Presentation-- MA Project

Today, we had an interesting conference. Each MA graphic students has to display the MA project for all to see because through this way we can know what our peer did, share information, and exchange ideas.

As for my project, I got some professional suggestions from my course leader and my classmates. After the presentation, I was thinking about perhaps I could create a brand of tea and advertise it by suggesting a tea break, and it might have attractive brand identity. 

There are several bullet points from the suggestions:

• Try to design a brand of afternoon tea and advertise it by suggesting a tea break.
• How to make a strong connection between the brand and audiences.
• Good research but how to apply the research to the project?

Tutorial--27 Nov 2012

(Fuling, 2013)

This morning I presented some of my research and illustration for my grope members and Kay; however, the feedback from them let me feel lost again. At the begging of the tutorial, I showed them what angle I am going to work from. One is a workplace that is promoting afternoon tea as an activity just like a coffee morning that Macmillan did for charity. Another is a tea company who is promoting the product as a relaxing thing (like advertising the idea of afternoon tea?) Then, I showed the article of how cups of tea help people in work reduce the stress. However, they think the first one seems more reasonable and the second one still cannot convince them that the work place would create event things for their employees every day so I need to think about which direction is suitable for my project.

There are several bullet points below:

• Maybe you can create an app to remind people to relax.
• How to deliver the products to the work place?
• Lost the direction. 

Inspiration-- The World's Biggest Coffee Morning

(MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT,2012)

The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning is Macmillan Cancer Support’s biggest fundraising event. They are asking people across the UK to hold a coffee morning, where donations on the day are made to Macmillan.

The idea they created an event around coffee could be used for my research. For example, it would be quite good if I could offer to make a company all tea for one week and record the footage and see if there is change in like levels of stress, by asking people? It would be quite cool because I can deliver the concept.

Reference:


MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT,2012, The World's Biggest Coffee Morning[on-line], Macmillan Cancer Support. Available at: http://coffee.macmillan.org.uk/Home.aspx#.UjXXW-Dx3N4 [accessed 24 November 2012]

MA Field trip

An interesting, inspiring research trip in Manchester.

 On Friday we went to the Imperial War Museum to see how the museum displays many different wars with some fantastic and emotional stories changing the way of life after W.W.II broke out and the Whitworth Art Gallery to learn how the gallery demonstrated the use of the same them by David Hockney and William Hogarth more tan two centuries apart.

First of all Stewart introduced the museum building, which was designed by architect Daniel Libeskind. The design concept of the building is that of a globe, which has been shattered into fragments and then reassembled; therefore, the first impression of IWM was unsettling so when I walked through it, realized that the unsettled design used as a metaphor the for the damage of W.W.II.

When it comes to the exhibition, it is a fascinating introduction for people and keeps all ages interested because it used some interactive exhibits to get people involved in the sights and smells of war.

Then we visited the Whitworth Art Gallery to see how the gallery displays different collections-- David Hockney’s entire print series A Rake’s Progress (1961-1963) and William Hogarth’s eighteenth-century series of the same title-- into an exhibition. One collection is a semi-autobiographical story about Hockney, the ‘rake’, and the down and outs of his life in New York in the early 1960s. Its format, story and numbering system are based on William Hogarth’s 1735 suite of prints of the same title. Another collection is about Hogarth’s 18th century prints illustrate the decline and fall of Tom Rakewell. Due to a clear way of exhibition, people not only can understand the difference between two different times of works from the same them but also can enjoy the atmosphere with ease.

Viewing both exhibitions prompts me to think about my project. In order to present a good twist from traditional drawing style to the contemporary design style, I have to learn how both of museum display the way of the exhibition. 

RESEARCH-- A cup of tea really can help reduce stress at times of crisis, claim scientists

(Fuling, 2013)

The study, by psychologist Dr Malcolm Cross at City University London, confirms what millions of tea-lovers have long believed – that if you are upset or anxious, it pays to make a brew.

The findings reveal that even a single cup of tea can significantly reduce anxiety levels after suffering a stressful experience – and in some cases, make people calmer than they were before.

The experiment at the centre of the study, which placed volunteers in a stressful scenario, showed a 25 per cent increase in anxiety for those that did not receive tea immediately after the stress-inducing test. Conversely, those who were given tea actually demonstrated a four per cent reduction in stress.

As well as the soothing qualities of the tea itself, the psychologist found that the act of putting the kettle on also helped by tapping into a collective conscious and symbolism.

Further psychological tests and focus groups conducted after the experiment indicate that tea’s calming benefits aren’t just a question of biochemistry – but also a matter of its ‘Britishness’.

Psychologist Dr Malcolm Cross, of City University London, said: “The ritual of making and drinking tea - particularly during times of stress - is at the very core of British culture.

"This study shows that the social psychological aspects of tea enhance the effects of its chemical make-up on our bodies and brains. It’s possible that this culturally rooted, symbiotic function between mind and body explains why Britons instinctively turn to tea in times of need.

"Put simply, the findings illustrate what most mothers would tell us: if you’re stressed, anxious or just feeling blue, make yourself a nice calming brew."

This evidence of tea as a cultural crutch in times of need is supported by new anecdotal research, which reveals that nearly half (48 per cent) of tea-drinkers claim the reason they find calm at the bottom of a cuppa is because of the drink’s quintessential Britishness and association with cultural icons such as the Queen.

Past studies have pinpointed tea’s unique soothing properties, but this research, sponsored by Direct Line, claims that less than a fifth (19 per cent) of us are actually prompted to put on the kettle because of its special ingredients.

The promise of comfort and warmth (60 per cent) and the means of psychological escape (41 per cent) are instead the primary reasons we seek such solace in the calming cup of tea.

The researchers found that it was most appropriate when dealing with a stressful day at work, arguments with friends or colleagues or missing a train.

My review--

This article reveals how tea can help people reduce the stress so it gave me confident to develop my project but I need to work out how could I encourage people in work to do this activity.


Reference:

RICHARD, A., 2009, A cup of tea really can help reduce stress at time of crisis, claim scientists, Telegraph Media Group limited 2013. Available at : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/6015821/A-cup-of-tea-really-can-help-reduce-stress-at-times-of-crisis-claim-scientists.html [Accessed: 20 November 2012]