As a graphic design PhD student engaging in a research project relating to the representation of place I am naturally reading a fair bit of geographic writing. 

As I see it (and I am speaking in my second discipline, so if there are any geographers out there apologies if I am not quite on the money here), we could think about this journey, or the 'where', in geographical, space-time terms. In the 70s humanist geographer Yi-Fu Tuan suggested place was akin to pause—the pause enabled one to know place, to imbue it with value. 

However times have moved on and geographers now  talk about place as process, as being constituted by social relations, which are never still (Doreen Massey for example). This countered the view as place as static and mirrored debates in other disciplines. Biologist Mae-Wan Ho argued that 'form is dynamic through and through', that it is only in our minds that things can be held fast, even if only for a moment.

I wonder if this could also tap into the reflection-in-action point, though I know that is a contentious term on this list. Surely if one is reflecting in action, the pause isn't really a pause, it is a mobilisation of the reflection—a move in itself. 

Speaking of the list and place. I have to say that I often feel somewhat marginalised. I know this has been said recently, but I'm going to say it again as I feel a bit gung-ho, but the process seems to be a question is posted, a few answers are posted in return, then the thread becomes monopolised by the 'big hitters' here in a way that feels quite exclusive. My perception is that this is generated through language use, experience, and sometimes, tone of voice. Now no-one should apologise for their own expertise in a field and their ability to exercise a specificity of language unavailable to the more junior researchers amongst us and perhaps email communication is fraught with misinterpretations of tone. Clearly we can also all learn from these wise heads, but I just wonder how many of these threads are shifted away from the original question/poster towards the fields of the five or six wise men (and occasional woman) albeit as a natural consequence because of the/their responses. Is it me, or often does the original poster often sink without trace? Obviously it's a democratic list and I and any other 'lurkers' who have expressed similar, could start our own threads, so I know how the argument goes, but the fact seems that mostly we don't. Whether that is due to the above issues, a lack of pressing questions or a sense that we are working in a different way in different areas, I don't know. But I do know that sometimes I feel I am sitting in a room listening to an argument at loud volume, about the same old things, go back and forth between 3 or 4 of the same people via the contents of my inbox! If I am in a minority of one here, then I do apologise and I'll get back to the lurking corner. Though there is a question about content/data analysis I would like to ask Klaus off list... so you see I do value the wise men of the list really. Maybe I just should subscribe to the digest version!

I await to be put in my place!

Best,
Alison


* * *

Alison Barnes
AHRC funded research student
School of Graphic Design, LCC
University of the Arts, London

http://geo-graphic.blogspot.com/
________________________________________
From: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and related research in Design [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Robert Harland [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 15 October 2009 18:53
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Where do we want to go?

klaus

I can see how asking the question 'where do we want to go?' (or 'aim',
as you say) relates to 'process description' as you put it, but is the
question 'where are we now' not at times a most significant part of
that process, as we pause and reflect on 'where we have been', or the
situation we are in, perhaps to then determine a new direction,
acquire a new process, perhaps take a risk? Maybe even to refocus our
aim.

I have never thought this to be a 'dead' experience, unless I attempt
to completely divorce myself from the design task in hand – go on
holiday, for example. I may pause, but it is never usually that far
away from the process. I can see how it might be considered less
important, but when it is needed, is it not the most important part of
the process. Are we not simply 'reflecting-in-action'?

I too like to think that designers are innovators, with one foot in
the future, but to extend that analogy, occasionally, do we not pause
and rethink our next step (singular), in order to reach the
destination, or aim, we know to be a thousand steps away.

I'm about to fly to Seoul. I haven't been before. Arriving there on
Sunday is my aim. But I know I will pause on many occasions, rethink
my steps, and change course, in order to achieve the goal. In the
context of 'wayfinding', these 'reflections-in-action', or 'where am I
now' will arguably be the most important part of the 'wayfinding'
process.

I'll hold on tight for your further thoughts.

Regards

Robert


Robert Harland    Lecturer    Loughborough University    School of Art
and Design    +44 (0)1509 228980    [log in to unmask]
www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/ac/mainpages/Research/staffpages/harland/harland.htm




On 15 Oct 2009, at 17:49, Klaus Krippendorff wrote:

> robert,
>
> when you know where you are aiming at (process description), where
> you are now (state description) is less important.
>
> the difference has something to do with describing dead things or
> living beings (or living beings as dead things). one of the
> outstanding features of living beings is that they are always in
> notion. you can put a car into a garage, but not stop a living being
> from doing things.
>
> in relation to design, to me, designers are by definition
> innovators, living with one foot in the future, constantly proposing
> new artifacts, some proposals are accepted and used in the future,
> some are mere conversation pieces leading to something else, and
> some do not go anywhere, get stuck at where we are.
>
> klaus
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and
> related research in Design [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> Behalf Of Robert Harland
> Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2009 3:06 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Where do we want to go?
>
> My own reflection on this thread, (as has often been the case when
> I've found myself 'lost' in the design process), is to ask 'where are
> we now?'
>
> Robert
>
>
> Robert Harland    Lecturer    Loughborough University    School of Art
> and Design    +44 (0)1509 228980    [log in to unmask]
> www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/ac/mainpages/Research/staffpages/harland/harland.htm
>
>
>
>
> On 15 Oct 2009, at 07:22, Ken Friedman wrote:
>
>> Dear Klaus,
>>
>> I tip my hat to you. Accordingly, I have undertaken a designerly
>> improvement
>> by adjusting the header to reflect the shift in focus.
>>
>> Warm wishes,
>>
>> Ken
>>
>> On Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:29:24 -0400, Klaus Krippendorff
>> <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>
>>> all:
>>>
>>> sadly, "where indeed are we going?" is indicative of a non-
>>> designerly
>> question.  it assumes that we are going anyhow without knowing where
>> to and
>> need to inquire which train we are on.
>>>
>>> what about "where do we want to go?"
>>>
>>> klaus
>>>