Presentation of Developing Ideas - Part 2.

Yesterday we presented our ideas that we have been developing over the past two weeks in regards to the previous feedback that we had received from our initial ideas/ plans for the ward.

Overall the concept behind our ideas kept to an overriding theme of nature, focusing on a garden/ rural scene along with greenery, flowers, allotments, greenhouse, cottages - as we wanted to bring the outside world into the ward - as many of the patients haven't seen the outside for a long time.

Feedback from Presentation:

- Making a collaboration of all of the groups elements - an organic + mural with written words could be incorporated- to knit the elements all together to create a whole collaborative product.

- Hand drawn marks and illustrative imagery has a therapeutic quality which is calming and bring another dimension to works because it has this hand made quality rather than a blocked/ geometric harshness to digital work

- Having different texture/ textile quality to the work would be interesting if it could be printed and added to the digital mural that can printed on vinyl.

- If having a graphic image is to be the final product then apply this softening effect, like watercolour drawings which can add a fluidity to the concept.

- Having words/ text within the large mural can be distractive and adds cognitive attention which is difficult for those with dementia- it would be better if it was focused on the visual stimulation rather than being led with language - or if the words were incorporated into the image - such as into the lines of the drawings or into the leaves. If these were placed into individual frames and mounted around the ward then the patients can decide on viewing the work for themselves - rather than having the words jump out at patients on a large scale.

- Incorporating the three dimensional into two dimensional mural would be a great idea, adds more depth and layers to the overall look. However the trees need to look more friendly because they can represent hands so just consider the shape to be more suitable for the ward - more comforting and having a wood effect being engraved into print would add another effect to it quality.

- It will be a creative challenge to combine all of our ideas and textures into one whole mural- but with the added opportunity of having these singular elements placed in separate frameworks that can be mounted onto the free wall spaces throughout the ward - which will be leading towards the mural.

- Need to consider to not have too much into one mural- not making it too overwhelming- there needs to be harmony and composition, needs to be balanced in the right way in order to have something that is visually something peaceful/ calming - not challenging for them, and instead should be calming- don't want it to be too noisy.

- Dont limit yourself with the colour spectrum, take into account how the colours can be produced through different effects using the watercolour technique adding a softer colour - using pastel or pencil crayon.

- Bringing nature physically into the ward would be a brilliant addition with the pressed flowers, again adding another three dimensional element.

- More research into different textures and elements that we can bring into the mural to add this layered quality to it - including congregated cardboard, wallpapers, wood, etc.

-*The next step in the process is to collaboratively draw up the design where we can combine our elements and start producing these parts in the next coming weeks, to play around with the scene that we are intending on creating*

After this session we got together and started drawing up rough sketches of what the mural will look like.