We hold the 2nd interview with Maggie and Stephanie as
the partners and Lab co-directors, reflecting on the
Lab experience specifically the development work.
They acknowledge that they are now
much clearer on the difference between the 'Lab' approach
and their normal way of working. The Lab is much more fluid,
less structured, encouraging individuals to work in response
to others. They still feel that a clear articulation of
this at the outset would have been beneficial, stressing
the importance of more preparatory work before the Lab
begins, particularly through shared directorship of the
process.
Stephanie sees the discomfort involved
in working in this open ended way as both pleasurable and
challenging. Both she and Maggie would have found an environment
other than the College more conducive to creative collaboration.
A different location would have been more beneficial to
them as individuals, removing them from their usual place
of work and their daily responsibilities. Maggie withdrew
from participating in the Lab for that reason.
They question the product focus of
the Lab and feel there is too much emphasis on product
ideas and not enough open - ended play. They acknowledge
that this might have arisen within individual participants
trying to justify 'time off work'.
They raise the importance of disseminating
the experience of the Lab through the proposed website
and also of building the appropriate infrastructure to
sustain creativity within the industry.
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