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Chairs Chairs 08 09 The Life and Times of Plastic Chairs A qualitative research inquiry into the active interplay of design poetry with users, designers and the objects of design K. Hall PhD August 2019 The Life and Times of Plastic Chairs A qualitative research inquiry into the active interplay of design poetry with users, designers and the objects of design By Kathleen Hall A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) University of the Arts London Arts University Bournemouth August 2019 © Kathleen Hall 2019 Arts University Bournemouth 1 AcKnowledgments To all those who travelled with me. My sincerest gratitude to my Supervision Team & the Staff of the Museum of Design in Plastics at Arts University Bournemouth. To Dr. Kavita Hayton, Director of Studies, Professor Susan Lambert, Dr. Paul Ward & Valerie Lodge, who made the journey lighter.. 2 Abstract This qualitative research inquiry sets out to investigate the active interplay of design poetry with users, designers and the objects of design. The outcome of this thesis has contributed to the field of design by expanding the concept of design poetics and developing design poetry as another dimension of design writing. It examines the relationship between poetry and design against the backdrop of a growing interest in the ways in which we write about the designed world. It proposes design poetry as a compelling and immersive form of design engagement, one which is as yet under- researched. This research has also shown that, with its capacity to encompass social, political and cultural factors, design poetry can be a significant vehicle in shaping our view of the objects of design. The plastic chair became a focus for this research gaze, as an object of design importance, with both social and cultural relevance; as an object that is mundane and quotidian but one that can achieve iconic status as a design classic. The research adopts methods that support the critical-creative approach which underpins an arts-based inquiry. A significant outcome of the research is in the development and synthesis of new creative research methods: the creative conversations facilitating a dynamic collaborative dialogue with the key protagonists i.e. designers, poets and users who remain at the heart of this inquiry; the synthesis of individual and group critique on design poetry practice, employed as a method to both share, evaluate and contribute to the development of the researcher’s creative work; the creative output itself, a book of original poetry that reflects the research endeavour and captures the dynamic interplay of making, consuming and narrating. Keywords: design, design poetry, plastic/s chair, creative writing, poetic inquiry, design fiction, designer, writer/researcher Word count = 61,000 words 3 4 Contents Table of Contents Acknowledgments ................................................................................................. 2 Table of Contents ................................................................................................... 5 1. Introduction .................................................................................................... 9 1.1. Introduction ........................................................................................................... 9 1.2. Critical-Creative Practice ...................................................................................... 10 1.3. The Structure of My Research .............................................................................. 12 1.4. Methodological Choices ....................................................................................... 12 1.5. Research Journey ................................................................................................. 13 1.5.1. Developing My Narrative (The Storyteller) ........................................................ 13 1.5.2. Recording the Research Journey ........................................................................ 14 1.5.3. Developing a Poetic Voice .................................................................................. 17 1.5.4. Conversations as Transformations ..................................................................... 18 1.5.5. MoDiP and my Positionality ............................................................................... 19 1.6. Writing of Plastics ................................................................................................ 21 2. Contextual and Literature Review ................................................................. 26 2.1. The Discourse of Things ........................................................................................ 27 2.2. Writing of Objects ................................................................................................ 30 2.3. Design Poetry, Design Fiction and Design Poetics ................................................. 34 2.3.1. Design Poetics – Creating Discourse .................................................................. 34 2.3.2. Design Fiction ..................................................................................................... 39 2.3.3. Design InFluencing Poetry Writing ..................................................................... 42 2.3.4. Writing InFluencing Design ................................................................................. 49 2.3.5. Design Poetry .................................................................................................... 52 5 Contents 2.4. Poetry as a Way of Knowing ................................................................................ 53 2.5. The Chair as the Object ........................................................................................ 60 2.6. Reading, Writing and Research ............................................................................ 62 3. Research Methodologies ............................................................................... 67 3.1. Overview ............................................................................................................. 67 3.2. The Nature of the Research ................................................................................. 67 3.3. Methodological Assumptions ............................................................................... 68 3.4. Sampling and Participants - A Symphony of Voices .............................................. 71 3.5. Ethical considerations .......................................................................................... 71 3.6. The Study Design /Methods ................................................................................. 72 3.7. Approaches to Data Analysis ................................................................................ 74 3.7.1. How Poetic Inquiry Frames the Data Analysis .................................................... 74 3.7.2. Balancing Research Rigour and Creative Licence ............................................... 75 3.8. The Methods Detailed and Analysed .................................................................... 76 3.8.1. Journal of the Plastic Chair ................................................................................. 76 3.8.2. Analysis oF Journal .............................................................................................. 79 3.8.3. Creative Conversations Overview ...................................................................... 84 3.8.4. The Designer Creative Conversations ................................................................ 85 3.8.5. Analysing Designer Creative Conversations ....................................................... 87 3.8.6. The Poet Creative Conversations ....................................................................... 98 3.8.7. Analysing Poet Creative Conversations ............................................................ 100 3.8.8. The Focus Group Creative Conversations ........................................................ 102 3.8.9. Analysing Focus Group Conversations ............................................................. 105 3.8.10. Poetry Validation ............................................................................................. 113 3.8.11. Composition of Poetry - A Chapbook (Poetry From the Chair) ......................... 125 6 Contents 4. Main Findings .............................................................................................. 126 4.1. Overview ........................................................................................................... 126 4.2. design poetry can link the object to a wider context .......................................... 127 4.3. design poetry can increase the emotional response to designed objects ............ 132 4.4. design poetry can provide a vehicle through which we can unlock meaning in an object; .......................................................................................................................... 139 4.5. design poetry can illuminate contemporary design issues .................................. 146 4.5.1. Sustainability .................................................................................................... 146 4.5.2. The BeautiFul Solution ...................................................................................... 149 4.6. design poetry extends the boundaries of subject matter for poetry ................... 152 5. Conclusion .................................................................................................
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