Tuesday 14 March 12—2pm at UAL High Holborn. 20 minute ‘microteaching’ session: Objects & Artefacts
Size Of Group: 3 students + PG Cert Tutor: Lindsay Jordan > Emil Collins — Lecturer: Fashion Journalism / Content Creation (Broadcast) / Joanne McVey — Associate Lecture / Peter Chadwick — Senior Lecturer: Graphic Design Communication / Graphic Media Design
The object that I chose for this task was a clock. The Dieter Rams designed clock was not chosen because of its timeless design and aesthetics, instead I wanted to use this object as a provocation to start a conversation about ‘time.’ I provided worksheets for the participants to use as they reflected upon what time means to them within their working practice, time management and how time may impact the student learning journey. I am interested in developing areas of my teaching practice in the spaces between the brief and the submission of a project, a space where time and project management are hugely important.
For this microteaching session, the challenge of object-based learning is not something I have experienced before. The nearest would be within a student group feedback session or a crit. An environment in which I would observe, take part, comment on, and make suggestions. I was particularly interested to experience and observe the other participants 20-minute sessions to gain insights into inspiring methods, different modes of delivery, critical analysis, and communication skills.
Constructive feedback from Lindsay and Joanna included how the physical item of the clock became side lined, regaining focus on the item, how could the worksheets be adapted for students and the use of focus tools as aids within this area of enquiry.
Both Joanna’s and Emil’s session were fun, insightful, and engaging. I liked the postcards Joanna used within her session. Like a Lego workshop experience the use of postcards offers the participants multiple choices. Emil delivered a digital learning workshop that went beyond the outline of the brief for this session. Despite this, his enthusiasm, knowledge, and insights made for an enjoyable 20-minute learning experience.
This session was part insight, part teaching with a lot of deep and meaningful conversation about what was experienced within the 20-minute time slots. These sessions gave me valuable insights into the importance of engaging with others within a group activity. Opportunities like this will help students gain numerous soft skills that will empower them within group crits, tutorials, and presentations.
The experience of this session was incredibly positive for me. It was an opportunity to share my proposal, gain valuable feedback and listen to different insights. The opportunity for participants / students to engage with an activity like this within a larger project structure could help unlock a wider range of possibilities within a project. An activity that promotes discussion within groups away from screens will be of benefit for those taking part.
This statement really underpins the experience and aim of this session ‘Interaction with artefacts deepens students’ learning.’ (Schultz 2012, p.185).
WorksheetWorksheetWorksheetWorksheetWorksheetWorksheetTutor and peer feedbackSession Notes
About Peter Chadwick
Peter Chadwick is an Art Director, Graphic Designer, author and educator.
Since graduating from Chelsea School of Art in 1991 with a first class honours degree in graphic design, he has gained over 28 years experience working as an art director and graphic design practitioner.
Chadwick has worked with major recording artists including Primal Scream, Beth Orton, Groove Armada, Girls Aloud, Nitin Sawhney, The Rolling Stones. Other clients have included Universal Music, Phaidon, Harvey Nichols, Sony Music, The Washington Post, Barbican and Peabody Housing.
Since 2005 he has been involved with academic teaching across all year groups on the BA Graphic Design Communication course at Chelsea College of Arts where he is currently a senior lecturer. He has previously taught at London College of Fashion, London College of Communication and Camberwell College of Arts and was a second year leader at Chelsea College of Arts from 2015 - 2020.
His teaching practice encompasses all areas of his design practices and utilises my industry experience. I am particularly interested in themes such as exploring and developing personal practices, importance of rudimentary graphic design skills, art direction, connecting with industry, mentoring, supporting graduates, internships, collaborative and live projects and the culture of the design studio.
Chadwick has also curated and organised the BA Graphic Design Communication professional talk series since 2015. He has invited practitioners, studios and writers such as Michael Bierut, Alice Rawsthorn, Stefan Sagmeister, Shona Heath, A Practice for Everyday Life, Anthony Burrill, OKRM, Nelly Ben Hayoun, Patrick Thomas, Astrid Stavro, DIA, Yuri Suzuki and Build to speak and share insights with the students.
He regularly speaks about his work at universities and arts organisations. Past talks have been given at the V&A, RIBA, Design Museum, Hay Literary Festival, Brighton University, S1 Art Space Sheffield, Falmouth University, Grafik Letterform Live, IDN Festival Singapore. He has also been interviewed on BBC Radio London and BBC World Service.
His work has been published in over 40 books and has been featured in The Guardian, New York Times, Dezeen, Creative Review, It’s Nice That, Design Week, Wired, Blueprint, The Washington Post, El Pais, Icon, Cool Hunting, Monocle, The Observer, The Guardian and been exhibited in the UK, Europe and Asia.
Chadwick’s self generated project ‘This Brutal House’ was launched on Twitter in 2014 as a platform to share my passion, interests, photography and work about Brutalism, all things concrete and modern. His Twitter and Instagram feeds have amassed over 90,000 followers since being launched in support of this ongoing project.
His first book ‘This Brutal World’ was published by Phaidon in 2016 and was voted one of the best architecture books in 2016 by Rowan Moore, architecture critic of The Guardian.
Chadwick’s latest book ‘The Town of Tomorrow’ documenting 50 years of Thamesmead, which he conceived, edited and organised funding for was published by Here Press in January 2019.
