Design 21: Social Design Network

In response to your mission statement, i think it would be helpful to include what social opportunity you are trying to solve. Do you have research that holds onto the ground that NYC public space musicians have a hard time carrying around their instruments? or that the space where they play is inadequate? is the sound quality bad? is it annoying to subway users? how much income do subway players make on average by playing underground? etc... what are all the aspects that evolve around your issue of sound?

I don't know if that helps or not, (or makes me sound like an asshole) but i think it would be beneficial to research things like that.

Sam.

That is helpful to me.

I've been very vague about what I've written down.

Stringing pearls?!

I'm literally just throwing words out there...because I'm not exactly sure what I'm evolving....

and like I said to you in person, maybe it doesn't help to look at what might be on your thesis table at the end of the show.

Research....to have food for a problem...

But it doesn't have to be fully flesh out in this state...its constructing an argument...?

Where is the Argument...not exactly sure yet... but I'm satisfied in my mind about MUSIC UNDER NEW YORK as being my NFP...

The manager sounded very eager, and interested to work with a Design Student...I spoke with her briefly to get her email and send her a more comprehensive initial mission statement, and purpose...

I basically said I wanted to start a discussion, and create a relationship to examine problems with their program or the subway in regards to music, and performance in the subway..... maybe I sounded like an asshole. I wasn't that sure about my wording, but I wanted to get an email out during work on Friday, early enough so she could read it that day on Friday before leaving the office for the week end.

She's going to circulate my email....and I suppose she'll respond Monday or during the week...

MTA ARTS FOR TRANSIT and MUSIC UNDER NEW YORK

My message to Lydia’s answering machine:

Hello Lydia, my name Is Douglas Best. I am a Product Design student at Parsons School of Design in downtown Manhattan. I am working on a project that examines musician’s performance spaces in the city. I am interested in your organization and would like to know more about the specific locations where musicians are permitted to play…

Spoke with her on the phone after a second try, she sounded very interested, I got her email address to ask her more comprehensive questions…

This is my first email to Lydia:

Hello Lydia, this is Douglas Best the Product Design student you spoke to earlier today. I am contacting you because I am in my senior year and working on a thesis.

At Parsons the thesis program is called "A Good Life" and it entails thinking like a social entrepreneur.

We have to figure out what we are passionate about, and identify organizations whose mission aligns with that passion. Our goal is to examine a problem, and propose a solution. This solution can manifest itself as an object, or a system.

I am currently in the research phase, and developing a design brief while trying to frame a problem.

What I am interested in specifically as a musician (drummer), is the ability to perform, or practice in public space.

I am concerned with the performer and the transportation of his/her equipment, as well as the experience of sound for the audience.

In developing a design brief I will be looking into the quality and experience of the performance space, and the instruments involved.

Some initial questions I have about the program are about the specific rules and regulations regarding performance, as well as how your organization feels about subway performance.

By developing a relationship with you and your program I hope to identify problems and propose valuable solutions.

Thank you, Douglas Best

Thats awesome. I like your conversations with them, and that you posted it. Its very helpful to give me an understanding on how a fellow classmate is getting his foot in the door of a NFP. Good luck man