The ‘soft search’ – learning to discourse upon personal creative practices

This text is based upon a university course that has been designed to help graduate art/design students formulate the theoretical component of the practice-based work that they have generated over the course of their studies; given that this output is expected to be accompanied by a written thesis expounding upon the ideational aspects of their studio productions. To facilitate a transition from studio practice to academic writing a friendly, adaptable strategy has been devised. A description of this approach, situated within a broader framework of concepts such as Critical Reflection, Associative Thinking and Bisociation, constitutes the main thrust of this document.