Idea Generation

We had our second coffee meeting today! 

(Sarah, Cushla and Georgia in Attendance)

We firstly discussed how we had, and could, be sourcing idea's for our contribution to the market. I (Sarah) talked about how I had discussed with my flatmates, of which there are 7 and none do the paper, how the market was proposed to work and what they thought would be successful in such a space.

They gave us a few ideas about what they would be interested in, however the most important points were that it needed to be interactive and hands-on (so that the audience could actually get involved) and that it had to produce something.

We also considered talking to friends, flatmates and asking other groups (perhaps from the two other markets) about what they thought Immaterial Labours could be - but we all agreed doing online surveys such as on Facebook doesn't really work and to avoid using those tactics.

We briefly touched on what our strengths were and what we could bring to the table in terms of organising and facilitating our actual contribution to the market. Cushla said she was best at researching and preparing for the market, while both Georgia and I agreed we were better at organising and orchestrating the market itself.

We then started brainstorming and bouncing around some ideas;

• We firstly discussed our previous ideas and which ones suited the physical requirement - specifically looking at the oversized games, temporary tattoo and painted mural ideas.

• Then we looked at how we could make them produce something, and maybe not just for the audience but for us or a wider stakeholder.

• Discussed how we could create a stall that "brightened someone's day" - perhaps as our purpose.

• Discussed how our painted mural could be given to charity e.g Cancer or Kids Wing at the hospital.

• Instead of doing a painted Mural, which we all agreed would be time consuming and messy, and we'd have to find somewhere for it to dry, we started talking about creating a community quilt in which each participant decorates, or writes on a quilt patch (square of fabric) and then we sew it together to create a quilt and give it to a charity or worthy cause.

The quilt idea seemed to stick, as having the audience participate in something that goes further than the University is an act of kindness (our currency) in which the labour of the Quilt is done by the marketplace audience, however in return they get to do something physical and creative and feel good about themselves as well.

Following will be some research into similar artist models and also quilting ideas that inspire our ideas.