Artefact as Method

Course Brief

Abstract

What does it mean for a place to expand? How is the expansion of a place felt by people? In an overs simplified sense, expansion happens when something is pulled from an external or is pushed from an internal. Places unlike objects do not have fixed boundaries, although these imaginary lines exist on a map, the people and places in peripheries are much more fluid. How does expansion and urbanization impact there peripheries? What does it mean to be peri urban? Through this course we look at places in the per urban, villages in the Bangalore north around Yelahanka - Gantiganahalli, Avalahalli, Harohalli etc and use artefacts as a method to understand speculate how these places change. A major contributor to the decisions that lead to the change of these places is the technology used - Digital maps, GIS tools, Geo spatial information and data, Drone and satellite footage etc. Technology however is a larger word to encapsulate the tools flows and methods used in urban planning. Over the period of these course we explore processes and realities of places and people in the peri-urban and use artifacts as a method to question, critique, imagine alternates and learn.

A student from Srishti Interim annotates a map during fieldwork using mapping as an artefact

Keywords

Peri urban, critical making, artefacts, contextual enquiry

Course Objective

Artefacts have been a driving factor of our practice. It has been the center of how we engage, collaborate in a space and also present work and learning. Artefacting as a methodology helps push back on linear approaches to research. It becomes a method that includes and encourages plurals, perspectives, complexity and nuances.

They are also primarily a way to delve deeper into ones practice and use it as a method rather than just the final component or an end product/output. For example if you are a developer, traditional methods of development involve - research, ideation, design, prototyping and development. And for someone who is not strict in their titles and identity, this framework often feels limiting as one feels that the development can not begin until prior stages are complete. It also reinforces the notion that once a step is finished, the other begins, making movement between stages less porous. Collaboration using artefacts as a method happens differently. If there is a team of multi disciplinary individuals - say a researcher, designer and developer. Each person uses their practice to make something at every stage. This artefact becomes the way to to research, way to ideate, design and develop. Artefacts by nature are complex, iterative, constantly evolving and dynamic. It ensures that the framework remains porous and iterative by intent.

Learning Outcomes

• Understanding what are artefacts and how one can use ones practice to make artefacts that enable conversation, capturing, plurality and non linear approaches to research

• Using artefacts at various stages of an enquiry. To learn, to engage, to collaborate, to iterate and to present.

• Exploring the idea of transitioning spaces and research through ones practice and making.

• Collaborating with transdiciplinary teams to make critically

Collective mapping exercise layering notes and local observations in Bidar

What you bring?

• A keen interest to make, break, hack, write, rewrite, tinker, collaborate, learn and unlearn.

• A practice that you want to explore over the course of this studio. This could be working with code, data, writing, film making, story telling, illustration, sketching, painting etc.

• Collaborate and contribute your practice to co create with fellow practitioners.

What will you make?

Making will happen over three stages over the primer. Learners will engage with the context through critical artefact making. Artefacts will assist the leaner to

1. Learn/Unlearn

2. Engage/Collaborate

3. Share/Narrate/Synthesize.

Learning modes

1. Reading circles - Reading or watching media together followed by discussion sessions to share, discuss, critique and cross learn.

2. Transect walks - Walks around the field sites to observe, document through sketchnotes, journals, geo tagging, audio notes, annotated images etc,

3. Masterclass - Sessions to give learns a brief introduction to methods, tools, workflows, softwares etc.

4. Collaborative working sessions - Learners work together to make artefacts in trans disciplinary working groups.

5. Codesign session on field - Learners take artefacts that they have made, to the field to further learn, engage and collaborate in the context.

Course Fee

Fee Summary

Our course fees vary based on the total Notional Learning Hours (NLH). When you view a course description, you'll see a transparent breakdown of costs which reflects the unique structure and requirements of that particular learning experience. The published cost calculation below gives you clarity on what's included in your fees. As more learners join a course, we may adjust the per-person cost accordingly. We track all expenditures carefully against our initial estimates to ensure resources are used effectively for your learning journey. For more information please look at FAQ page.

Course fees includes:

1. Facilitator charges - Rs. 4800*

2. Materials & Supply - Rs. 3600**

3. GST @ 18% - Rs. 1512***

Total Fee per learner is Rs.9912 (Rupees Nine Thousand and Ninty Two Only)

*In a primer 60% of the NLH is compensated for our Fellow course facilitators co-desinging, facilitating and managing the entire course.
**Cost towards any materials and supplies required during the coursework sessions.
***Our fiscal host for Trimester 01 is Aruvu LLP. As per the government rules a GST of 18% will be charged on the fee collected for the course.

Fee does not include

• Travel costs are not included.

• Cost of accommodation is not included in the fees. We can support the learners to find hotel accommodation. Typically we recommend 2-3 learners sharing a room to reduce the expenses. The hotel accommodation will cost Rs.750/night on a triple sharing basis.

• Cost of any equipment or other specific materials relevant to Learner’s practice. We recommend the learners to carry any specialised equipments or materials with them.

• Food and local commute is not included in the fees. The cost towards the same may be approx Rs.750 per day.