Toward A Digital Commons for Supporting Creative Practitioners' Journeys through the Technology Ecosystem

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Context: The Creative Industries have much potential for developing new technology-led and data-driven products and services in creative domains (e.g., using Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality, etc.), reaching new audiences and markets. However, there are challenges for creative practitioners, including learning about technology, business models, and the technology ecosystem. Together with CodeBase, this research will 1) provide insights into the needs of creative practitioners seeking to develop technology-led and data-driven businesses, and 2) co-design and evaluate a "digital commons" of community-owned resources to address these needs. Our findings will provide insights into grounded approaches to expanding and supporting the creative economy.Topic:This interdisciplinary research will be rooted in Interaction Design, also engaging with Creative Industry Studies and Business Studies. Together with CodeBase and Techscaler, its platform to help people start and scale tech businesses, this research will:1) provide insights about the needs of creatives entering the technology ecosystem;2) evaluate how CodeBase and Techscaler's current education, mentorshop and community-building activities support these needs; and3) design a digital commons: a community-owned online repository for peer-to-peer skills and resource sharing. Methodological Approach:The research will utilise best-practice qualitative, participatory, and design-based approaches. Given the breadth of the Creative Industries, the initial case studies will align with my interests and experience to provide a focal point for the commencement of the research. This focus will be graphic design and visual communication and will work to address three challenges that have been identified within the practice. These are:1) that graphic design is slow to research its own evolution and it's practitioners have relatively low creative capital [1];2) that graphic design must evolve alongside technology [2];3) that graphic design already has an extensive, poorly managed, highly decentralised creative commons [3].The methodology will include:1) Understanding the context of creative practitioners' learning needs in terms of digital skills and the technology ecosystem, and support structures currently in place in Scotland, through:1. Secondary research and networking activities (with support from CodeBase and Creative Informatics) to map key players, digital platforms and communities within the Creative Industries in Scotland.2. Primary research using a grounded theory methodology.2) Designing and evaluating and openly-distributed and communally-owned online repository of resources (i.e., a digital commons), for and with creative practitioners new to the technology landscape, and those with previous startup experience. The use of co-design methods will support combining knowledge and developing shared understandings [4]. This will involve: 1. Participatory design workshops to co-design the digital commons together with stakeholders at different stages of their technology journey.2. Deployment (with CodeBase) and evaluation of the digital commons, using think-aloud protocols, interviews and workshops, and a grounded theory methodology.