User:FLEM/2.0.0

start of XPUB 5th semester documentation period in January 2023.

i decided to start again from here as the past documentation has been submitted already + I need a fresh start as I have not been able to do it in the last 2 months.

The notebooks' analysis is here: User:FLEM/Notebook

For the sessions go to: User:FLEM/Analysis of sessions

For older notes this year: User:FLEM/2.0

09.11.22 jump backwards

My Graduation Project Proposal (helped by the use of a special notebook made for this occasion.. see User:FLEM/Notebook)

(A) Design

* Theory of design is based on people needs

* The purpose is providing users with hints of accessible designs and examples of easy adds-on to apply to basic notebooks

* What if the structure of the interface could fit better our needs?

(B) Making

* Bookmaking to create personalised space/tool

* Making as an act of subversion: we create our own narrative, creating a memory device in which the process of creation is inscribed

* What is the feeling of being the creator of your own tool?

* The spiritual power resides in the object itself, not in its ownership

(C) Learning

* Notebooks are an individual space for learning

* How knowing our thinking processes helps our learning

* Creation experience as part of the process of learning

* Development of self and social relations through the act of making physical things (Marx)

(D) Outcomes:

1. Observations of the CES.

2. Discovery process from other people.

3. My personal discovery process.

4. Final instructional piece.

! Remember to give more value to the process of arriving at the notebook more than the final outcome. The final outcome becomes a new beginning.

(E) Questions

1. How do you learn?

2. How do you work with your ideas? Can you describe in a few words how to you think your brain works like?

3. How do you write? (directions, space in the nb..

4. Notebooks as ecology of thought: what do you keep and what do you let go in the writing process? (e.g. who uses it to organise, who to think, so what happens when they write it down?)

5. What is your use of notebooks?

6. What is a notebook?

18.01.23

It is hard to document the work here at the moment. I do not know how to come back to it. I have been writing in all other platforms.

Today I contacted the locations for possible C.E.S. in the next 2 months. (see pdf)

The plan is to finish by the end of March with 4 sessions, to be able to add the materials from the sessions in the thesis. to see old session's documentation go to: User:FLEM/Analysis of sessions

I am writing the thesis: i am currently working on the context section, that gives an overview of the concept of paper notebook and the relations with the world.

AT the same time, I am planning new exercises for the sessions. I hate that I cannot do the batch upload here so it is a bit hard to document without pictures.

31.01.23

Feedback (things to keep into consideration) & possible answers:

How might the work sessions be evaluated beyond asking whether the participants enjoyed them? What's at stake for you? When does a notebook "work"? When not?

I do not have a way to evaluate objectively if a notebook works or does not work: the purpose of this research is to create a method that can help others to discover it by themselves. Does their notebook work? Can it be better? How can it be different from what it is?

The criteria, in the overall research, is: does it become evident, or obvious, that the form impacts the writing? If yes, this is what I want to achieve and I want to get out of my practical activity. My aim is to create consciousness to enable people to go further in the process. This can be evaluated mostly from their reactions, the results of the sessions, their activity through time (in a longer research this could be followed for a longer time, but due to time restrictions, this is constraining right now). What is important is that t's not only me experimenting, but also others.

--> use cases that prove my point from my personal use of notebooks and also from others (Erica & Supi) --> including as case studies

How can you more precisely articulate your own values and concerns in this work?

a) I am concerned that people do not use notebooks with consciousness and do not see the impact this medium can have on their lives

b) with my research, i can work with the knowledge I am creating, through research and sessions, and make it accessible to more people

c) I do not only want to rely on my own opinions therefore I decided to invite other perspectives on this topic by organising the CES and open discussions on the topic with different people

What is the form of publishing that you're working toward?

go to 02.02.23

What are your assumptions around standardization?

nice question. will be discussed in the thesis. It's true though that standards sometimes are necessary: this research is trying to give value to personalisation and personal creativity, not to demonise standards.

The translation of materiality to web publishing could be worked on further.

this is not doable in such a short time.

Who can help me?

Talk with Michael on feedbacks -->

Talk with Steve: https://pad.xpub.nl/p/NextStepEm

see joanna drucker performability of materials

make templates for sessions?

create a structure to follow what is the process, outcome, theme, materials, questions, inspirations, learning, reflective thoughts..

also for other people's stories.

02.02.23

I had a bit of a hard time in understanding what to do with the materials i am gathering with thesis and CES, how to frame and publish this in a form that can be accessible to a public. I am going to insert here the options that were part of my project proposal since the beginning and that got left aside while going on:

A) For the project to continue after the end of the series of explorative sessions, I plan to create an instructional piece/text that users could use to go through the analysis of self and the creation of their own tools, in this case notebooks.

B) Create a collection of essays on the outcomes of the sessions and the discoveries of the participants (see thesis outline).

C) Build a hybrid/digital prototype: an online tool to create and print layouts and customised instructions [the magic modular notebooks kits]. This digital tool will be gathered together with research results and documentation on an online interface.

I understood that the workshops are just one of the methods that I am using to gather information that feeds my thesis questions: How can I, through research and explorative sessions, discover more about the topic and create a generative structure that can help others discover themselves and their needs, in their own way, to promote creativity and self-expression?

The methods and formats I will be using for this purpose are:

• CES: Collaborative Explorative Sessions, in which the participants act in different exercises as prompts to activate their imagination and creativity towards the act of making DIY paper notebooks.
• Personal research: in the past months, I have been going through this process myself: it's true that we are all different, but through my experience and knowledge on this topic I am able to provide prompts and ideas to create a "generative structure" that would help others, even outside the CES, to think consciously at their note-taking practice and their use of paper notebooks.
• Research done by others: I have been discussing in the last months with Erica and Supi about their personal research into the use of notebooks and they have been actively producing and analysing options. This interest and their contributions are essential to provide an helpful structure.

Therefore, the final outcome will be a toolkit that will present, in different shapes, how to go through the analysis of self and the creation of personalised paper notebooks.

The Toolkit will be a box, probably, and will include a series of objects and materials:

- the thesis, printed on different papers, different sizes, every chapter, or paragraph will be different.

This version of the thesis will include a selection of photographs of the materials obtained in the last months, my notebooks, other people's notebooks, the CES, the experiments, the notes...

- different type of papers will be included, a cardboard to hold everything together, and other materials to help in the playground (metal rings, threads etc..)

- a "10 steps to make your own notebook", an instructional piece to go through different experiments.

it will include simple and accessible adds-on that users can use to start implementing their already-existing notebooks (like pockets, folding, additional papers..)

- a set of cards with questions to trigger the imagination

- a selection of short fictional stories based on the notebooks participants made during the sessions and influenced by the stories they told me.

These materials can be tried before the publications by participants or individuals that took part into my research.

06.02.23

check-in day between us lalalala

I. The ability to select appropriate topics for advanced research.

Emmas research start from a theoretical point of view that she combines with a practical view.

paper notebooks

Regarding "values", Emma connects to personal experiences around notebooks and would like to make space to share these with others.

II. The ability to develop and undertake a suitable strategy for research.

The methods are collaborative explorative sessions (practical, through making)

personal research with own notebooks

others experimenting with their own notebooks

III. The ability to critically reflect upon, analyse and evaluate work already undertaken and to use the knowledge gained to (re)define the aims and direction of future practice.

IV. The ability to describe and motivate objectives, topics and methods in a written proposal.

V. The proposed project is realistic in scale and ambition, considering the limited time frame for the graduation project.

Already researching in workshops and sessions in groups

Goal - to create a toolkit that contains - (for of the) thesis (theoretical starting point) + printed structure that ppl can play with (playfulness) + selection of games and prompts, stories, cards to trigger imagination

VI: General Feedback

Paper notebooks, use in daily life

Research starts from theory point of view, also what thesis is about

practical project include methods

how can through research/discussion find out more about note-books and help others make them explore/understand better how they use their notebooks

collaborative and explorative research, in the form of workshops

engage with the topic in a practical way

understand by making

personal research: experimenting with notebooks since last year

research done by others: classmates thinking about this topic, producing different notebooks using during the last months

at the end of all this: will be able to create a toolkit that will contain the thesis (form of it, more playful, printed in a way people can play with it) + different games + instructional piece + starter-kit for binding

how much personal connection can help understand what is happening

value about this: started because of concern people not paying attention to use of their notebook, help people find ways to relate make use of them

bring awareness to the impact that notebooks have on our note-taking process

toolkit as outcome

• - thesis - context (because theoretical research is the starting point)

• - to make it also playful, printed as for people to play around

• - selection of materials (instruction guide, stories, cards to trigger imagination, prompts)

for people to pay attention on the way they use their notebooks, and the impact that has on their lives

on to open the impact on other people

relation between notebook and note-taking

Questions

Could you reflect a bit on previous sessions: what did go well, and what did not go well? What would you like to change in the upcoming sessions?

elaborate on the Theoretical aspect?

define what I am talking about, analysis what a notebook is, what forms of note taking are, discuss evolution of notebooks, how society and environment around us change the use and need we have of them, changing now also with digital side (examples: printing arrives, digital side)

In the research a lot statements given base on they given and thinking about, maybe someone wonder about digital note-taking and they can find the answers in my research

insight in methods of note-taking best fitting to contexts (ex: students and digital note-taking)

diy notebooks and industrial notebooks for/against

What role does the documentation of those sessions play in your research and how did you do it so far?

-problem: a lot of materials, list of options and needs - need to find a way to present it - to transform it into practical activities and exercises;

-visual documentation

-talking about something material - propose toolkit to transform theory in something practical

What are some impacts of not being conscious on what notebook you use?

Easiest way to respond is to speak from her own experience: for me when a sheet of paper is folded: an example of the different ways you write : the materiality and the design of the notebook influence the writing, and the free writing and whatever

what is the role of documentation in your research so far?

sessions done this now: analysed in written form. a lot of material stories. need a way to present it.

visual documentation on the wiki

connection between the purpose of taking notes and how this is materialised?

Do you want to make this connection? Is this at the core of your project?

Feedback

strong focus on notebook  but still the note taking aspect emerging. maybe that could be stressed a bit!

what is the role of note-taking?

to explain - how you take notes influences how you learn

she puts a lot of time on the making of notebooks - maybe she can invest more time in the note-taking aspect

Giving more examples of moments when the format of a notebook influences the note taking would be good, it really helps to understand her point.

Breaking down the process could be a helpful thing?

- moment of creating a notebook

- moment of making notes

What type of feedback could she ask the participants of the sessions?

what could be the questions to ask the participants? and will help on forming her research

In the context of book making there is a lot of attention on guiding a reader through content, how you can do that. You can stress this part a little more in your practice and theory.

As the content of your notebooks are in the making, it's interesting to dive deeper in.

For example: you can make two notebooks and ask someone to make notes in both notebooks, to see how format shapes the content.

notetaking is a way to see on how the user feels and uses the structure which is the notebook

What happens when you read notes years later? All the cells of your body has changed and you are a different person already, what does it mean? Can you think of ways that support reading notes back years later?

How can you implement the feedback of others into your research?

Can you reflect on these feedbacks? What are things that did not go well, what do you want to change?

03.02.23

Afterthoughts on the feedback session.

! make one section about recycling in the toolbox. see link [1] as an example.

09.02.23

notes on thesis by LB student Pelle

• 
• 
• 
• 

these are the notes that Steve and I have taken simultaneously during this session, me on my metal ring notebook and Steve on his laptop, specifically on the wiki at NotesEm

The first thing to consider and keep in mind while looking at these notes, is that Steve and I are different people, with a different need (I annotate mostly what I need to go on with the work, Steve tries to get a big overview of the conversation, focusing on the main points - he finds useful) and we have a different note taking methodology.

These differences do not always allow a scientific comparison between two different interfaces (paper notebook vs laptop), as we do not know how I would have written on my laptop or how Steve would have done it on paper. In addition, note-taking can be influenced by the topic of discussion, the moment of the day/week of the note-taker, their mood and status. This is one of the reasons why I prefer not to make scientific assumptions or give compared results as an already structured answer. I prefer to work with individual opinions and feelings.

The second thing I notice is that Steve is annotating everything in a Q&A structure, copying down every word, like a dictation, that came out from our mouths while discussing. Sometimes he shorten some concepts.

I think that most of the time I always re-write the sentence given from who is talking with my own words. It is a good exercise to learn rephrasing, as well as it helps not to forget the sentence while writing it down.

To conclude, I see that a lot of main words are matching in the two versions of notes we produced during the session. The notebook I am using does not really allow to create different structures or directions, everything is aligned as it is on Steve's laptop.

13.02.23

stuff for toolbox

https://www.amazon.com/Bookbinding-Kit-OurHands-Instructions-Notebook/dp/B0BC1LJRWF/ref=d_pd_sbs_vft_none_sccl_2_21/143-3031299-0456503?pd_rd_w=LLYl9&content-id=amzn1.sym.3676f086-9496-4fd7-8490-77cf7f43f846&pf_rd_p=3676f086-9496-4fd7-8490-77cf7f43f846&pf_rd_r=1AVPT4STS1KT58KB021P&pd_rd_wg=U6rHq&pd_rd_r=71f6727e-e19b-44a3-a692-7bb7a846d645&pd_rd_i=B0BC1LJRWF&psc=1

I tried to make an unconventional leaflet for the workshop but i am not sure is doable and functional.. i will see

the session i am planning will take place on the 8th of March.

I started a wiki page for the "noteboox", the tool box for notebooks: User:FLEM/noteboox

15.02.23

i made the leaflet for the next session in two versions: an interactive one and a flat a5 one

• 

  flat version

• 

  interactive version

• 

  Interactive flyer

21.02.23

I distributed the flyerssssssss

this week finalised structure CES and choose exercises, as well as organise one bag with all the materials i need.

03.03.23

I have been very sick and it is hard to concentrate.

The workshop is next week, everything under control.

The thesis needs a lot of edit and cuts!

13.03.23

meeting with manetta --> focus on how to explain a concept and connect the two parts of the ces

04.04.23

Manetta and I finished the script to download the wiki and insert it with all the pictures in an html to fit into the pagedjs webtoprint design. Let's see what will happen. Find the code here: https://git.xpub.nl/flem/wikitoprint

05.04.23

Tutorial with Clara: with the main question we discussed about, when something is printed, does it stop to be a notebook? Can something printed still be a notebook?

We discussed about the limits of the pages, how basic paper books do not allow annotation because of the little space in the margines.

We also tried to define what is a notebook for us. I said that for me it is something that accompanying you in certain situations and offer a support. Clara said they are periodicals. They are positioned in a specific location, and during a certain period of time, where and when the user goes back recurrently. What we discussed is also how many times, the uncomfortable of notebooks can come from certain anxieties we have in life and how we can transform those anxieties into notebooks features (e.g. how can I make a notebook public without thinking that what I write is stupid? can I use this anxiety to find a practical solution or feature that would help me?)

Task: we decided that I will start to scan all my notebooks.

Suggestions: "the godfather notebooks" by Coppola

---> moved to User:FLEM/noteboox