(Original text by Camilla Groth)

During the period of 18/11 2014 – 15/3 2015 we collected data for Track C at the Aalto University, School of Art, Design and Architecture. The aim of the Track C research strand is to research physiological reactions during design processes while drawing and forming clay.

30 Design students and professionals participated in physiological tests during a 5,5 hour long research day, including lunch and an interview. The participants performed drawing and clay forming tasks according to instructions given on a computer screen. The participants were also interviewed on the subject of their creative process by two Ma students from the University of Helsinki, Department of Teachers’ Education.

During the test the paticipants were wearing two activity sensors (Actigrafia) on their arms and a heart-rate sensor (Faros) on their upper chest. Between the test sessions the participants were filling in questionnaires about their moods at the different points of the test. They also evaluated them selves whether they were experts or novices in drawing and forming.

The research participant is filling out a questionnaire. Image: Camilla Groth.

The study was based on two different research settings. The specific research questions for the first setting are the following:

1. How do drawing and forming clay differ in terms of copying, creating novel design or free improvisation tasks?
2. Is copying more frustrating than creating novel design?
3. Is designing a cup more frustrating than free creative improvisation?

By instructions the participants either molded in clay or drew three types of drawings: 1) copy of a line drawing of a cup (i.e., copying task) 2) a creative design of a cup (i.e., design task) and 3) a creative drawing of a self-chosen topic (i.e., free improvisation task). Prior to forming or drawing, the students had 10 seconds to look at the drawing or plan their work. The following instructions appeared on a computer screen: 1) Be ready to copy this image; 2) Be ready to design and draw or mold a new type of cup; or 3) Be ready to draw or form whatever you want.

The time of drawing and molding was restricted to two different timeframes, one long and one short. Each of the three tasks was done 10 times. After a break the stimulated recall interview was arranged, the interviewer watched the video privately with each of the paticipants, and they had the possibility to reflect and comment on their work (probing certain feelings, inspirations, disturbances and pressures). The interviewer noted the emotional aspects as well as remarks related to the work itself. The stimulated recall session was also video recorded for subsequent analysis.

Some of the many hundreds of artefacts produced during the project. Image: Camilla Groth.

After this process we further screened these participants for subjects suitable for EEG measurements during the same research setting as described above. Five research participants were selected and the additional measurements were performed at the Finnish Occupational Health brain laboratory in December 2015.

The equipment for EEG measurements ready for use. Image: Camilla Groth.

The participant is being prepared for the experiment. Image: Camilla Groth.

The analysis process is still in progress for the EEG measurements. However we experienced that the HRV and participant interviews showed the largest amounts of frustration in the copying task compared to the free task. We also found that forming clay and drawing showed differential effects in students who are used to working with clay / drawing.

The data collection was facilitated by Doctoral students Marianne Leinikka and Camilla Groth. Five students from the Design department assisted in measuring of the subjects. Research professor Minna Huotilainen from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health – Brain and Work Research Centre was the responsible researcher in this track.

One of the research participants. Image: Camilla Groth.

One publication has already been published in this track:

Seitamaa-Hakkarainen, P., Huotilainen, M., Mäkelä, M. Groth, C. & Hakkarainen, K. (2014). The promise of cognitive neuroscience in design studies. In Lim, Y.-K., Niedderer, K., Redström, J., Stolterman, E., & Valtonen, A. (Eds.). (2014). Proceedings of DRS 2014: Design’s Big Debates. Umeå, Sweden: Umeå Institute of Design, Umeå University. pp. 834-846.

Another research paper, presenting and discussing the first analysis of this collected data, has just been accepted to the DRS 2016 Conference in Brighton, and will be presented there this summer. We are currently in the process of analysing the data from the last measurements that we hope will summon into yet one publication during this last year of the Handling mind project 2013-2016.

 Handling Mind Seminar at Tvärminne zoological station on the 22. – 23.4 

Tvärminne scenery. Photo by Camilla Groth.

All four Tracks of the Handling Mind research project gathered together at the Tvärminne zoological station on April 22th to get an overview of the work done so far and to make joint plans for the future. Especially the initiation of Track C was discussed in detail, as it constitutes of a more challenging research setting. Pilot tests of the research situation were conducted and resulted in a leap forward in the understanding of the over all setting. The research setting will next be tested in combination with track B tests that are to be conducted in June.

Plans for time windows in the use of EEG equipment during performing a design task. Photo by Krista Kosonen.

Piloting research setting of Track C. Photo by Krista Kosonen.

Piloting research setting of Track C: Drawing task. Photo by Camilla Groth.

The seminar was very successful in bringing the different Tracks together and enabling a mutual understanding of the direction of the research as a whole.

The Seminar was followed by a two-day writing retreat the 24 – 25. During the first day the participants worked intensively on the collected data in small groups. The second day started with discussion on analysing methods and analytical frames in Track A. The retreat provided a good opportunity to revise also the article writing plans and a clear focus for each article.

Preliminary plans were made for the presentation of the Handling Mind project in a poster session during the Academy of Finland joint Human Mind seminar in the up coming autumn.

The handling mind group having lunch on the terrace. Photo by Camilla Groth.

Handling Mind public event at the Design Forum showroom

Opening of The Exhibition at March 6th. Photo by Krista Kosonen.

The Handling Mind research tracks, together with the Academy of Finland, arranged a public event on March 27^th where the research Tracks A, B and D presented the progress of their projects. The program of the event included talks by Professor Maarit Mäkelä, who together with the doctoral students, Krista Kosonen and Tarja-Kaarina Laamanen, presented some of the data and preliminary analysis of Track A.

Tarja-Kaarina Laamanen and Krista Kosonen presenting at the Design Forum Showroom Gallery. Photo by Camilla Groth.

Pirita Seitamaa-Hakkarainen presenting at the Design Forum Showroom Gallery. Photo by Camilla Groth.

Professor Pirita Seitamaa-Hakkarainen presented some of the work done in Track B by herself, doctoral students Tellervo Härkki and Henna Lahti, where the main theme is Co-Design.

Professor Minna Huotilainen presented the neurological data from research done in Track D, and Professor Erja Syrjäläinen further described the research process of the same track.

Graphic from Minna’s presentation showing the difference in EEG measures taken of students before and after learning a skill. Graphic by Minna Huotilainen.

Track C has not yet been initiated.

The event was held at the Design Forum Showroom Gallery, which displayed the exhibition We Are Wayfarers by students from Aalto University, School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Department of Design. The exhibition was showing work produced during an 8-week course for Master students during the spring 2014. The course Design Exploration and Experimentation works as an educational platform focusing on design students’ personal creative process and their individual way of managing its phases. Track A of the Handling Mind project carry out their research in conjunction with this course, exploring amongst other issues how students manage open-ended design challenges under a given theme by documenting their process and sharing its phases in the course context. This year the theme of the course was “Journey” and the students travelled to Lapland for inspiration.

Exhibited sculpture by one of the students. Photo by Krista Kosonen.

Public Event and Exhibition at the Design Forum Showroom. (in Finnish below)

27th of March at 15-17pm.

Address: Erottajankatu 9B, (inner courtyard.)

The Handling Mind research project, funded by Finnish Academy, is arranging a public event where the researchers present the progress of the project.

The main concerns of the Handling mind project evolve around the issues of embodiment, creativity and design. The program of the event includes talks by Professor Maarit Mäkelä, Research Professor Minna Huotilainen, Professor Pirita Seitamaa-Hakkarainen and Professor Erja Syrjäläinen.

Handling mind is a multidisciplinary research project that provides a bridge between areas of neuroscience, psychology, design and educational research. The research creates new knowledge of the relationship between the social interaction, emotions, and embodied learning. Through four interlinked study tracks – A, B, C and D – we examine how participation in creative activities associated with crafts and design affects the participants’ socio-emotional experiences, and we analyze the nature of the associated embodied knowing, with a special focus on the interaction between mind, body and materials.

The event will be held in the space of an exhibition, displaying work by students from Aalto University, School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Department of Design. The exhibition is showing work produced during an 8 weeks course for Master students this spring 2014. The course works as an educational platform focusing on design students’ personal creative process and their individual way of managing its phases. The research carried out in conjunction with this course explores how students manage an open-ended design challenge under a given theme by documenting their process and sharing its phases in the course context. This year the theme of the course was “Journey” and the students traveled to Lapland for inspiration.

Track A uses this Design Exploration and Experimentation course as a platform for gathering data for this research. As such the exhibition does not convey any research outcomes, but provides the public with some insight into the data collecting methods and the students personal explorations in material. Track B explores Co-design, track C studies the brain basis of designing and track D studies skill learning. All these tracks will be presented in the event that will be held in Finnish. The event will provide some refreshments.

https://blogs.helsinki.fi/handling-mind/

Yleisötilaisuus ja näyttely

27 Maaliskuuta, kello 15-17.

Design Forum Showroom näyttelytilassa.

Handling mind projekti järjestää yhteistyössä Suomen Akatemian kanssa tilaisuuden jossa projektin tutkijat kertovat tutkimuksen edistymisestä. Tilaisuudessa kuullaan esityksiä seuraavilta professoreilta: Maarit Mäkelä, Minna Huotilainen, Pirita Seitamaa-Hakkarainen ja Erja Syrjäläinen.

Handling Mind on monitieteinen tutkimusprojekti, joka yhdistää neurotieteen, psykologian, muotoilun ja kasvatustieteen lähestymistapoja kehollisen ajattelun ja luovuuden tutkimisessa. Se linkittyy mielen, kokemuksen ja sosiaalisen vuorovaikutuksen teemoihin luoden uutta tietoa sosio-emotionaalisen sekä kehollisen oppimisen suhteista tavoitteenaan avata uudenlaista taiteen, käsityön ja muotoilun prosesseihin kohdistuvaa neurotieteellistä tutkimustraditiota.

Handling Mind koostuu neljästä tutkimusosa-alueesta: Tutkimus A. Personal Exploration, tarkastelee innovaatioiden ja uusien ratkaisujen syntymisessä tarvittavaa henkilökohtaista improvisoivaa luovuutta; Tutkimus B. Co-Design, kohdistuu artefaktin avulla tapahtuvaan asiantuntijuuden jakamiseen käsityömuotoilussa; Tutkimus C. Neuro , tutkii suunnittelun neuraalisia vasteita ja; Tutkimus D. Skill Learning, tutkii käsityö-muotoilun taitojen kehittymisen neuraalisia indikaatioita.

Tapahtuma järjestetään Design Forum Showroomin näyttelytilassa, johon on koottu näyttely tutkimusosa-alue A:n liittyvistä opiskelijatöistä. Opiskelijatyöt ovat tuloksia kevään Design Exploration and Experimentation kurssilta joka toimii sekä opetus- että tutkimus alusta. Kurssin aikana opiskelijat syventyvät annettuun teemaan joka tänä vuonna oli Matka. Opiskelija vierailivat Lapissa ja matkan inspiraation kautta ovat luoneet oman tulkintansa aiheesta. Tilaisuus on suomenkielinen ja luvassa on myös pienimuotoista tarjoilua.

https://blogs.helsinki.fi/handling-mind/