On Monday we met again in our tutorial group to share and discuss our projects and ideas. Additionally, we all received helpful advice for our personal projects, as well as for the report. We were recommended to address our question at the end of the conclusion and to always connect the introduction with the conclusion. In the report, we can also reference our blog with appendices and add images, as well as videos in this section (appendices).
We were reminded that the difference on this course was to engage and test with real interventions in the outside world. Afterward, we are expected to provide evidence of this engagement, as well as the feedback from videos or photos. Our expertise always needs to be tested. We as students need to make sure that people want this idea and that it is properly checked and trialled.
When the tutor and I reflected on my topic, we realized that working with a specific kind of ward with specific diseases can be difficult, since my interventions would be tested with them. Nevertheless, it will be thought to bring all those people together and to receive access to this group of people. If my focus would be on autism, the interventions would be with no other than this group, which would be extremely difficult as a student. On top of that, certain allowances to work with them would most likely be needed.
Nevertheless, I realized other than patients as stakeholders, the workers are part of the daily hospital life too, which made me think of slightly changing my focus on the exact target audience. Nurses, porters, and cleaners are all highly important and their focus and well-being are just as important in order to not make any mistakes. Porters for instance transfer people from room to room and cleaners look out for hygiene. This made me take a step back from neurodiversity, but more info and clarity from interviews with doctors would be needed that could change this again.
Other than that, I was advised to make sure what the word ”environment” was more specific in my question and that it is crucial to know with who I am engaging and how. It should also be clear if the project is about space or the activity in the space.
It is important to also keep in mind that where limitations are, there are opportunities. For instance, would it be important what size the space is? The offered space could be limited by only being provided a small room from an institution. It would then need to be considered if the idea can even be implemented or possibly adapted.
Finally, we as the creators need to make sure that what we do is something that is of the target’s audience interest.
It could also be considered what all of the people in the hospital have in common/what unifies them and how everyone can benefit from it. Maybe certain elements work for many different groups. Meaning that something that works in one space could also work in another.
Gaining information also does not always mean to engage with the audience necessarily, but with the experts that engage with the audience daily.
For the project a marketing approach (e.g. social media campaigns or a marketing plan) could also be considered, since this was part of my BA.
My idea needs to be critically examined as to why it might be a better option than existing art therapy.