Methodology

Exhibitions and public presentations become essential in providing visibility beyond digital spaces. Attendees may be invited to engage with the artwork by playing or interacting with the works. This creates a dialogue between the viewer and the work, where the interaction is not just passive but integral to understanding the piece.

By providing a space for both the creation and experience of these artworks, this approach aims to encourage deeper appreciation and broader engagement for the creative potential embedded in what might otherwise be seen as outdated or obsolete technology.

It demonstrates how limitations, rather than being a hindrance, can lead to the invention of new visual and auditory languages that resonate across time and technology.

The methodology used in my project “Responsive Playgrounds” is twofold: first, it focuses on the creation of interactive prototypes that integrate principles of DIY technology while drawing on elements from both cinematic devices and gaming technology, exploring how these can interact within the experiments, by integrating findings from research into the design process.

Second, the project aims to exhibit these works and invite audience interaction. The goal is not only to encourage participation but also to organize events alongside peers, events focused on DIY technology and experiential learning that enable hands-on engagement with tools and concepts in a collaborative environment. These events foster innovation, problem-solving, and community building, transforming abstract ideas into tangible, creative outcomes and helping to develop design principles based on this approach.

Building on this foundation, this research adopts a methodology grounded in maker culture: emphasizing learning through doing and experimentation. It values hands-on engagement, iterative exploration, and playful DIY technology.

Maker culture draws on the core concepts of critical making, community building, the reuse of technology, and permacomputing: a practice focused on resilience and regenerative approaches in computer and network systems, inspired by permaculture.

Using and developing DIY techology is important because it gives designers greater control over materials and processes, encourages experimentation, and allows for the creation of tools and systems tailored to specific creative goals, rather than being limited by the constraints of premade technology.

Community building is central to this approach: sharing knowledge, skills, and feedback fosters collective creativity, supports iterative development, and helps navigate complex challenges collaboratively.

Part of the methodology that ties into community buiding is presenting work publicly that situates individual projects within a broader design context, fostering dialogue, exchange, and recognition that help shape and inform both personal practice and the wider field.

Ultimately, Sharing knowledge and learning together helps designers create their own context within the field, shaping a practice that is informed by collaboration, experimentation, and the exchange of ideas while carving out a unique space for their work.

As a methodology, carving out a unique space for creating and presenting works is important because it allows designers to develop an independent train of thought, explore ideas on their own terms, and establish a distinct perspective within the broader design field. This approach encourages critical reflection, experimentation, and the integration of diverse influences, supporting the creation of work that is both personally meaningful and innovative.