Working from London

Today, with a mix of tired and excitement coursing through their veins, the students began the process of working on corrections and additions to last weeks presentation, they took a break for lunch and explore our immediate neighborhood.

After lunch a sub group was formed to write the questions we will be asking two Londoners their Millennial/Gen Z opinion on the questions our client wants to know. We want to see if the differences and similarities that exist between them. Biscuits (cookies) and fruit was purchased to help give them the strength they need to get through the afternoon, possibly also fending off Rickets and Scurvy. 

We finished up the last part of the 9-5 day working in a new space finalizing what we could before the next 2 days of travel that should yield interesting insight into our project.

a long day of vans, planes, trains, tubes, and automobiles

Saturday student and professors were flying from Southern CA, Northern CA, and Utah. We took vans, and planes, and trains, and tubes, and automobiles. We are all in London and all have arrived safely. Tomorrow we are back in a conference room looking to move forward on the next steps.

Final day and week in OC

The commute to LPA was a breeze as most of the southland had the day off. The students and faculty met at 7:30 to make sure all was ready to go before the 8am  presentation.

When the video conference was all set and screens were shared and it was confirmed that everyone could hear and see everyone else the presentation began. The client was reminded about what we covered last week before beginning to present the revised and updated ethnographic research through personas that encapsulated what it could be like in this new city. This was then followed with an overview of the importance of naming and the process that is used to discern and create names that are appropriate.

 

Above are some screen grabs from the presentation along with a view of each presentation team doing a great job. The VC ended with feedback from the client and next steps for next week when we arrive on site. Then there was some advice for the students to help them prepare for our departure.
The blog will be silent over the weekend as we make the trek but will return on Monday.

Rolling on July 4

What is a holiday in one country is not a holiday in all countries and with only 25 days to complete our project we can't afford to take a day off.

The students continued to refine, practice and prepare their presentations. As we rolled through our morning and were rehearsing the presentation we all noticed another rolling motion that was not our doing. When the earthquake stopped six students who had never had this experience could now check it off their list. With no damage to the building or us, we pressed on.

After a half hour lunch we all returned, the presenters continued to practice, the script writers continued to refine, the designers continued to design, the asset collectors continued searches for quintessential imagery, and sometimes some folks just needed a little alone time.

One more run through and we called it a day at 4:30, then everyone went off to celebrate the holiday.

practicing and creating

The middle of the second week and the end-of-week product begins to take more shape. Slides are created, script is written, text and images are sprinkled appropriately. Speakers are chosen, mock presentations are given, feedback is offered, changes are made, more research is done, team dynamics and team work are stressed and refined. At the end of day we find ourselves in a good place, not done, but not too far off.

emotional stories and naming

Today the students are into two main groups, one working with the ethnographic research and one working on name for the new city. Both rely heavily on the work that was done yesterday. The ethno team outlined and began to write 4 emotional stories that told a day in the life of each of the personas developed for the city that has yet to be named. The other team worked on coming up with possible names. They came up with 300+ names in the afternoon. The names showed sensitivity to the past, present, future, and the natural environment. Some were not appropriate as appropriate as others, but all were excellent fodder for other better names.

July 1 - Week 2 begins

Today we returned to our the LPA office as they are hosting the class the first two weeks. This time gives the students the opportunity to work in a real office surrounded by architects and engineers. It also allowed them to hear from two BFA in GD alums who also went on the London class trip. Mike Gembarski shared about his time on the course in 2011 and Melanie Wells shared about her time in 2015. The whole of the day was spent brainstorming and mind mapping. This set us up nicely for the work we will do tomorrow.