New project - The Community Business Fix Podcast
We’ve been busy over the past few months working on a new audio documentary series that brings together our ideas on ethnographic research and compelling ways to deliver what we find.
Nesta ShareLab - Ethnographic storytelling
A recent commission saw us visit three organisations to gather and document stories about their involvement with the Nesta ShareLab project. We made three short films that brought together sound, interviews, music and photography to get under the skin of the work these organisations are doing. We'll share the films soon.
Stories about community business
We were commissioned by Power to Change to document the lives of people involved in two community businesses. We turned the stories into a 30 minute live documentary, delivered in front of an audience. The live documentary was narrated by Fieldwork founder Curtis James, and featured photographs, interviews, video and music.
What's at the heart of a community business?
We were commissioned recently to document life at two community businesses. We've spent the past few weeks immersing ourselves in the lives of these fantastic organisations. The Bevy, is the UK’s only community pub on a housing estate and the Stoneham Bakehouse, is a community bakery promoting wellbeing through real bread.
Gig Economy Journals - A day in their shoes - Elle Coates, Artist
What is 'gig economy' working really like and what are the opportunities and challenges for gig workers? This is part three in our series commissioned by the CIPD to study the lives of gig economy workers. It features Elle, an artist that uses services like TaskRabbit to supplement her income.
Gig Economy Journals - A day in their shoes - David Robinson, Web Developer
What is 'gig economy' working really like and what are the opportunities and challenges for gig workers? This is part two in our series commissioned by the CIPD to study the lives of gig economy workers. It features David, a web developer.
Documenting the future
We spent some time looking at and documenting the future on a project for Smithery and their client the Royal Society. They'd designed and built some time capsules from the future, and we went along to document them being built.
Ethnography of a bus shelter
What happens when you turn a traditional bus shelter into a piece of art? Brighton and Hove Buses recently commissioned artists to paint a Grade II Listed bus shelter with bright and colourful paints. The bus company wanted a collection of stories from people that experienced the temporary piece of artwork.
We asked passers by to record their thoughts in sound and on postcards. We delivered the work as a digital book and audio material.
Documenting Practices - Fieldwork Self User Story
We recently helped Simon White document a significant shift in his practice at agency Formation London.
Gig Economy Journals - A day in their shoes - Susie Coleman, Voice Over Artist
What is 'gig economy' working really like and what are the opportunities and challenges for gig workers? This is part one of our commission by the CIPD to study the lives of gig economy workers. It features Susie, a voice over artist.
Gig Economy Journals - Looking for workers to take part
We are doing some research into flexible or “gig” working, focusing on issues such as employment rights, voice, job security, pay and wellbeing.
We are looking to document three workers and to turn the resulting work into three photographic journals telling the story of their working life. This project is about adding a human voice to some of the statistics around gig working.
A picture speaks a thousand words - how to use visual research to enhance your business
I went to speak to the good people at Sony Playstation recently. Before I turned up to do the talk I sent some Fieldwork DIY Kits ahead with a challenge, to document working life at Sony Playstation over the course of a week.
Why we tell stories
Imagine a story about commuting told in numbers. 6 hours spent travelling for 200 miles, average heart rate of 70bpm, £5,000 pounds a year for the ticket. Worker scored 6 out of 10 for happiness, 5 for productivity, 3 for engagement. They wrote 2,000 words, replied to 10 emails. Some of this could be useful, but on its own, it's pretty meaningless.
We are living in a different era of work, one that can't be understood using staff surveys alone
For years the business world has relied on staff engagement surveys to take the pulse of their company, but if these stories are anything to go by, there seems to be an increase in challenges and a lack of trust from workers in their leaders to do the right thing. Business can't survive on these age-old techniques anymore.
27 ways to capture the story of your life
For two years hundreds of people have used the camera and tools in our DIY Fieldwork Kit to help them understand their professional life and businesses. The insight they have gained has been instrumental in creating change.
Curtis talking about work on the 21st Century Work Life podcast
Curtis features in the latest episode of the 21st Century Work Life podcast with Pilar Orti.
New service - Follow the thing - Case Study
When you supply a product or service, it's easy, over time to start to lose touch with procedures, strategy and logistics. At the same time, the growth of a company will likely see a disconnect between geographic locations, departments and people. After spending time with countless leaders, I know that when this happens, work, innovation, productivity and culture suffers, having an impact on the people working with you and in turn, the bottom line.
Everyday Fieldwork - Holborn Underground Station
Everyday Fieldwork - Holborn Underground Station - Rush hour - Packed like sardines.
