Keywords
Collaboration, Constraints, Design, Pedagogy, Process, Workshop

Workshop
Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
11–14 April 2008
Instructors: Prem Krishnamurthy, Adam Michaels

Within the context of American graphic design education, which remains focused on individual-based methods and achievements (which have few parallels in post-graduation practice), we conducted a workshop which required rapid engagement with external parties and real production constraints.

Extracurricular Activity
In preparation for the Extracurricular Activity workshop this week, please complete these preliminary steps by Friday, April 11, at 1pm.

1. Choose a client.
— The client can be anyone from within or without RISD, though they must be from outside of the graphic design department. You should not have a pre-existing working relationship with your client. In addition, you should have something significant in common.
— It is essential that your client is available to participate in the final workshop critique on Sunday, April 13, from 10am to 2pm.

2. Agree on a project to complete with your client for this workshop.
— The project should represent a set of mutual concerns.
— The project may take the form of a publication (minimum 16 pages), a website (minimum 5 pages), or video (minimum 1 minute).
— The project must be fully developed by 10am on Sunday, April 13, though production and distribution can occur subsequently. You will also need to create a budget for the actual realization of your project.

3. Introduce your client and project to the class.
— Come to the workshop on Friday prepared to present visual and textual information describing your client, as well as a full proposal for the project you will complete by Sunday. Bring all necessary materials and equipment to continue work.

“…here is a new tropism and a new sort of reflexivity, involving artists as well as theorists and activists in a passage beyond the limits traditionally assigned to their practice. The word tropism conveys the desire or need to turn towards something else, towards an exterior field or discipline; while the notion of reflexivity now indicates a critical return to the departure point, an attempt to transform the initial discipline, to end its isolation, to open up new possibilities of expression, analysis, cooperation and commitment. This back-and-forth movement, or rather, this transformative spiral, is the operative principle of what I will be calling extradisciplinary investigations.”

Brian Holmes, “Extradisciplinary Investigations. Towards a New Critique of Institutions.”

“When they use Collaborative Selling, salespeople act a lot like consultants who help clients identify and solve problems. A Collaborative Sale results when a salesperson follows these steps:
— Gathering information
The salesperson and client discuss current operational problems and explore whether the salesperson’s product or service can solve them.… The idea is to build long-term success by establishing collaborative relationships with potential customers, not merely closing sales.
— Conducting individualized sales sessions
There are no “one size fits all” presentations or sales calls. A collaborative salesperson respects the customer’s time by limiting discussions to topics that apply.
— Making a commitment, not just a sale
When a sale is made, it doesn’t feel like a sale, but like the start of a long-term collaboration to solve a problem.
— Strengthening the relationship
The salesperson follows up and continues to give advice, much like a consultant. Again, the intent is to demonstrate a high level of interest and commitment. This approach bundles together selling, consulting and marketing. It can be a potent process that builds relationships for salespeople who are willing to invest the time.”

Trump University, “Trump 360º Business Briefings: Collaborative Selling.”

Schedule
— April 10, Thursday: Project Projects talk and workshop introduction
— April 11, Friday: Presentations by students of clients and projects
— April 12, Saturday: Studio meetings, design and production
— April 13, Sunday: Review of projects as group with clients