Prototype - mid semester break

For this prototype we had a range of word and images for people to pick from that would help them describe what they would expect/want the creative lab to be.

Person 1

Words

Use
1 hour

Feel/experience 
Playful
fun
easy going
intrigued
comfortable
peaceful

physical space 
Calm
music
events
open late
showcase work
no technology
plants

Mandatory questions 
Easy going
self directed
individule/group
downtime
learning from others

Look

Insights

• She wants it to be opposite to uni, if uni is stressful it should be calm, if uni is quiet it should be lively.
• Playful. 
• Option to be productive. 
• Open space with good light and couches that feel like home. 
• Big signage that demands you to just chill. 
• Likes the idea of doing things together, have a space that feels collaborative.
• Doodling on the walls. 
• Look like a playground. 

Would you use this space? 

Yes, there are not many creative spaces specifically for uni students that is outside of uni.

It would be a great space to get to know each other outside of uni (break down barriers of the classroom). 

To have a permanent space that you can go to whenever. Creatvity comes in random ways, it would be a space to unwind and be creative at the same time. 

When would you use this space?

Mid semester break, or in the early weeks of semester when there are no hand-ins, or in the holidays if there are events. 

Person 2 

Words 

Use

Weekly

5 min 

Feel/experience 

Hard 

Fun 

Stress-free 

Fast paced 

Inspirational

Physical space 

Rotation of activities

Music

Donated materials

Colourful 

Couch 

Tea & coffee

Mandatory  

Easygoing 

self directed 

group (more the social side rather than working together).  

downtime 

self development 

Look

Insights

• Music is good because it is stress free. 
• Hard to create but fun making music sounds. 
• Option of a quick 5min visit and have a cup of tea, depending on how you're feeling that day and how much time you have. 
• Donated materials are good for keeping the cost down. 
• Like rotation of activies. 
• Colourful and inspirational space. 
• I would also like to have musical instruments, the sounds of the instrucments could project on the walls. 

Would this be a space where you would want to learn from others? 

Experimentation of activites by myself so that I can make my own mistakes, not with other students.

When would you use this space. 

When would you use this space? 

I have a busy timetable around uni so it would be good to have a place to chill. 

All want a permanent place to chill. 

Have the option of a short visit of long visit (space needs to cater for both).

More about downtime and relaxation than being productive.  

Easy going no pressure or stress, have freedom. 

Opposite vibe to uni, no deadlines. 

A space like the library but without the books. 

Pods for individule space or group. 

Pods/booths could be a way to have individule place within a collaborative space. 

Person 3 

Words

Use
45 min
Daily
During stressful times

Feel/experience 
Playful
Fun
Easy going
Mindless
Stress free
Break
Connection
Rejuvenating
Sharing & learning interdisciplinary skills

Physical space 
Host/ staff
Colourful
Natural light
Big tables
Messy
Hands on
Everyone welcome
Collaborative
Tactile
Open space
Creating discussion
Plants

Mandatory questions 
Easy going
Self directed
Individual/group
Downtime
Learning from others

Look

Insights

• Don't want the space to feel exclusive so that you can't fit in 
• A space where it is acceptable to be messy but still respectful 
• A space that does not have wide open space it needs to be comfortable and snug like home  
• Activities need to be fun but something that I can walk away from 
• Space for people to work alone - or chill by themselves
• Prompted by people outside of the space but self directed when you get there 
• Guided by a how to guide
• Mindless in a positive way - I design the best when it is mindless 
• Does not need to be productive or useful - just get it out of my system 
• Big space, colourful, artist background, natural, messy
• Does not look like studio space which is clean and perfect 
• Not perfect like your hand ins need to be - no end result 
• Natural lighting - opposite to a computer screen 
• Having discussions while creating 
• 45 min would feel like I have had a decent break 
• How to get people there in stressful times?
• Fitbit reminds me to move - helps me get up and out 
• Application that notifies you to move - reminder that comes up on your computer 
• Time flies when on the computer so a reminder would be helpful
• Understanding the importance of taking a break - giving people facts and knowledge 
• After being in the space I would feel like I would be ready to get back into it - rejuvenate 
• I don't want to go there to learn 
• When I say sharing skills I mean more the social side so be able to chat to people from different disciplines or watch someone creating things and find inspiration from that
• Different ways of it being therapeutic - could just be watching someone else or talking
• 
  

When you would use this space 

• I am stressed in the first few weeks of uni while I am trying to choose a topic to focus on 
• Confused about what I am doing - I could use this space to explore possible avenues 
• Weekends if I had time 
• I would want it to feel like a safe space - not intimidating 
• I would not schedule into my day when I am going to the space but just go when I have spare time or feel like I need time out.
• Instead of going home 
• Gap between classes
• Create work for classes
• Talk to people to get ideas 
• Removing yourself from an environment where you have hit a wall 
• Pictured the space with - no technology, paints, playdough 
• Creative space - messy feels like a thinking space compared to feeling intimidated by our studio space 

Where do you go now

• Home 
• Room 
• Cosy 
• Safe space 
• But I don't get a lot done 

Person 4 

Words

Use
45 min
Weekly
During stressful times

Feel/experience 
Playful
Fun
Easy going
Mindless
Stress free
Break
Communication
Comfortable
Sharing & learning interdisciplinary skills
Sense of community
Peaceful

Physical space 
Colourful
Natural light
Big tables
Messy
Hands on
Everyone welcome
Collaborative
Open late
Open space
Creating discussion
Calm
Music
No technology

Mandatory questions 
Easy going
Self directed
Individual/group
Downtime
Learning from others
Self development

Look

Insights

• No pressure or expectations 
• Do what you want (self directed)
• Opposite of class & studio time 
• Not collaborative but start talking to others naturally 
• A space you can do whatever you want not go there for a specific reason and outcome
• Open space to move around not crowded on tables but still able to interact with others
• A space where you can zone out as well

When you would use this space 

• When I am free 
• Start of semester heaps of time 
• Stuck at uni but don't want to do uni work a space to be in and entertain yourself
• Feel like I need a break 
• Time variable with schedule 
• A space to meet with first to fourth years 
• I would be happy to go to the space if there were lots of people or no one there 
• Have an open day pr evening where there are lots of people in the same situation as you,
• makes you feel comfortable. There could be staff at this event that can help beginners and then after that staff wont be necessary maybe just someone you could contact. Once you know the space you would feel more comfortable in the space with lots of people or no one.  

Mandatory 

• Self development - you would go there for this but end up learning from others 
• End up in a group because I am interested in someone else's things
• Don't want to be in a forced group situation 

Where do you go now 

• Home 
• Where I am most comfortable but I do find it hard working there and concentrating 
• Student lounge does not have the visual vibe I would like 
• Vibe for me - Messy but creative messy - not intimidating