application skills.

Surprisingly, the activities took more time than expected, and we only manage to complete till activity 2.The lighting work were not bad for starters, there was basic considerations that was involved, and there is a student that surprised me with a full length concept statement! In conclusion,there was a lot of interaction,brainstorming, and a lot of laughter.

If you wonder how i communicate with them, they were actually kind enough, to let me, interact with them by using the keyboard, and projector. The speed was decent enough to let everything run without delay. I'm glad that i pull it through today, without letting them go back empty handed.

Unrelated: I drove back halfway, only to find out that i was out of petrol in the middle of federal highway. Luckily, i was pretty near to the Sunway Bridge, and so i walk my bike to the nearest petrol station, which is the BHP, with a smile on my face. Don't ask me why im not frustrated, i find it funny.