One of my biggest hopes out of this MA is that through it I would learn to love the design research process. In my previous projects, my encounters with the design research process have made me doubtful and unclear. I believe this stems from a lack of understanding of the basics of visual research. Like we discussed in class, methodology is the guarded secret of branding agencies and brand designers. To know it better, innovate with it, and confidently use it in my practice, would make me a better designer and achieve one of my goals with this MA.

The first few sessions were a good recap into the research processes I had already been following. The aha moment for me was when we defined words like Method and Research Question, terms I hadn’t questioned before. I wish to develop such intrinsic questioning to delve deeper into my work. 

The bottom-up approach that we followed throughout the PlayLab, by distilling our shapes into ideas and converting those ideas into visuals was an enjoyable experience for me. From producing outputs that were simple and directly derived from our shapes to distilling essences into complex outputs like spaces and experiences, I was amazed at the little steps that have taken us far. 

Working with a changing group and rotating briefs was a good icebreaker and a lesson in teamwork. It was a simple reminder that design and branding are not individual tasks and communication and group working skills are as important as design skills. 

My team realised over the week that we wanted to achieve so much with our briefs that we overcomplicated our ideas and often forgot to have fun with it. On the last day of exploration, everything clicked for us. It was as if we let go of our constraints and just had fun with the task. The results we achieved were playful, experimental, and on line with the brief. 

These two weeks were also a constant reminder that I was a student again. I am learning to be less adamant, more communicative and a strong but supportive team player. I am excited about the energy I have developed over these two weeks and I am thrilled to amplify it even more in the tasks to come. 

About research, I have realised a few things. One of the reasons it has been so scary for me is because I never quite understood what I was researching and what I should be researching. From our discussions about research during Play Lab, and from my reading of Visualising Research, I have come to a clearer understanding of what academic research is. “Good research is what we think we can know.” It is important that my research and its findings lead future researchers (Gray, Malins, 2004). Such learnings are already shaping the way I think of the final master’s project.