design theory & history

Lect: georgette & victoria

What is Critical Thinking?

week 1

Intro to DTH

Awareness
Evaluate
Questioning

Critical thinking is a method of analyzing ideas, concepts or data collected to evaluate the situation from different perspectives and arrive at an unbiased optimum solution. A critical thinker can anticipate the consequences of certain actions in advance. A researcher with the competency to critically think can reflect, think independently, stay objective, problem solve to deduce a solution. Therefore, critical thinking requires self-actuated discipline and correction to get one step closer to the solution iteratively.

It is also having awareness of biases and examining assumptions, the ability to analyse and effectively break down an issue in order to make a decision or find a solution, and the ability to formulate deep, different, and effective questions.

Critical Thinking can also help identify gaps in reasoning and assumptions. Although, design researchers are expected to have this competency independently, critical thinking promotes group ideation and task execution as well. Though, it shouldn’t be seen as an opportunity to criticize someone else’s ideas or work.

In that sense, the objective of critical thinking is to strengthen a theory, process, product or service and not to find unnecessary faults to ensure that the ideas or processes collapse. A mature critical thinker can define project goals, define timelines, set expectations, manage expectations, handle conflicts and work collaboratively with a team to accomplish the project goals. It is more and more evident that critical thinking, even though not given its due importance in organizations, is a critical competency that cannot be undermined.

Difference between critical thinking and design thinking:

Design Thinking is a process that involves stages of observation/interaction, empathy, problem formulation, solution deduction, testing, alteration and reiteration. Here, Critical Thinking is a part of every stage of the Design Thinking process. Essentially, effective Design Thinking cannot take place in the absence of critical or creative thinking. There is also a common misconception that critical and creative thinking are distinct from each other.

However, critical thinking requires some form as well as level of creativity. Critical and creative thinking go hand-in-hand and cannot be separated or distinguished using any formal criteria.

https://think.design/user-design-research/critical-thinking/

Critical thinking strategies:

Strategy 1: Be a continuous learner. Learners have a natural sense of curiosity about the world and their profession. They read and talk to people. Basically, they educate themselves without being told to. This can come from reading, talking to subject matter experts, listening to lectures online, or attending conferences. The more workers know, the more evidence they have to consider when making a decision.

Strategy 2: Make the right decision for the majority. Critical thinkers put their egos aside and think about what is best for the overall organization, even if that is not the best solution for the individual. Their goal is seeking to understand and then making a clear and rational decision that is best for the majority.

Strategy 3: Listen and consider unconventional opinions. Critical thinkers have a tendency to seek out new solutions to old problems. They don’t like the phrase “that is the way we have always done it.” They also see that collaboration with their team, their profession, and sometimes their competitors will bring about the best solutions, and they are OK with that.

Strategy 4: Avoid analysis paralysis. Critical thinkers will avoid the trap of too much information and getting stuck in the decision-making process by looking at the big picture and the details. They recognize they will never have 100% of the information they might be able to gather, but they also know they can move forward and adjust a decision later if necessary.

Strategy 5: Analyze yourself. Critical thinkers develop a skill for explaining to others why they came to a specific conclusion. Others can follow their reasoning and can understand their thinking. They are willing to change their views when they are provided with more information that allows greater understanding.

https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/newsletters/2015/sep/grow-critical-thinking.html

What is happening?

Questions to ask yourself

How are you feeling?

Do you agree or disagree?

What do you think?

What don't I see?

Who is saying it?

What makes you wonder?

Mohammed Din Mohammad, Mystical Journey 1 2001. Deer head and tail of a horse, squatting figurine, keris handle, head figurine of Arjuna on a bicycle stand. Dimensions unknown. Image courtesy of Mdm Hamidah Jalil.

When I looked at this image, I asked myself these questions:

1. What am I looking at?

2. What is the purpose of this creation?

3. What went through the creators mind when designing this product?

4. What is the head placed on the 3rd pedestal?

5. Who is this made for?

6. Where did the creator find the components?

7. What does this represent?

8. If I were to be given this product, how do I use it?

Upon further research, Mohammad Din Mohammad was a Singaporean Malay artist known for his works inspired by Sufism, with his artistic practice spanning painting, assemblage, and Islamic calligraphy. Mhd Din's works are also heavily influenced by his devotion to the practice of the Malay martial arts called silat. He was also a practising bomoh (traditional healer).

After graduating from NAFA in 1976 he began his life as an artist plying old Bugis Street drawing portraits for tourists and travellers. This went on for the next 5 years. In 1980, Mhd Din began acting in Malay theatre, with his first role as the character Laertees in a Malay adaptation of Hamlet by the Malay arts group Perkumpulan Seni.

Via Wikipedia

As I researched this particular art installation further, I discovered that in the image shown, it shows Arjuna, an ascetic hero in the Mahabharata epic, beside the iconic squatting ﬁgure (an icon not limited to Java but found in many Austronesian cultures). Javanese culture is also known to have many conﬂations of religions and traditional practices.

While we are unable to assume connections with Din Mohammad’s practice, it is worth noting that Javanese culture has its own similar practice of understanding the unseen: Kebatinan, known also as Kejawen (Javanism) or Kapitayan, which includes beliefs “that concern potency and the imperceptible world”. These are unique strands of Javanese religion that embody diverse religious beliefs, from folkloric to Hindu-Buddhist and sometimes Islamic. Such were the normalised views before Islam penetrated Javanese identity and became part of nationalist movements in Indonesia.

Via https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337004221_Making_Space_for_the_Ghaib_Unseen#pf7

From what i understand, this is an ad created to attract attention, to persuade the audience into choosing SIA. I think it is a wonderful approach to lure potential customers with the promise of making its passengers “feel like home”

Upon watching this clip, I then asked myself these questions:

1. What was the budget of this ad?

2. Why was the video duration only one minute?

3. What are the locations used in the scenes from the first half of the video?

4. Why is it so important for this airline to ensure that its passengers feel like home?

5. What is the purpose of showing the specific locations?

6. In a video where the point is to advertise the airline, where are the planes? Why is there a lack of planes?

dth week 1

image by mohammed din mohammad:

1. what am i looking at

2. what is the purpose of this creation

3. what went through the creators mind when designing this product

4. what is the head placed on the 3rd pedestal

5. who is this made for

6. where did the creator find the components

7. what does this represent

8. if i were to be given this product, how do i use it

the lengths we go to: singapore airlines:

1. from what i understand, this is an ad created to attract attention, to persuade the audience into choosing SIA

2. i think it is a wonderful approach to lure potential customers with the promise of making its passengers “feel like home”

3. what was the budget of this ad

4. why was the video duration only one minute

5. what are the locations used in the scenes from the first half of the video

6. why is it so important for this airline to ensure that its passengers feel like home

7. what is the purpose of showing the specific locations

8. in a video where the point is to advertise the airline, where are the planes? why is there a lack of planes

reflection on e-journal:

guiding questions:

1. key takeaways for today

2. “i’m curious to know more about…”

3. read more about it

Project Name

dth week 2

art is a form that evokes emotion from its observers with its meanings

design is the process of making something out of nothing to create solutions to problems

difference between prehistory and ancient art:

reflection on today lesson (week 2 dth) and watch vid

10 LOST WONDERS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD

Project Name

DTH week 3

thinking critically

- why was it created

- who created it

- why was it in this form

- what can we understand from the materials used

- can we understand from the past to inform today’s society

- why is it important

Project Name

This is your Project description. Provide a brief summary to help visitors understand the context and background of your work. Click on "Edit Text" or double click on the text box to start.