Primary Sensory Research

My sensory research to date is all secondary information and research taken from books, articles and online resources. This information has informed my design choices and I have been able to develop each outcome with this knowledge. Going forward I need some first hand research to work with.

My initial thought was to gather information by hosting a focus group where people could interact with my development samples and give me feedback on:

- how the textiles themselves feel?

- how the textiles make them feel?

- how the textiles look?

- where and how people imagine these textiles being used?

- what they are reminded of through sight and touch of the samples?

- their over all opinion of the textiles?

I also thought about using different colours of lighting in the room and establishing how that effects:

- the mood of the room

- the mood of the person

- how different colours of light make people feel?

- how does that affect the appearance of the textiles?

I have planned my time up until the next presentation in April, to focus on sample and design development. Holding the focus group the week before the presentation will enable me to use the samples I will have developed over the next 3 weeks and have time to process and analyse the feedback, and decide how to take that forward into the final stages.

Another form of primary research I would like to use is a survey. This will take a bit of a different direction to the focus group and be more concentrated on how people like to feel in their personal spaces and living areas.

The main thing I am trying to establish is how people want to feel at home, and how they use furniture, fabrics, colours and lighting to create that feeling - an in house sensory experience.

I want to find out if people are aware of these decisions or if they make many of them subconsciously and why they want certain spaces in the their home to convey certain emotions or moods. 

I'd like to ask: 

- about textural and colour preferences and what kind of experiences people get from interacting with textural surfaces. 

- sustainability: how much that influences peoples decision making when decorating and buying furnishings.

- how people feel towards knitted furnishings and whether they are aware of the benefits of having woollen products in their homes. 

- whether people prefer bespoke, unique furnishings for their homes or furnishings in mass production

- where people would shop for their furnishings, second hand? antique? online? stores? 

- where people get interior decor inspiration

My outcomes for this project are part of an over-all sensory experience, however, some of the outcomes could be considered as bespoke furnishings for someones bedroom, personal space or living space. After the MA I would like to develop The Hungry Ghost into a handmade furnishing, independent brand, so gathering this information will be very relevant and aid in helping to establish a clearer consumer market.

The survey will be able to reach more people than the focus group so I hope to have that ready to be sent out by the start of next week.