Initial Reflections on GDE751 Studio Practice

Having spent time reading and analysing the GDE751 Studio Practice brief, my immediate feeling is that this project represents the culmination of everything I have developed so far in the MA. Unlike previous modules, which often provided more defined parameters, this brief places significant emphasis on self-direction, independent research, and the development of a project that reflects both my interests and future aspirations as a designer.

My first task has been to move beyond simply reading the brief and instead break it down into its key components. Through a visual mind-mapping exercise, I identified several recurring themes within the assignment: the importance of a clear research question, rigorous investigation, critical contextual understanding, experimentation, and the development of a final practice-based outcome. What became clear is that the project is not solely about producing a strong final design piece; it is equally concerned with evidencing the research, decision-making, and development process that leads to that outcome.

Reflecting on my previous projects has helped me identify common threads running through my practice. Across work such as my backpacking- and travel-focused design project, NeuroRoutes, and my photography publication, No Days Off, I can see a consistent interest in accessibility, travel, inclusion, human-centred design, and in creating solutions that respond to real-world needs. Although the outcomes differed significantly, each project sought to address a gap or challenge experienced by a specific audience.

This reflection also encouraged me to revisit the values and vision I had established earlier in the course. My core values of inclusivity, adaptability, transparency, collaboration, and abstract thinking continue to resonate strongly with the type of designer I want to become. Similarly, my personal statement, "Spotting the gaps. Designing the solutions," still feels relevant and may provide a useful foundation for defining the direction of this final major project.

At this stage, I am not committed to a specific research question or outcome. However, I am increasingly aware that my strongest interests sit around themes of equality, accessibility, neurodiversity, travel, and advocating for underrepresented groups. The next phase of the project will focus on exploring these areas in greater depth, identifying potential gaps, and refining them into a research question that is both meaningful and capable of sustaining a substantial body of investigation.

For now, my focus is on remaining open, conducting broad exploratory research, and allowing connections between my previous work, personal values, and emerging interests to guide the project's development. While the openness of the brief initially felt overwhelming, breaking it down visually has helped me recognise that I already have a strong foundation from which to begin.

In addition to reflecting on potential subject areas, I also wanted to break down exactly what the brief is asking me to demonstrate throughout the module. Although the project is highly self-directed, the assessment criteria provide a useful framework for understanding what successful project development should look like.

The learning outcomes emphasise the importance of contextual understanding, critical analysis, experimentation, making, communication, and project management. This reinforces the idea that the project is not simply about producing a visually successful outcome, but about demonstrating a rigorous, well-structured design process. Throughout the project, I will need to demonstrate an understanding of the social, political, historical, and cultural contexts surrounding my chosen subject while using research findings to inform decision-making and support a clearly defined design response.

The brief also encourages innovation and risk-taking, which I would like to embrace rather than immediately settling for a safe or predictable outcome. At this stage, I am interested in exploring how themes of accessibility, neurodiversity, equality, travel, and representation can lead to meaningful intervention opportunities. However, I am aware that these themes remain broad and will need to be refined into a focused research question.

At this point, my primary goal is not to determine the outcome but to ensure that I am asking the right questions. By understanding both the flexibility of the brief and the expectations outlined within the assessment criteria, I feel better equipped to begin the research and discovery phase of the project with a clearer sense of direction.