Memo+2


 * Memo 2: Habits, Neuroses, Talents**

//1. Do you have more trouble articulating your frame (social theoretical questions) or object?//

I have more trouble articulating my frame than my object. Often times I have a difficult time figuring out the overall idea or frame of my work, which can make it difficult for me to clearly articulate what my frame is, since there are times I am not entirely sure myself. I am very detail oriented, which makes me more focused on the content or objects within the frame, especially the little things, which make up the larger things.

//2. Do you tend to project-hop or to stick to a project, and what explains this?//

I tend to project-hop. I like to be working on variety of projects at once and I sometimes find it difficult to commit to just one thing. As I hop from one project to another and back to another project I find inspiration to bring to each project and find it easier to look at a project from a different perspective, which can bring new ideas. I also find that it helps to keep me on task because when I get stuck on one project I can hop to the next, which sparks an idea for another project.

//3. Do you tend to be more interested in internal dynamics, or external determinations? In the terms laid out by Keller, do you tend to focus so intently on the object of your concern that context falls away (i.e. are you obsessive compulsive, rather than paranoid)? Is your desire is to name, specify and control your object? Is your desire is for figure, its ground your annoyance? Or are you paranoid, context being your focus and obsession? All is signal. Only begrudgingly will you admit that something is noise, outside the scope of your project? Figure is hard to come by. Its ground has captured your attention.//

I think that sometimes I am a bit obsessive compulsive about my work, especially work that I am very heavily invested in. I can sometimes be a bit of a control freak about my projects and think that I am more interested in the internal dynamics of my projects, but I cannot dismiss the external determinations, especially when it comes to my design work. I get very caught up in the little details, but I need to keep in mind the external determinations in order to keep my work and goal of my work on track so that it is appropriate and purposeful.

//4. What do you do with unusual or counter examples? Are you drawn to “the deviant,” or rather repulsed by it?//

I am drawn to the deviant. I think that it is exciting to come across new unexpected ideas or findings and find them interesting and sometimes very inspirational. I like to learn new ideas and look at things from a different perspective.

//5. Do you tend to over-impose logics on the world, or to resist the construction of coherent narratives?//

I think I tend to resist the construction of coherent narratives. I think it is important to have your own beliefs and lifestyle. Individuality and respecting ones self for who they are is important to me, which is something I really strive for.

//6. Do you tend to over-generalize, or to hold back from overarching argument?//

I think that I tend to hold back from the overarching argument. Sometimes I get too caught up on the details of a subject that I don’t always generalize the important information or I don’t clearly relate it back to the overarching argument.

//7. Do you like to read interpretations different than your own, or do you tend to feel scooped or intimidated by them?//

I like to read interpretations that are different than my own. I think they can sometimes be intimidating, but I find them to be a great place to learn. As a designer I think it is important to read learn about other peoples interpretations to better gain a better understanding of an audience or a different perspective on a problem. I think it is also an opportunity to change your interpretation when appropriate or further assure your personal interpretations.

//8. Do you tend to change an argument as you flesh it out, or do you tend to make the argument work, no matter what?//

I try to make an argument work, but I am open to letting it change as it is fleshed out. As I learn about a subject if I realize my argument should be changed, then I usually don’t have issues doing so.

//9. Do you tend to think in terms of “this is kind of like” (metaphorically)? Do you hold to examples that “say it all,” leveraging metonymic thinking?//

I tend to think in metaphoric terms. I like to relate things to one another, it helps me to give myself a better understanding and I like to figure out how things work together or can be compared to one another, which can draw new ideas.

//10. Do you like gaming understanding in this way? Does it frustrate you that your answers often don’t fit easily on either side of the binaries set up by the questions? (Jakobson suggests that over attachment to a simple binary scheme is a “continuity disorder.”)//

It doesn’t bother me that my answers often didn’t easily fit on one side or another. I think that each of us has the ability to think in different ways, which makes us flexible. It did make the questions a little more difficult to answer because I had to really think about which side I fell on more often, but I made me do some deeper thinking about myself, which is helpful.