Skip to content

Research and Plan

The second phase of the design process will allow you to refine your design ideas and generate, develop and communicate this information using appropriate representations.

The Challenge 

How might we build community awareness to protect Codium fragile and the intertidal ocean environment in which it lives?  

It’s time to brainstorm options and generate, develop and communicate design ideas for your intended design solution. To do this you need to a develop a project plan that includes consideration of the materials you will need and the steps you will take in the development of your design solution. 
 

Planning the Project 

How will I achieve my end goal of building community awareness for Codium and the intertidal zone? 

Ask yourself questions like: 

  • How will I tell people about Codium fragile and its precious habitat? 
  • How will I encourage people to care and protect the Intertidal Zone? 

How will I know I am successful? 

This might be an indicator or measurement such as; 

  • The number of people who have engaged with your social media 
  • The number of people who have visited your exhibition 
  • The responses to your survey 
  • The number of people that have read your book 

Generating Ideas 

Inspiration from Erth Visual and Physical Inc.

Interview with Erth Designer Steve Howarth 

Hi I’m Steve from Erth Visual and Physical Inc. – we are a theatre company that make life-size puppets of animals like Elephants and Rhinos, and even Dinosaurs! We have performed all over the world- to inspire audiences to learn more about our amazing environment…  

Q: What do you make shows about? 
As artists, making puppets and theatre shows is our way of bringing to life our love of Science, History and the environment.  
We have made shows about what life was like when Dinosaurs roamed the planet. We made a show about all the dinosaurs that lived in the ocean, and we made a show about animals that are going extinct right now – like the Pygmy Rhino and the Leadbeater Possum, this show was called ARC. 

Q: Where do you get your ideas from? 
1. Talk to scientists to get the facts 
2. Do research online and in books.  
3. Look at videos or go see the animals in person if we can – to really get familiar with what we are making! 
4. Then we do lots of sketches and planning what the puppet might look like 
5. Then we work with writers and actors to tell stories – because we find that storytelling is the best way to explain anything to someone. 

Q: How can art help people learn about the importance of protecting the environment? 
I think it’s hard to care about something that you can’t see or you don’t understand! The more you know about something, the better!  
All our shows use real science, facts and research but we tell stories, and use art as a way to explain the facts – to make people really care and understand it better!

Watch this movie to see how Erth create community awareness. 


Inspiration from other experts

  • Visit Taronga Zoo’s Litter Free Oceans and impact calculator 
  • Visit Take 3 for the Sea 
  • Attend an exhibition at the Calyx at the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney
  • Attend a beach clean-up (with a supervising adult) and help keep our coastal environments beautiful. Don’t forget to take along gloves and a rubbish bag and see how much plastic you can collect!  Use the hashtag #SaveOurSeaweed to post to social media and start a Seaweed Saving Community! 
  • Explore these Totem Cards from the the Great Southern reef resource. Maybe you can make your own?
  • Read this Children’s books.....The Isabella Pond Rowing Regatta by Stephen Skinner

Preparing for brainstorming

Find a group of people (six to ten is good) and brainstorm ideas to save Codium! Here are some tips to have a great brainstorming session...
•    Keep an open mind and listen to others
•    Be creative! Think up your wildest ideas!
•    Build on the ideas of others
•    Stay focused on the topic
•    Don’t talk over others, one conversation at a time
•    Be visual, can you draw your idea?
•    Try and think up as many ideas as possible

Use this online widget to complete your brainstorming! Click the PLUS sign to add to your brainstorm which you can download later!

Select and Refine Promising Ideas

1. Refine your idea. Use this activity sheet to help you.

                    or 

 

2. Get on Board with an Exhibition at your school!
•    Create a Codium model for your exhibition.
•    Create Paper Mache ‘Animals of the Intertidal Zone’ and share a photo of your creation with friends.

Activities - Research and plan

1. Describing your idea

Use your STEM Journal to describe your design idea:

1. Concept name: Let’s give your idea a title!
2. Sketch: Draw your idea/ ideas and label it clearly, so you know exactly what you are going to make and how you are going to  make it! 
3. Describe your idea in one sentence: Think about how it is going to achieve its goal or how is it going to be used.  
4. Talk about your idea: Collaborate with others to get hear their thoughts and ideas.
5. Materials: Make a list of materials that you need to complete your project  (what is your budget?)