Degree Project Proposal
- Design question
What theoretical or practical problem are you trying to solve? This should be carefully worded, and sufficiently specific, as it frames the semester’s work.
How might we utilize speculative design to evaluate and assist the dynamic of divorced/single parent homes?
2. Sub-questions
Break your larger question down into several smaller issues that could be more finite and manageable steps toward the larger question. When you add up several small answers from these sub-questions, you can begin to see the answers to the main question.
Why do parents separate?
How does separation of parents effect children’s behavior/ mental health/ academics/ confidence/ hope for a healthy relationship/ substance abuse?
How can we lessen the effects of the burden of raising a child in a single
parent environment?
How can we create a strong family bond when elements appear to be missing? What elements are missing in a single parent home in comparison to a healthy full family home?
How can being single parents strengthen the home for all parties involved
What are the benefits of divorce?
How might single parents support the family dynamic and create stability
How can these parents create confidence/trust/peace?
3. Proposed audience
As we’ve discussed in other classes, be as specific as you can in your description, particularly about their social/intellectual relationship to the problem [are they ready to listen? To act on opinions? Etc]. List any relevant information you already know about this audience.
Parents looking at the option of divorce, Newly divorced w/ children, Divorced w/ children, young and developing children of separated parents, teenagers of separated parents, young adults with separated parents, close family members of divorcees, close friends of divorcees, children in foster homes?, divorced parents with new spouse.
-seeking healthy relationships
-financial burdens?
-unstable lifestyles?
-lower to middle-class
-seeking resources
4. Learning outcomes
List several things you hope to have learned from your investigations. Again, be specific.
What are the current statistics in this study? How much work has been done on this topic, and where are the gaps in knowledge? What types of objects and resources are available to these people? What type of resources are they lacking and need access to? What are the best ways to create value in family, what are the best ways to create a steady foundation in relationships before you have children + once you have children + after you have children + if you encounter divorce, how can we maintain these healthy relationships (is there some type of guide?), what has been proven in this field, how much is left to ‘luck’, are the statistics stable or ever changing? How can we embrace these ideas when they are present? How can we break the stigma- if there is one on these families?
5. Description of exploration
A project-based description of your approach / process. A few sentences or paragraph will suffice.
Speculative design?, information design, cross-platform media campaign, signage system, messaging system, app, mailed deliverable, or interactive environment to provide support, space for open conversation, collaboration, interaction, shared interests?, tools for communication, create connections, moderate, establish trust and stability, provide a safe space
6. Project significance
Historical or contemporary context, value to the field, ideal implications. Answer the question(s): to what ends? Why should anyone care about this exploration?
It is applicable to many people (40% of marriages end in divorce for 2020)
It is applicable to myself + family + friends
It is a foundation for families and open conversations
Structure in homes creates structure in other environments- school, work, etc.
7. Bibliography / support materials
Books, websites, periodicals, quotes, films, preliminary research findings, articles, data, visual examples. Have as complete a bibliography as possible, but know you will add to this list as you work, discovering new sources throughout the process.
Divorce: Causes and Consequences by Alison Clarke-Stewart; Cornelia Brentano
About divorce by Polan, Sue 2016
https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/jhueas/divorce/0
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1745-9125.12040
Sacred divorce: religion, therapeutic culture, and ending life partnerships
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jasp.1221
5 love languages/ Gary Chapman
