Studio & Professional Practice...Some Thoughts

Some recent thoughts I had about the relationship of keeping a 'practice' and the importance that this played in my professional life...I'm not sure the written thoughts about this work that well but here goes......

A zone of transition in making for me is all about reconciliation of making, listening and leading.

Within the confines of a practice there are specific points of transition, these can be explored and can work to enable at multiple levels. This Engagement at multiple levels can result in a unique approach to problem-solving. I believe the ability to move across specific disciplines does provide unique insights.

I am as you would expect fascinated by technology and where that technology may lead (transhumanism anyone?) but I'm also interested in technology of earlier centuries and the impact that was made by these technologies within a contextual time frame, i.e. the use of early book production.

When I work in the studio as opposed to ‘work’ how do I see the blending of my practice, what makes it so important to continue with practice while at the same time also continuing with a career in Higher Education? Both I believe serve the same purpose.

I work across several areas of practice and its always been important to me that I engage within very specific elements of the practice, this has a knock-on effect into my professional life. When I am ‘making’ or working on a technical piece of work that includes the techniques and process used several hundred years ago how does that relate to my professional life?

In the studio I enjoy setting myself a visual problem and then allowing the process of making within a range of techniques that I often leave to their own devices and I deliberately engage with techniques and process in order to allow random change and happenstance, my ideal is to produce something that can only happen around the edges and randomly, to such an extent that the uniqueness of the outcome can never really be replicated.

Is this the same way in which I approach my professional working life, no of course not, but I would state that as an Artist I’m process focused and a IT professional I’m also process focused, albeit both practices need time for reflection and just getting the work done. I'm not the type of Artist who needs to build  ahead of steam and just work, although that sometimes does come into play, what it takes to make something.

Tailoring your environment to meet your needs is really an artist’s prerogatives is acting as a Chameleon. The ability to think broadly, accept change, challenge yourself and empathise with others are creative traits that need to be practiced, honed and expressed.

UCISA 2018 Management Conference

I hadn't attended the UCISA management  conference for a couple of years so I was curious to see if the conference had changed at all from the last time I attended in 2016.

The previous day I had attended the Jisc Stakeholder meeting in Birmingham and had also attended parts of Jisc's digifest conference, which was actually allot better than last year and largely focused on learning & teaching and technology and had some challenging and engaging sessions on offer.

First impressions make a difference....I really liked the conference venue and for once I lucked out and had a fantastic room with a lovely view of the bay.

After a rather tedious 3 hours train ride from Birmingham I arrived just in time to catch the opening of the conference.

I had also arranged for both my Associate Directors to attend as well since I strongly believe that the strength of UCISA is its community and its really important to understand this.

The following are my combined Tweets which hopefully give a sense of flavour...

ah...no...what about a Zimmer sound track.

I never taught of asking siri to solve equations....but this all of course is computational & quantitive...

Well for the time being I’m quite glad computational stuff hasn’t as yet reached Arts & Social Science #UCISA18

What should people be learning now.....now there is a conundrum....no clearly I would disagree with a math/science approach....the messy non- computational stuff is what makes us human #UCISA18

This is the same as people who say they cannot draw or play an instrument or write a novel....why should maths be any different #UCISA18

interesting keynote but I can’t agree with much of it .....but that’s me... #UCISA18

This resonates with the keynote at UCISA 2018 #ucisa18 How to persuade a robot that you should get the job

With Microsoft and Drew from Lincoln UCISA session on digital makes me think we’ve done some really good work over the last couple of years #ucisa18

Interesting take on GDS from one of the keynote speakers is digital transformation all washed up? its never mentioned via the cabinet office, but conversely is ‘GDS waking up from its slumber’....#ucisa18

Then I think I’ll relax about GDPR......#ucisa18

a really nice early morning 5 mile run along the Bournemouth promenade to Poole then back on the shore line…this is not urban London....lovely #ucisa18

International Women's Day today and here at #ucisa18..the vast majority of presenters are....

hmmm...sucking on eggs over here....

OK...thats good to emphasise you need the social scientists on board or else (I think) you will end up somewhere like our first keynote speaker of yesterday....#ucisa18

or try working in a Universirty that thrives on 'disruption' and makes a point of encouraging disruptive and creative thinking...its great fun....most of the time...#ucisa18

seeing AI looks good...from Microsoft..a good example of democratising AI.....#ucisa18

oh yes ......

being human will be a core differentiator in the future...good.. Regina Murray speaking from Microsoft #ucisa18

I think this Microsoft session has been the best session so far....Thank You!...#ucisa18


yes this morning was lovely with a head clearing few miles to the edge of Poole harbour & back...

words fail me....

hmmm...just a thought why would anyone think that you need a STEM background to work in IT, its been proved time and time again that the is not the case....

yep we should promoting STEAM not STEM....so when is the women's community of practice?...educause's is good

______

Overall though.....

I'm not sure about the badging of the conference as 'management'...I would prefer it to be more inclusive. 

UCISA really needs to lead the conversation on women & minorities working in Higher Education IT.

The idea that 'digital' transformation simply involves a new strategy and some new infrastructure technology is just wrong.

We lacked speakers from diverse backgrounds and sessions that really challenged assumptions.

....apart from that it was a really enjoyable few days and it was great to catch up with colleagues and meet new friends and have some time to think!

Huge Thanks to all who helped organise!!