Journal entry 1 • Week 3
We are already at week 3 of Capstone.
Last Friday, I had a meeting with my advisor, Dr. Millet and was finally able to get clearer on my design problem and concept statement.
I had been feeling the pressure for clearly defining the design problem and during class with prof. Ewing, I was able to realize that I wasn’t expressing the problem concisely. I also realized that I had to preamble the presentation with a question to see where my audience is at in the understanding of what I am talking about.
With this realization, I was able to rewrite the design problem in a way that is clear and that anyone can understand.
First, I would like to explain some background.
My name is Nicole Andujar and I have been working with master plant medicines for over 11 years. Master plant medicines are also known as enthoeogen. An entheogen is defined as a chemical substance, typically of plant origin, that is ingested to produce a nonordinary state of consciousness for religious or spiritual purposes.
Entheogen also alter perception, mood, or behavior for the purpose of bringing about spiritual development.
Throughout the years, I have been able to participate in many plant medicine ceremonies with the intention of healing and expanding my consciousness into spaces that bring about a different perspective of life and everything I have ever known. They have brought with them paradigm shifts in all aspects of my life.
I honor these plants and use them in a sacred manner, because I have felt their power first hand for many years.
Nicole Andujar
When it came to creating a Capstone project as the culmination of this Master’s program in Interactive Media, I felt like I had to create something that would show my love and gratitude for these plants. To be able to show how their healing power has helped my life as it has many people.
For this to happen, I want to expose good information about some of these plants and for people to be able to receive them in the best way possible.
I have been conducting many interviews in the past months to be able to define a design problem and craft my concept statement.
Design Problem
To avoid the unconscious use or misuse of master plant medicines that are available in the world for all humanity.
Concept Statement
Create awareness through storytelling about master plant medicines, also known as entheogens, to help educate people about their proper use for emotional, mental, physical and spiritual healing, and therapy. To also teach people about the different indigenous traditions and lineages that use them as spiritual and healing practices, and lastly, to teach people about their preservation.
USERS
I have defined the users for the project as follows:
PRIMARY: People new to plant medicine ceremonies who want to expand their awareness and consciousness through to the use of ethnobotanical plant medicine for mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.
SECONDARY: Experienced participants (of spiritual ceremonies) that have gone on many plant medicine journeys, looking to continue learning and expand their spirituality from the teachings of elders of different lineages through videos, testimonials and guided video workshops.
Ages: 13+
Interests: Meditation, yoga, art, music, alternative healing modalities, alternative therapy, biology, chemistry, entheogens, medicine plants, exploration of the mind, altered states of consciousness.
During the weekend, I was able to conduct 2 more interviews that will help me better define the design requirements for this project.
I will go through the interviews and write out those requirements in the next entry.
