Reflective Journal

Thoughts and learnings from my second year at Falmouth University

[catherine--rowland]

Cadbury x Age UK Loneliness Project

Since finishing my project, Cadbury have collaborated with Age UK, working on a similar concept. 

“225,000 older people often go a whole week without speaking to anyone at all. At Age UK we support hundreds of thousands of older people every year. We know that they have so many amazing stories to tell.

We've partnered with Cadbury to encourage everyone to engage in conversations with older people.

Join us by celebrating the stories of older people you know and supporting Age UK's vital services to tackle loneliness.“

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer/donate-your-words/

[catherine--rowland]

GDE230 Collaborative Practice

Today, I have been reading Flogging Underwear by Andrew Sullivan, ready to present back on Friday. I chose this article because I think it will not only help me in this module, but also when writing my essay.

https://www.scribd.com/document/51335169/Flogging-Underwear-January-18-1988

[catherine--rowland]

Presentation

My presentation this week went really well, I thought. Whilst I was not finished with the project, I got some really useful feedback and will continue to work through the suggested changes. I had been quite nervous and stressed about getting everything done, but it was nice to show my work and see what other people had been doing. 

Moving forward, I need to rework my poster and leaflet designs, possibly create more postcards and finish off my project boards. I am feeling positive and feel like I am in a strong position to start the next module.

[catherine--rowland]

First Leaflet

I have also printed off a leafelt to arrive with the cards to inform people about the project and hopefully answer any questions about it. After printing it out and seeing it next to the postcards, I realised that they didn’t sit that well together and decided that I want to redesign the leaflet.

Whilst I had the cards in front of me, I messed around with what the new leafelt might look like. I liked the idea of the ‘leaflet’ holding the postcards inside of it, and experimented with just a piece of a4 paper folded in half. I think that I want to move forward with this idea

[catherine--rowland]

Yesterday I went into the studio to use the printer and collect the final, printed postcards. I have only printed them onto cartridge paper as I haven’t been able to buy any thicker paper at the moment - I would want to print onto thicker paper to create the proper feeling of a postcard.

However, I am really happy with how these have come out. I think the patterns are really nice an colourful and the cards all look good next to each other.

[catherine--rowland]

This morning I’ve made a start to the leaflet that will arrive with the postcard set. I thought it would be important to give some context to the cards and the project when they arrive. 

After signing up for the project online, the participant will recieve a ‘welcome pack’ containing a set of pre-addressed postcards and the introductory leaflet.

[catherine--rowland]

Printing experiments

Today, I wanted to step back from my laptop for a bit and get my hands dirty. Unfortunately, I don’t have much to create prints with, but I did have a couple of dodgy potatoes and a carrot. To give them purpose before getting composted, I used these to create some simple stamps and got creating patterns. 

I used primary colours and poster paint (because it’s all that I have!) and went for it. Whilst these may not be part of my final designs, it was a great way to look at how the shapes interact with each other. I really like the different textures that the potatoes gave to each shape.

[catherine--rowland]

Cocktails in Care Homes - Magic Me

Each month a group of volunteers hold a disco and cocktail night for care home residents. They hold these nights in homes across the London and has been running for nearly 10 years.

[catherine--rowland]

 Hunter Frank’s Neighbourhood Postcard Project

[catherine--rowland]

The Neighbourhood Postcard Project

This project by Hunter Franks worked to connect poeple from different neighbourhoods of the same city. I think that this is a really fun project that works really well to combat differences and change perceptions. 

http://www.hunterfranks.com/#/neighborhood-postcard-project/ 

[catherine--rowland]

The Essence of my Brief

This morning I worked through the optional workshop offered by Matt to break down my brief and really see the thinking behind it. I want to see people sharing experiences, feelings, opinions and all of the little details about life that makes us amazing. I’ve since stuck this ‘essence’ at eye-level above my desk to really remind myself of the backbone of my project. 

[catherine--rowland]

The Great Get Together

https://www.greatgettogether.org/

Organised by the Jo Cox Foundation, The Great Get Together aims to celebrate all that we have in common, no matter how big our differences may appear. Originally kickstarted with the help of The Big Lunch, they have been running since 2018 and now have different events targeted at different issues and groups of people. 

[catherine--rowland]

The Slow Movement - Slow Conversations

https://www.slowmovement.com/slow_conversations.php

“Slow conversations are conversations where the primary aim of each party is to truly understand the other person.” 

[catherine--rowland]

Hand Written Letter Project, Craig Oldham

http://handwrittenletterproject.com/ 

[catherine--rowland]

Impacts of writing on mental health

https://www.forbes.com/sites/daniellebrooker/2019/05/28/five-reasons-you-need-to-start-writing-letters-today/?sh=5444ebd22a49 

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/your-stories/an-unspoken-conversation/

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/your-stories/pen-pals-transformed-my-life/ 

[catherine--rowland]

Notes to strangers, Andy Leek

http://www.andy-leek.com/notes-to-strangers

[catherine--rowland]

The Impacts of Journaling on Mental Health

http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.falmouth.ac.uk/ehost/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=7b7dc426-a89f-4a9d-9694-5747831b6772%40sessionmgr101&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=59330171&db=sih