For every student preparing for art study abroad, we should understand the importance of portfolio research in portfolio production, but there is a more realistic question before us: how to conduct portfolio research? At present, the most commonly used research methods are mainly concentrated on the Internet, such as publishing questionnaires on the Internet, searching for relevant terms and documents, etc., but the information searched by this method is often lack of professionalism and pertinence. Because different majors are different, and each project is unique, the same research method is difficult to apply to all standards and directly affect our design practice. The research results directly determine the depth and breadth of the collection, so we must master more professional collection research methods. Today, we will analyze and summarize three research methods that we must master based on specific student cases, hoping to help you broaden your thinking and find more possibilities!
How to conduct collection research?
Break the inherent thinking and contact the real audience
I usually find in the consulting work that many students who come to us for work collection counseling do not have no ideas. On the contrary, they have many ideas, but most of them are fragmented. It is difficult to go deep into the discussion and verify the feasibility of ideas.
This is also because many students are deeply influenced by the traditional design thinking in China. In the past, teachers or customers assigned us themes, requirements and guidelines. We then pushed forward the design work according to these guidelines. Once there is no result orientation, we do not know where to start. In fact, this is the time to find the direction with the help of research. A complete project work includes the process of asking questions - analyzing problems - solving problems, and the key is to solve problems for whom. Finding the real audience of the work will find the direction we really need to investigate.
For example, students of natural light have been admitted Royal College of Art Yaqiu, a student of product design, has designed products for the market before, but she is still very confused in the early stage of production of the collection, because she has been in a very passive state in her past design work, and most of the products she designed do not need to be considered and investigated as the designer of "Party B". The transformation of thinking also requires methods. After Yaqiu came to the natural light, the teacher assessed her as having a good professional foundation but lacking creativity, which also led to the "floating" of her plans. Therefore, most of Yaqiu's early courses are thought training and research and analysis.
Natural light student works collection, please do not steal without permission
There are five projects in her work collection, most of which focus on some small groups, such as the elderly with sleep disorders, electronic music fans, etc. In ordinary life, we have few opportunities to directly understand their living conditions. In order to make products that can truly solve their problems, online research is not enough.
Under the guidance of the teacher, Yaqiu adopted the ethnographic survey method. The specific operation includes the way of getting along with the researcher, talking, interviewing, etc., as well as observing the closest people around the researcher to understand the different aspects of the problem from an objective perspective. Such research results also directly point to the final design direction, and constantly correct in the process, ultimately helping Yaqiu students to make systematic and strategic solutions.
Natural light student works collection, please do not steal without permission
The most accurate research is bold "trial and error"
Many students want to spend more time refining their works in the process of making a collection of works because of limited time, so they constantly reduce the time for preliminary research. Even many students go back to "supplement" research after completing their works, which is very easy to make "irreparable" mistakes in the process.
The root of many engineering disciplines, including architecture, interaction and industrial design, lies in their "rationality". The early comprehensive and accurate collection of works research is a necessary process to collect data. Taking architecture as an example, in the early stage of work, we must fully understand the cultural background, geographical conditions, policy trends and other aspects of the design site, In order to avoid more "difficult to make up" errors in the implementation phase of the scheme.
It is not impossible to "make mistakes" in the production of works collection, but we try our best to put the opportunity of "trial and error" in the early stage. Taking garment design as an example, the production of ready-made clothes is a one-time process. Every detail change from tailoring to sewing will affect the final presentation. Although we cannot predict, we can preview.
Students can try their best to understand the characteristics of each material and the 3D structure of each part in the collection research process, and then try different combinations of experiments, such as collage and making Mini Collection. These processes can be collected into the collection, which becomes an important basis for increasing the thickness of our works. In addition, in the process of "trial and error", you can also free your mind and get unexpected surprises.
Last week, we shared that it took only one month to harvest Parsons Fashion Professional As for the student case of offer, Wang actually had a very tight time to produce the portfolio, but instead of giving up the research, she focused on the research, consciously making up for the lack of detailed presentation in the visual project with strong logical thinking. In addition to accumulating industry information to increase the depth of research background, Wang learned professional and systematic analysis methods, such as SWOT analysis, 4P analysis and 3C strategic model, and used them in his own collection of research and analysis.
Natural light student works collection, please do not steal without permission
Among them, 4P analysis is the highlight of Wang's works. 4P refers to the calculation of appropriate pricing for a brand through product analysis and user portraits of products purchased from four dimensions of product, price, channel and promotion, This series of mature and accurate analysis results also made Ms. Wang's target school Parsons see her clear logical thinking and great potential.
Natural light student works collection, please do not steal without permission
Sensibility+rationality=the best inspiration catalyst
In addition, there is also a misunderstanding in the research of the collection of works, that is, the research is optional for the pure art, graphic design, photography and other professions that emphasize the designer's personal style. They believe that perceptual art does not need rational data, but only needs to focus on "eye-catching".
But the reason why art has become a discipline is that it has a profound cultural accumulation behind it, and the reason why art moves people is that it permeates the artists' profound rational thinking.
At present, various art majors are emphasizing interdisciplinary, and the boundaries of art are becoming wider and wider. When we create pure art works, we need to conduct in-depth research on social issues, human relations, modern society and art history. Only art works based on a strong knowledge reserve can stand the scrutiny and test.
Dylan, who was admitted to Lunyi Chunyi, also had a deep understanding of the research. Her target school, Lunyi, clearly requires that at least two skitchbooks and a lot of research work are required for the application of pure art majors in the undergraduate direction. This also allows her to establish a very clear understanding that artistic creation is a rigorous process. The generation of inspiration is subjective and fragmented, and recording at any time+subsequent deepening is the best transformation process. Dylan's works include a group of photographic works - "PA". Inspired by a vague scene in her childhood.
As she grew up, she also accumulated more emotional precipitation with the deepening of her interest in art. She hopes to express the confusion and chaotic emotions of teenagers at this age through this set of photography works. In order to express this complex emotion, she collected data while researching, tried to summarize the rules from the works of designers in different periods, tested the texture brought by different materials and printing methods countless times, and finally selected the finished products from these random results.
In fact, in the collection of works in the direction of pure art, what impresses the admissions officer is not just a beautiful picture, but a complete work with a clear logical sequence of brainstorming, research, sketches, and experimental processes.
In fact, there are a variety of research methods for the collection of works. For example, the ethnography, 4P and SWOT analysis mentioned above today are the analysis and research methods used for specific projects. In addition, there are some basic research methods, including: Observation, literature research, character interview, data analysis, field investigation, repeated argument, and hands-on practice.
These methods can also be freely combined and extended. When we are working on a collection of works, research is actually something that runs through the collection of works, because it is a series of logic and thought nodes, and each link actually needs the help of research.
The most important thing of a work collection is to express your creativity. The method is just a way to obtain information. How to use it and the focus in the research need students to explore in practice. But for a successful work collection, learning to do work collection research is the most important first step! How to conduct collection research? Today, Natural Light introduced these to you. I hope it can help you!
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