ZEITGEIST PROJECT:
A zeitgeist is a German term that translates to “spirit of the time” and refers to the prevailing set of ideas, beliefs, moods, and cultural norms that define a particular period in history. It captures the intellectual, moral, and social climate of an era. For instance, the 1960s are often associated with a zeitgeist of rebellion, freedom, and counterculture, marked by civil rights movements, anti-war protests, and a general pushback against traditional authority. Similarly, the 1980s reflected a zeitgeist of consumerism and materialism, exemplified by the rise of corporate culture, economic liberalism, and pop icons like Madonna and Michael Jackson. Understanding the zeitgeist of an era helps us interpret its art, literature, politics, and societal shifts, as these elements are deeply influenced by the cultural atmosphere of the time.
Our first project involved looking at a list of zeitgeists and developing a group project to address one of the identified issues. After careful consideration, our group chose to tackle the problem of youth unemployment, particularly in Northern Ireland, which we felt was a significant and timely concern.
To address this, we created a brand aimed at helping young people find apprenticeship opportunities. The core objective of our project was to reduce joblessness among young people by providing them with clearer pathways into practical training and employment. We designed a brand identity that would appeal to our target audience and developed a presentation which we delivered to the class, outlining our concept, goals, and research findings. I am satisfied with how the project turned out. All of our research, planning, and design development can be found on our group’s Miro board, which is linked within our PowerPoint presentation. Overall, the project allowed us to engage with a real-world issue and use creativity, research, and teamwork to develop a potential solution. It also gave us valuable experience in branding, presenting, and thinking critically about social challenges that affect our generation.
I found it very interesting to learn about Zeitgeists as they are something that will always continue and evolve as time goes on. New ones will appear and old ones will become less prevalent. This is something I will continue to think about and look for real world examples in my day to day life.
My key takeaways from this lecture are that feedback is the best way to improve and to learn, showing and presenting work is the best way to build confidence. Exploring multiple ideas and trying out every idea will help to create a strong foundation for the project. It is also easier to take a big idea and make it realistic than to make a small idea big.
LINKS:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1kiEFftRVsaSpTdAClq6ezxmavF7j__JkOh9hOSsk5To/edit?usp=sharing
https://miro.com/app/board/uXjVLdotf7c=/
This week we discussed what was needed for our dissertation and how to submit. Then we had a library session. We learned about databases and how to research efficiently and effectively. We also discussed speculative design. The P’s of design are:
Present
Preferable
Possible
Plausible
Probable