(1 credit, 2 ects)
• In Meri’s style, the aim is to observe things people carry with them and analyze them in terms of their functionality and style
• Each one has to
– collect data
– analyze it to answer a “small” research question
– write a 3-page report (plus images) // alternatively, build a logical multimedia presentation
• Topics:
– functional:
• where people carry things
• what kinds of properties ease carrying - what make it difficult
– shape, tactile feeling, materials, etc.
• “interactions” with the carrying environment
– pockets as an environment poses many kinds of limits to design. What are these? Bags pose other problems. Which ones?
• social aspects of things
– photographs, codes in keyrings to ease sharing...
– Stylistic/symbolic
• General symbols: what kinds of symbolic meanings are inscribed into objects people carry with them
– what are these symbols? Religious - ideological (for example, political) - other?
– are they aware of these properties?
– Where are these symbols: in clothing, in objects, …?
• Small group symbols
• Personal symbols
– photos of family, memorabilia from Manila ...
1

• Our class is the sample
– I’ll order you alphabetically by your last name
– you have to study the next person after you
(and the last one studies the first in the list)
• You have to come up with the questions by yourself… but some guidelines are here:
– warming up:
• ask for a short description of the respondent: age in rough terms, nationality, education, etc.
– start with description:
• ask what people carry with them, and ask for a name for each thing. If possible, give them a camera and ask them to take photos for you
– continue to functional properties
• that is, what are these things used for
– Continue to symbolic properties
• what kinds of meanings are there in these objects.
Are there? (Don’t push too far!!!)
– Ask about the “carrying environment”
• pockets, bags, neck, whatever
– Close with “symbolic meanings”
• general
• social meanings
• personal meanings
• Conduct the actual interview
– takes about 15-20 minutes
– use a MP3 player, or your laptop’s microphone if you’ve got one
– if you don’t, just write things down
– TAKE OR BORROW A DIGITAL CAMERA for the interview, if possible. If not, draw!
• Transcribe your data
– when interviewing, make notes and write them down into a file immediately!
– Add pictures/video you may have taken
– Send the file to me. I’ll place all files to a web site so that you can expand your analysis, and check your interview with other data
2

• Analyze your data following the procedure you will learn on Friday’s lecture
– use your interview as the main case
– but check your interpretations against 2-3 other cases you will get from the class site!
• For example, you can compare whether Finns do things differently from people from Asia; or you can compare gender; or you can focus only on, say,
Finns
• Go to the class website, and get a template for writing the paper
– The paper should be less than three pages long!
– Don’t write too much!!!!
3