Creativity

The relevance of design research for social services

I consider myself a bit of a magpie; a bit of a scavenger when it comes to research: I’m opportunistic, interdisciplinary and entrepreneurial.  My current design research projects are varied; one explores how digital technologies can help people engage with the arts, another is about using design to help the government procure better services, which I recently presented in Helsinki, and another is about the role design plays in innovation. A broad range of projects. All design research. So what’s the relevance of these kinds of projects to social services?

My thoughts so far:

Published in
Features
on 9 May 2014

Why the arts matter

I've always had a passion for the arts - whether it's music, visual art, or performance art. I’ve spent most of my career working in adult social care training and development. I've always said that being a trainer is a bit like being a writer and a performer and that the more you can entertain people when you are teaching the more they are likely to learn.

Published in
Features
on 9 May 2014

I’m in control, not the computer

man with computer

One aspect of my job is writing the code behind websites. It can be a hugely satisfying job but at the same time a very solitary one, struggling to solve a bug can sometimes take many hours and when solved there’s almost always no one who knows that you’ve been struggling.

One thing that helps me concentrate is listening to music. It’s not that I find the office too noisy or even that I’m easily distracted (which I am really). I just like good tunes.

Published in
Features
on 8 May 2014

Tayside Healthcare Arts Trust

Tayside Healthcare Arts Trust (THAT) believes in the power of the arts to enhance quality of life, to promote inclusion, to empower and to improve well being. THAT was established in 2002 to meet the demand for an agency to develop Arts in Health opportunities across Tayside and it now employs professional artists to deliver partnership programmes in both inpatient and community settings.

Published in
Case studies
on 6 May 2014

Tuning in: The social power of music

This session was delivered by Jane Bentley who specialises in the role of music making in social development.  Jane expertly led the group in a variety of practical exercises designed to highlight how music connects us together. Watch this clip to get a flavour of the key messages and activities from the day.

Published in
Reports
on 2 May 2014

Impact Arts

building confidence, communication and teamwork skills

This Session introduced the Impact Arts creative pathways approach and delivery methods which build confidence, communication and teamwork skills. We reflected on how these processes could be applied in different settings.

View presentation

Published in
Case studies
on 2 May 2014

Plantation Productions

Plantation Productions

Although film and video production has always been at the heart of Plantation Productions work, it has evolved to include participatory arts, such as drama and performance. Acting as a community anchor, the organisation offers an arts and wellbeing programme of activities that promotes social inclusion and improves the confidence and creativity of people in the local community in Govan.

Published in
Case studies
on 2 May 2014

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