This project concentrates on researching and data collecting- which are the bases of all successful ideas and designs. To start out, one must first know more (best if familiar with) about our research subject- our peers. I was assigned with Clara as a group. So we met up on a Wednesday afternoon and did a interview for each other, in my room.
To be frank, I am somehow good at listening and telling stories. I broke the rule and did not prepare any questions beforehand (excuse me Professor Gaines). I believe a good interview is like a chat, a chat that has no directions but with a purpose- which is to know more under the appearance. Discover what is beneath, deep deep beneath. Our interviews was more of a dialogue, with prompt responses and questions. This helped us to know each other as a friend; and often friends are more eager to share their own stories and thoughts.
In the middle of the interview I suddenly reminded myself- Clara was actually the very, very first classmate I have met in Parsons- during our first Monday morning seminar class, Peter asked us to introduce ourselves to the one who sat on our left sides. Then I knew Clara is a girl who is going to study fashion, loves coloring, from her outlook I realised she loves to look pretty- and that is all. So I’ve decided to know more about her in a few aspects: family, friends and herself.
As we all know our family and our history is tightly interlinked- their family often put enormous impact on a person. So to know a person, know their families first. Clara was no exception, her family did impact her a lot. During her early ages she didn’t live with her too-busy parents. Instead, she lived with her cousins place. She mentioned her childhood as half happy half sad. Happy because she is naturally a sanguine girl and sad because she is sometimes neglected by her caretakers. I think these subtle memories contributed to form who is she now. From the outlook she seems shy and timid; but when she wants to, she can also be bold and strong in front of people. She described herself as an ‘unstable’ person who has wavy personalities. Which I agreed a lot- up til today I still don’t grab the real her- or maybe I did, the double-sided Clara.
Her little sister.
Due to the rapid moving (also leaving Korea right after middle school), she wasn’t able to meet a lot of friends. But lucky her, during her last year before coming to US, she met her best friends in her school. Her face was really proud when she mentioned they are all still in touch and reminded dear. I was very happy for her as I am now still figuring out how to maintain good friendships with friends whom I cannot meet often. This taught me interviews are not only for learning about people but also learning about myself, from another perspective.
Friends having fun during a trip.
The last part did not involve a lot of questions- personally, I tend to feel people instead of asking them. It can be very sophisticated but at the same time very simple. From their ways of talking, facial expressions, outlooks, handwritings or even computer desktops, I can roughly know what sort of people they are. Or to put it simple, it is the various energy I receive from people. Intriguingly, this can be incredibly accurate.
Clara’s computer desktop, unexpectedly messy.