Equipment

Access to the internet
Something to take images on (camera or a phone)
Somewhere to add notes about the images (notebook or digital file)

Guiding Questions

Think about these questions as you work your way through the lesson:

Have I ever really thought about walls as a way of dividing and navigating space?
What are the walls covered with?
Given what the walls are covered with - what's around me?
Do I like the walls?
Do I even notice them?
Are they special or unique?
What are the functional properties of the wall coverings?
Is there a specific space that I would like alter the walls or what's on the walls in some way?
What are the restrictions when it comes to altering such spaces?

Lesson Content

Today you are going to slow down and take a critical look at all of your walls. Examine your walls carefully and think about how they affect the spaces you are in. Do you have white walls that make the space clean, bright and seem larger? Is there a ‘feature wall’ that demands the attention of everyone in that room? Do you have tiles that help to protect the walls from moisture and mess? What about your digital wallpapers? And your exterior walls?

If you are reading this during the 2020 national lockdown you are limited to your bubble, if not then think about investigating wall spaces other than in your home.

Keep in mind: design has the power to make tangible change to our lives. So, which spaces need a change and what should guide that change? Light? Joy? Colour? Whanau? Information?

Anjuli's space analysis

1
Document your walls
Take your camera and photograph all of the walls in your home. If you have access to other spaces such as; workplaces, the family home, community spaces, then repeat the process there as well.

Note: this is a documentation exercise - try not to get hung up on getting ‘arty’ shots. However, we have added some tutorials and links to help if you want to build those skills. Check the bottom of this lesson.

Your photos should:
- Have realistic/natural lighting of the space (not too yellow or blue).
- Be in focus - yes I said it.
- Be well framed with straight lines using the grid function on your camera.
- Try to limit the amount of photos you take - aim for 4 images per wall (this helps when you are sorting images later).
- Show the wall in context as a long or medium shot.
- Show a close up of the wall so it fills the entire frame as a close up or extreme close up.
Close up shot of my blue/grey textured feature wall; blehk
Collate your images
Take all of your images off of your device and store them in your Google Drive. This ensures all of your work is backed up AND can be accessed by your teacher if needed.

Set up this folder tree in Drive:

Google Drive>Spatial Design 2023>existing walls_pics
- When your images are all safely tucked away in a well-labeled place go through them and delete what you don’t need.
- Get rid of anything out of focus or any double ups (images you don’t need).
- Remember you should have MAX 4. images per wall
- Re-name all images you keep (use the location and shot type to help you find it): Toi exterior_mid shot_01
- Collate your images by laying out as a Mood Board on a blank slide in your digital portfolio (it may take 2+ slides)
- When displaying (either physically or digitally) put the spaces you are most interested in designing for at the start.
Suggested folder structure
Reflect on your wall spaces
Use the guiding questions at the top of the lesson to do a quick analysis of your wall spaces. Basically, you need to look at the space as it exists and ask yourself what do I NOTICE? This is where you realise how deeply you think about what you have been looking at and how your images may relate to the context of Spatial Design.

Remember:
- It’s always worth taking notes to help clarify your thinking.
- Notes could be handwritten in your Moleskine or typed on a new slide ... if you handwrite your notes you need at add an image of those notes to your digital portfolio.
Laundry walls reflection