Go Team! Innovation & Entrepreneurship - Preparation and Planning (week21)

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Persson, J. (2017) Wizard of Oz Crucible Theatre
Why are you choosing this project? How is it likely to affect your own MA?

It was exciting to be back and sharing ideas and progress with the other students, although a pause for the holidays allowed me to catch up with reading and think about the next steps for the major project, I had come to a bit of a grinding halt on the motivation front. I find it's very easy to get distracted by other interesting things without deadlines...

Todays lecture focused on Planning for the next module, discussion on how to work to get the best results as a group and what the expectations are for final presentation of information.

We started with a you-tube video of a very interesting lecture by Tina Selig on her model of an "Innovation Engine"
How to come up with new creative imaginative ideas? 6 core components, connected together like a moebius strip so each piece affects all the others, and you can also start at any point on the strip and work around to the others..

You
Knowledge - pay attention, look at things with fresh eyes
Attitude - enthusiasm, motivation, not looking for the final piece of a puzzle, but making a quilt...
Imagination - reframe problems and questions to get interesting answers, challenge assumptions

Outside World
Habitats - stimulating environment, rewards, rules, team members
Resources - Money, culture, appreciate your own resources
Culture - atmosphere, vibe - what culture are you trying to create?

I am a little unsure of where my skills as an actual pattern cutter are likely to be of use in this project to be honest. It is an exceptionally niche discipline unlike photography, graphic or web design all of which have excellent broad base real-world uses for advertising and presentation of information in industry.

However, I do have other real-world skills which I am hoping will be valuable to the group. As a mature student I've worked with teams for over 20 years, both managing and participating, so I hope I've got a few ideas of how to bring out the strengths of each team member and schedule/organise tasks as well as resolve conflicts.
I also have an exceptional network of collaborators and resources outside the university who might be useful if we need a specific skill not covered by the group.

It's inevitable with such a diverse, and extremely creative group that there will be creative differences at some point!

The project I'm hoping to work on is the digital theme of the Material Revolution conference to be held at the university on the 11 and 12th april, but we have no further details or project tasks as yet so I'm cracking on with a schedule and plan for my solo development work for this term.

"Theme C: Digital Manufacturing for Industry 4.0 This theme explores how emerging digital technologies facilitate smarter processes and supply chain optimization in the fourth industrial revolution termed Industry 4.0. How will artificial intelligence and cyber physical systems communicate and enhance the supply chain?  This theme is dedicated to digital design and manufacturing from the aesthetic of digitally printed 2D surfaces to 3D digitally printed materials and 4D holograms. Advancements in digital manufacturing and product prototyping are having huge positive effects on the carbon footprint. Designers can communicate directly with manufacturers via a digital 3D model. Customers can try on clothes through their own computers at home. We will explore how Industry 4.0 can positively impact health, wellbeing and the planet."

Obviously this is of great interest to my other research work into AI and pattern cutting algorithms, I think it is incredibly important that Art and Science works together to create a better future for all. Technology is often seen as a frightening thing and arts and media often reinforces this idea with "cautionary tales" for good storylines in books and films.

My major project has been looking at the ways digital technology is used (or indeed not used) in my own area of pattern creation, and my practical investigations into the use of AI algorithms in creative ways in fashion has opened many exciting areas of research that I had no idea existed! There are a lot of traditionalists in this industry, it can take a long time for innovation to trickle down to the small workrooms and bespoke freelance practitioners that make up a large proportion of creative cutters and makers, I'd like to interest more fashionistas in technological developments...

At the conference I am hoping to learn more about some of businesses and developers in this area with a view to forging contacts for interviews and information for my major project but also networking for future job and placement opportunities too.

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