Wednesday 28 April 2010

The Washing Line Effect

After we had been put into a group, we began to organise how to approach the public in order to find a site to use for our intervention.
Initially we were going to hand out compliments in a jar, similar to that which becky did in her first intervention. This however was left aside when we decided we needed something of a spectacle in order to capture the audience's eye. We wanted to draw people towards us rather than to hound them.


Having brainstormed more ideas we decided to make a 'washing line' of which we tied between two trees in Piccadilly Gardens. On the top line we paper-clipped a collection of good/bad/happy/sad/inviting/intimidating pictures of Manchester so that we could gain a reaction from the public. On the lower line we placed two signs at opposing ends... 'change me' and 'keep me.' The activity involved members of the public discussing the pictures we had provided and placing them in the category of their preference on the lower line.





Above is an example of the photographs we printed off for the line. In addition to this we also made small cards to hand out if the response was positive; this card included the blog address so that they could follow us if they wished to.








Feeling incredibly awkward when setting up the line, we were watched by passers by, onlookers and observers. Even a bin collector gave us a blank stare as we wrestled with the prevailing winds and the flapping pieces of paper. Eventually we were set up. And the success began :)





As the hour passed, we gained lots of positive feedback. We didn't have to approach many people as most came to us to be nosy. Many were intrigued by the photographs and the activity that they could take part in. We recorded the remarks into a separate book and will collaborate it with the washing line and results a bit later in the week.
We plan to analyse our results before the screen printing workshop which is to be held on Thursday.
We leave you with one of the most confident clients from Monday's task as he talks about some of the pictures on our washing line.



Sarah, Becky, Cassie

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