Final diagram and explanation of the thesis

As a last post for this blog before I submit my diploma I would like to present a diagram that I made as an overall explanation of the thesis (in terms of methodology), where one can get a glimpse of what I have done up to now and where the future investigation can be focused.

As for the actual thesis, with findings, diagrams, study cases I will try to reserve the confidentiality status of my school. Though I know that will be really hard. I probably will participate in some design seminars the next months around the time of my evaluation, so I do not know what it will happened. Whether I publish in few days or months, please stay in tune and visit the blog from time to time in case anything new pop-up. Thank you!

Workshop and why I did not use it

Back in September I held a workshop, you can see the following link the details
http://paedomorphosisindesign.blogspot.com/2009/09/workshop-on-childlike-design-with.html

During the thesis i had to do some slightly changes of the exploration directions. There are few reasons for that with most strong the fact that I had to build first a good base on the biological phenomenon which will allow me to examine in depth further the phenomenon. I tried though to give a number of possible explanations in all the promising exploitative directions but I consciously left outside the main Thesis book the market framework and the historical analysis of the phenomenon.
I consider the workshop related to the market framework and thus it has been left it out. The material though of the workshop will be available to the evaluating committee.

Disneyland

Back to September I did a study trip to Disneyland, Paris. I did not manage to write my experience here, so now few hours before I submit my diploma comes a short post on Disneyland ( they will be couple of late posts today)

In September my supervisor advised me to visit Disneyland, Paris as a part of my thesis. I was lucky because that was coincide with a visit to Paris for a friends' wedding. In the begin I could not see any connections why this visit to Disneyland would be relevant with my thesis, and this thought was in my mind until the moment I entered the park. I was there early in the morning, the moment the park opened its doors and the moment the party began, a party that no one had ever prepared me for. People were hoping, running and screaming, a constant loud music with childish reedy voices, colors sprang up from everywhere , and a scenography that was immediately transferring you in an old American road with view to the pink castle of Sleeping Beauty. The only way to escape one from this hullabaloo was to let himself be part of it. And so I did.

One of the most interesting parts of the park is Fantasyland. The place is distinguished from the rest of the park by the use of colors and signs. The color palette varies from primary bright tones to more festive tones. The signs have used a handmade font referring to childlike writing. The elements of granting roofs, balconies, doors and windows are all designed with a fairy-tale patina. The materials in most of the attractions are original ones and only in places where it demands better durability and efficiency they have fake the original materials.

What I realized in Fantasyland and general in Disneyland, is that there one can find the inner child of himself. I really can argue that place is not direct for children but for adults who are or want to be children themselves. On the other hand I do not forget that this was a personal utopia of Walt Disney. I think that what Walt Disney was apart of a charismatic storyteller (from the 2D with cartoons to 3D with his theme park) was a growing young man. It seems that his capacities of imagination, creativity, playfulness, wonder, explorativeness. sense of humor, enthusiasm, joyfulness, and optimism were high developed. In that sense there are few connections with pedomorphosis in general: one is the theme parks both designed as childlike and designed for the ultimate regression to childhood for the audience, and the second Walt Disney himself as an example of growing young adult.

I finish the post with the most annoying, lovely, fun and famous rides of the park. "It's a small world"

Last findings-readings

As the thesis is taking its final form I have come up with some very interesting and the same time encouraging (for my own research process) articles. These articles have introduce me to scientific analytic tools that I was seeking for long time ago and I was unable to reach.
The International Journal of Design
gave me a very good insight to analytic tools like Principal Components Analysis and other kind of study measures concerning emotions, responses and products. That also made me evaluate my up to now research findings. The approaches I decided to follow was empirical ones and during the whole process I try to build them as much as scientifically I could. Seeing the articles at Journal of Design, I have a more clear understanding of how I can go further on with my theme. I also figured out that my empirical data and findings I have, even if they have not been analyzed with the assistance of questionnaires, interviews or workshops (as for example many of the articles have used to carry out experiments); still are extremely valuable material and it has been confirmed again and again with my Professors. I just hope that I will in the short future I will be able to carry out the research on that scientific level.

Small cars dominate Geneva show

Small cars dominate Geneva show

By Jorn Madslien
Business reporter, BBC News, Geneva motor show

More than 30 world premieres will be unveiled during the first press day of this year's Geneva motor show.

Small cars will dominate the show as even luxury brands like Audi, Lexus and Aston Martin try to meet growing demand for frugal, fuel efficient cars.

Many electric and hybrid models will be displayed - the fruits of government aid to help carmakers cut emissions.

And on the corporate front, Toyota and GM Europe will outline their plans to recover from recent difficulties.

Meanwhile, Europe's biggest carmaker, Volkswagen, will outline plans to take advantage of trouble elsewhere in the industry as it pursues ambitions to overtake Toyota as the world's largest carmaker by 2018.

..........
Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/business/8543877.stm

I just wonder how these small cars will look :D