teaching design and cultivating curiosity

research into the daily work experience of the migrant farmer. focus on sauvie island farming, a community north of portland, oregon.

macro and micro quantitative research on immigration trends in u.s.a., the state of oregon, and regional farming communities.

day in the life study of the migrant farm worker on sauvie island. observational research in daily routine, climate conditions, body postures, outdoor wear, and tools used.

journey maps, first-person observations, and captured quotes added to the student's awareness of the migrant farmer’s daily experiences and habits.

design research into portland’s craft culture and loss of the city’s micro-industrial sector. study to develop a proposition for a community-facing initiative.

impact of zoning and new development as challenge to sustaining the craft culture and key stakeholders. history of portand’s industrial zones versus current state view.

research into the local industry councils with a focused dive into the impact of real estate development boom in the central eastside, one of the key industrial districts.

case study and in-person interviews with craft and small industry stakeholders. review with an architect involved in local urban planning.

study in gender bias in the pc culture for women who seek to learn how to build computers and participate in the PC community.

examine how culture, behavior, and language contribute to discrimination in this segment. the student’s personal experiences informed her interest in the research.

develop quantifiable data sets to establish a point of view and point of departure for the research. the online girl gamers and pc community were sources.

first-person research and observational studies with users who build pc’s. the PC for knowledge transfer is often through self-directed and online learning.

study the association between community building, well-being, and green spaces in neighborhood urban environments.

student’s in-person research with park professionals, active community members, and neighborhood residents in portland.

first-person interviews to understand the diverse participants in local greening projects. notes are captured to identify varied “personas” for deeper focus.

mapping the ideas for the research questions and deeper dive to be discussed and shared. students used miro whiteboarding to organize and communicate broadly.

a focused study in the world of the commercial story photographer, specifically those working in extreme outdoor environments and conditions.

ecosystem map to identify key areas to consider for the outdoor commercial photographer’s domain. the student considered the audience and customer base.

first-person research with the commercial photographer for national geographic. he shoots wildlife and commercial fishermen on the bering sea

to understand a day in the life of the commercial photographer, a journey map notes the person’s experiences, behaviors, routines, and rituals.

a personal experience inspired the student to explore “grief” and the implications for families and siblings facing the loss of a parent and primary caregiver.

the student conducted research with clinical child psychologists, hospice nurses, and a pastor to uncover issues with grief management.

quantitative data was collected and studied to inform the point of view. issues of culture, economic status, gender, family size, and ethnicity were collected to narrow focus.

research was evaluated for insights to identify issues for further study. child counseling communities were opportunities for deeper dive.