Week 3

1-on-1 session with Emma. We talked about the secondary research I've been doing and discussed some ideas for my daily diary cultural probe. I told Emma about the case study of applying the Slow Design principles into the design of a mass produced consumer product in Slow Design for Meaningful Interactions (Grosse-Hering et al.). She suggested I try find more case studies. In terms of the principles themselves, Emma said that ritual was probably very important in my project, and I could investigate the rituals of daily life - getting ready, making coffee, tea. I could therefore say my product area is, for example, 'drinking', and link it to the particular activity of making tea. It might be worthwhile to investigate cultural traditions. I am designing an experience for the user, and the product is a catalyst for that experience.

For my daily diary, Emma suggested that I delineate the day in some way (e.g. splitting it into 5 boxes) because the participant is more inclined to fill in boxes rather than an empty page. Delineating the day with times might not be the best, but mid-morning, noon, early-afternoon, late-afternoon, evening etc. could be better. Looking at a particular activity rather than a place would help for looking into people's rituals. I'd be looking for preparation and experience. I could ask the participant to do the diary 2 or 3 times: 1 weekday and 2 weekend days would allow me to contrast weekday rituals to weekend-day rituals.