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

背景：创意产业在创意领域(例如，使用人工智能、增强现实等)开发新的技术主导和数据驱动的产品和服务，接触到新的受众和市场方面具有很大潜力。然而，创意从业者面临着挑战，包括学习技术、商业模式和技术生态系统。与CodeBase一起，这项研究将1)洞察寻求发展技术主导和数据驱动业务的创意从业者的需求，以及2)共同设计和评估社区拥有的资源的“数字公地”，以满足这些需求。我们的发现将为扩大和支持创意经济的扎根方法提供见解。主题：这项跨学科的研究将植根于交互设计，也参与创意产业研究和商业研究。与CodeBase及其帮助人们创业和扩展技术业务的平台Techscaler一起，这项研究将：1)提供有关进入技术生态系统的创意人员需求的洞察力；2)评估CodeBase和Techscaler当前的教育、导师商店和社区建设活动如何支持这些需求；3)设计数字共享：一个社区拥有的在线存储库，提供点对点技能和资源共享。方法论方法：研究将利用最佳实践的定性、参与性和基于设计的方法。考虑到创意产业的广度，最初的案例研究将与我的兴趣和经验保持一致，为研究的开始提供一个焦点。这一重点将是图形设计和视觉交流，并将努力解决实践中已确定的三个挑战。它们是：1)平面设计研究自身的发展缓慢，从业者的创意资本相对较低[1]；2)平面设计必须与技术一起发展[2]；3)平面设计已经有了一个广泛的、管理不善的、高度分散的创意公地[3]。方法将包括：1)了解创意从业者在数字技能和技术生态系统方面的学习需求的背景，以及苏格兰目前存在的支持结构：1.二级研究和联网活动(在CodeBase和Creative Informatics的支持下)，以绘制苏格兰创意产业内的关键参与者、数字平台和社区。使用扎根的理论方法进行初步研究2)设计和评估开放分布和公共拥有的在线资源库(即数字共用资源)，面向新技术领域的创造性从业者以及那些以前有创业经验的人。联合设计方法的使用将支持知识的结合和发展共同的理解[4]。这将包括：1.参与式设计研讨会，与处于技术旅程不同阶段的利益相关者共同设计数字共用空间。使用有声思考协议、访谈和研讨会以及扎根的理论方法，部署和评估数字共用资源(使用CodeBase)。

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.