THE BACKPACK METHOD
THE BACKPACK METHOD
The Backpack Method
This methodology aims to help students collect their visual research and resources in one place, where they can make connections, reflect on their findings, and transform them into creative output. Also, it emphasizes exploration, creates research habits, and encourages a culture of sharing among students, which makes research fun.
With time, students will be able to have a backpack full of an inspiring visual library, helpful resources, ideas, and notes of the things they care about and want to create.
The Backpack Process
Research Prompt
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Gather
〰️
Capture
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Categorization
〰️
Reflection
〰️
Utilization
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Research Prompt 〰️ Gather 〰️ Capture 〰️ Categorization 〰️ Reflection 〰️ Utilization 〰️
01 Research Prompt
The student is given a research prompt or an assignment by an instructor, or the student may start a “free/out of class” research on their own. The student may not be researching for a specific prompt but come across something of interest and save it for later.
02 Gather
The student is actively researching for a specific prompt, or the student may find something of interest by “accident”. This research can happen online or in the “real world”. The Backpack methodology aims to help students understand that design is everywhere and that ideas and visual inspiration can be found outside of digital or
online spaces.
03 Capture
The student has found something of interest and is ready to capture it in their Backpack system for future reference or to create its visual library. If the research is being captured from a digital platform, the student can copy and paste that capture, or save that image/video. If the capture is happening in the “real world” — the student will take a photo or a video of that finding to capture it in their Backpack system.
04 Categorization
The student is categorizing the capture research in their Backpack system. Categorizing the research is essential to easily find collected research later. Inside the Backpack system, the categorization breaks down into these steps: Inbox, Stage, Status, Type, Category, Niche, and Project.
05 Reflection
The Backpack methodology aims to challenge and emphasize design thinking in early students through the reflection of their captured research. Students should aim to answer some design thinking questions in each of their research entries. These questions can be established by the instructor or by the students. An example of questions for a Motion Design class could be: What is the message/story of this piece? How do the tone, music, design, and animation techniques showcase this message? Can you explain how this animation has been done?
06 Utilization
Once the student has reflected in a research entry, the student can use the captured research as visual inspiration or as a resource. Students are encouraged to share their reflections during class discussions and to share their research entries with their classmates.
The Backpack System
Inbox
〰️
Stage
〰️
Status
〰️
Type
〰️
Category
〰️
Niche
〰️
Project
〰️
Inbox 〰️ Stage 〰️ Status 〰️ Type 〰️ Category 〰️ Niche 〰️ Project 〰️
The Backpack methodology is designed to adapt to different digital platforms, a sketchbook, and folders on a computer desktop. Even though the methodology can be applied in a sketchbook or a desktop — it is highly encouraged that students use it in a digital platform. The benefits of using it in digital platforms over in a sketchbook or the desktop are the ability to do quick searches, storage space, portability, and sharing possibilities. Some popular digital platforms where the methodology could be applied are Notion, Evernote, Milanote, Are.na, Monday.com, Trello, Obsidian, and more. Students are encouraged to explore the different digital platforms and apply the methodology in their preferred one.
For this thesis project, the Backpack system will be implemented in Notion* — In Notion users can create customized systems, it is free for students and personal use, and it has a “template” feature — which allows the Backpack system to be shared with students. Once the students have chosen a digital platform where to adapt the methodology, these are the steps that will need to be followed to create their Backpack systems: Inbox, Stage, Status, Type, Category, Niche, and Project.