What do 'they' think

Reading a great deal about contextual reviewing and frameworks and the process of research has further informed me of the need to know what others are thinking. Literature reviews and visual analysis is essential and with every word I am gaining further insight not only into digital costume design but that of scenography in general. However along the way I have swayed from my original focus of capturing the thoughts and views of practitioners. I intended to gather qualitative data from personal experiences and gather view of not only costume designers but other stakeholders in the production process such as makers and directors. Also by unpacking other design disciplines and establishing an overview of the use of computers within the wider context of design, I hope to learn more about the potential possibilities which could be exercised in my own practice. Abstracting and collating information from background research will obviously place this enquiry in context with other similar investigations but it’s people’s views which will really bring currency to this investigation. Therefore I need to focus my time on constructing questionnaires and establishing a coherent well represented interview group.
Which I propose will consist of

3 Costume Designers – Using traditional rendering methods
3 Costume Designers – Embracing digital media in their renderings
2 Costume makers - With experience of working with a variety of designers
2 Directors – To speak about there experience of working with costume designs

Also I intend to use the Arts Institute as major resource for other design disciplines I will approach colleagues from Fashion, Model making, Illustration and Graphics.

In addition to this it would seem without consideration not to include the views and thoughts of the current students on the BA Costume for the Screen and Stage course. To add inexperience and uninfluenced views to my contextual research I intend to ask a similar set of questions to 1st year costume students in a group seminar situation. For this I will allow them time to consider their answers and record them on a pre designed sheet. I will also welcome comment and encourage debate amongst the students. This will be conducted at the beginning of a CAD unit where the students are first introduced to the technical and artistic elements of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. Hopefully this debate will draw out views on authenticity and ownership as well as capturing fears and interest into the use of computers. Some of the students will come with pre learnt skills from foundation course and A levels and there knowledge and ability may generate supporting or opposing argument for using digital rendering for costume design. I will film the debate for further consideration and review.
I hope to further capture their views via an email survey later in my study.