Prototype development: Interview with Phil Whitfeld module leader History of Design and Visual Culture

As a precursor to developing the Adaptive Play prototype, and to aid in the research towards the Synthesis module and the final project, I decided to interview Dr Sue Nunn and Phil Whitfeld. I wanted to get their views on how Second Life could be used to improve the delivery of Contextual Studies and History of Design, as well as discussing future uses of SL, within the modules and both my courses (FdA Animation/Multimedia Design). Below I have included the list of questions that I used.

1. You cover contextual studies and the students often find it hard to see the relevance in relation to animation/multimedia, mainly because I feel they have had no experience of the History of design/visual studies etc. We have talked about using Second Life to provide that link to a world they are familiar with, with concepts such as 3d modelling and the virtual being important subject matter from both courses. How do you think we can sell critical studies to sceptical students using Second Life?

2. Do the students make a connection when you discuss the virtual in context to real world visuals eg the cinema, the gaze and mirror stage? How do they approach the topics?

3. How do you tackle this (reflexively through the use of game technologies?

4. So you look at Simulacrum and the hyper real in Contextual studies in what way do you look at the virtual world?

5. The students often don’t appreciate or understand the links between what has been created in the past, theories, approaches to design etc and how they can use it within their animations, websites etc.Obviously this is very important so what I want to do is to provide that link. Show them how for example semiotics effects design and how people interpret those designs/ animations etc.

I am starting off with a simple test where we look at imagery. We will discuss the connotations of the colours/imagery used etc and the feelings they get when viewing a piece of artwork. I will try and get them to place themselves in the artwork and facilitate a discussion on what the artist is trying to say etc.

I will then take this to the next stage where I ask them to create a room around a chosen image and use imagery/design to create an ambience within the space to reflect how they interpret the work. Discuss, what do you think, how do you think I can develop this idea?

6. I also want to create 3d environments that mimic artwork students will be familiar with, where they can walk around say the pier in the Scream or the table in The Last supper to allow them to see the importance of composition, how traditional art practices influence what we do today etc I want to try an encourage an appreciation of theories of design and ways of seeing to demonstrate the links to theories discussed in History of Visual Design etc. What do you think?

7. We also talked about how we could possible use excerpts from books to aid in the conceptualisation process, ie the description of a room for example? Could you embellish on that?

8. How you any other ideas?

9. I intend to create a virtual world for them to act like a resource similar to Moodle with links to galleries, buildings etc to explore what else do you think I should include?

Interview with Phil Whitfeld part 1