Working Practices

WORKING PRACTICES

To clarify some of the things that we feel are key to a successful project we include some of the questions we ask ourselves about the areas and buildings we work in. These were developed within the context of the more traditional format of workshops based in physical spaces. We now focus on the networked environment by embracing the wider media ecology of a place but we believe that these still provide a good frame work for any future thinking.

The building:
• Why are we being offered this space, with this particular group of people? What can be gleaned of the power structures surrounding the workshop from this interrelationship? (interpersonal, organisational, economic and cultural)
• What is the official and unofficial description of this building? What are the personal and emotional associations that people in the area have with this building.
• How do atmospheric conditions and weather patterns affect this building. If it is hot, can windows be opened so people in the street can hear the activity? Would this be desirable?
• What are the social, cultural, environmental, economic and political patterns that configure access to this building.
• What is the social ecology of the building and how will the workshop transform it?
• What was here before the building? Does previous usage relate to or help configure present usage?
• How do people navigate the building both interior and exterior?
• Does it appear inviting to the target group? Can the door be open at all times?
• What are the patterns of use? What are the reliable closing times and opening times.
• Who controls the keys?

The area surrounding the building:
• What are the official and unofficial descriptions of this area?
• What are the personal and emotional associations that people in the area have with the area?
• How can its geography be delineated?
• How do atmospheric conditions and weather patterns affect this area. If hot, where do people go? If cold, where do people go?
• What is the area's relationship to transport and what is the ecology of that transport, at different times of day and different times of the week?
• What was the area previously?
• Does previous usage relate to or help configure present usage?
• What cultures inhabit the area and how do they interact?
• Are there any urban myths, legends, folk-law and histories that relate to this particular area? What are the sacred sites and places with ritual significance? Where and when are the parties, festivals and carnivals held?
• What is the ecology of drugs culture surrounding this space? Who controls it? How does this particular drugs culture affect the people of this area?

The media-ecology surrounding the building.
• What official media is being used in association with this building? (council signs, notices etc)
• What unofficial media is being used in association with this building (graffiti, stickers)?
• What Media-systems are embedded within the structural operations of the buildings (intercom, elevators, letterboxes, timers for communal lighting)?
• What media systems infrastructure is associated with the building (TV aerials, telephones, postal service)?
• How does the form of the building affect the reception of media-systems (high rise flats - good for broadcasting)
• What are the social, cultural, environmental, economic and political patterns that configure the media-systems associated with this building?
• What is the social ecology of the building and how will it be transformed by introducing new media-systems (what new social groups may appear and promote their interests)?
• What are the patterns of use of media-systems in the area and what is their history? (mobile-phone, photo-copies, pirate radio)
• Does previous history of media in the area relate to or help configure the present project?
• Who controls access to these media-systems?