People

I found the talk interesting, it was the first time I have been introduced to the concept of service design on this course and probably in my artistic education. Gail described service design as being about “looking at the process of service delivery with service users and providers, identifying where and when people come into contact and how those interactions could be improved to meet people’s needs and expectations.” Both my parents are social workers, my mum works with children and their families and my dad works with elderly people. I feel guilty as I don’t really know much about their jobs and what it involves day to day. It is obvious that it is a very stressful job and I suppose this is why when they are at home they leave the stress at the office and don’t really talk about it. My mum is very interested in art therapy and using drawing a lot in her job. She uses mind and body maps to help children talk about themselves, their relationships and life goals. The talk has inspired me to go home and really find out what they do!

I found it interesting that service design is a topic Gail has always been fascinated by, starting when she was studying for her degree. Her interest was sparked in reaction to the briefs she was being given and their lack of involvement with people and the general public. Most of the work we are producing at art school is probably subconsciously intended for relatively small and defined groups of people; people who attend exhibitions, people who buy books and collect zines, people who use the internet and read blogs, our fellow peers and tutors. It was obviously brave of Gail to move away from what most of the people in her class and field were doing and what was perceived as ‘current’ and ‘on trend’. She has an inherent interest in people, in particular vulnerable people whose needs are maybe unrepresented and require support.

As an illustrator I find I too have an inherent interest in people and this is where a lot of my inspiration for my work comes from. However I found my practice didn’t really relate to Gail’s. My work differs because with a lot of it there is no obvious problem being solved and therefore nobody’s life is being obviously bettered. Most of my work is centered around exploring my interests, experiences and personality and sometimes I do worry that being an artist is too self indulgent. I suppose I am creating visuals to stimulate emotions and memories. I would like my work to benefit people by making them happy and to bring enjoyment to everyday life, in the same way that many other artists work effects me.

Art that makes me happy

David Hockney- Salts Mill Saltaire Yorkshire

Reminds me of home and the hills and my house

 Tracey Emin- Birds

I like the text, it makes me think of all the people I love and why I love them.

However coincidently I have recently become involved in a project in which I think my work could be described as service design. Working in a small group with other students from the art school, we have been asked by a local care home to paint a mural of a sweet shop. The sweet shop is the manager of the care homes idea, and the idea behind it is to help and allow the patients to reminisce. Through the smells and the sounds of lids coming of jars, sweets rattling and being weighed in scales, maybe the patients will be taken back to their childhoods. When you are in a new or alien place and perhaps have problems with your memory, being able to remember your history, who you are and stories from your past would be an important and comforting thing. I am really excited about getting started with the painting and spending time in the care home and hopefully getting to know the patients.