How I’m approaching my dissertation as a third-year BA (Hons) Textiles Design student

I hope to inspire with you with your own writing by discussing my topic and approach to choosing sources, as well as give a few tips from what I have found so far to be helpful!

I have chosen to undergo an investigative study into a process that relates to my studio practical work. My chosen topic, in its broadest sense, is quilting. I hope to write a discursive piece about the history of quilting within certain community groups and how this process, done together, can benefit our wellbeing. I intend to research how it’s been used by different populations to express their situation – living states, fights against diseases or improvement to mental health. A few groups I wish to research are:

• Prisoners and how quilting is used in prisons for rehabilitation
• The fight against AIDS and remembering those lost through The Names Project in America
• The Gees Bend quilts and their community living in Alabama

For me, quilting is important because I love completing the skill myself. I have been quilting for a long time, throughout my teenage years, and entered and even won competitions at the Festival of Quilts. Therefore, I hope to utilise this opportunity to study a topic of my choice in depth to be able to understand better how this technique positively impacts others, as it has done for me. I also hope to bring quilting into my studio practice, either as a stand-alone technique or as embellishment to my hand and digital prints. This draws nice parallels between my theoretical studies and practical work, helping to keep me motivated and demonstrate my passion for the subject.

I intend to go about my research in a variety of ways. My main approaches are books, online documents like academic sources from Google Scholar and documentaries from Kanopy. I would also like to bring in some journal references and possibly primary research sources such as an interview.

I have found lots of useful branches of research to explore through online documents, where reading one article has led me to more and more articles to look through. Moreover, there have been some useful documentaries on quilting in prisons and The Names Project. These have allowed me to view the topic on a more personal level, watching the impact it’s had on individuals rather than just reading about it. I hope as my time researching progresses, I can spend more time in the library gathering academic books to support my claims with strong evidence.

If anyone else is beginning their dissertation research, or is in second year and aware that it’s on the horizon, these are my tips so far for you:

• Be patient – research takes time and to find the good stuff, you have to sift out the bad things too. Don’t be disheartened if some of your time researching leads to dead ends, or you count it out as your project goes on. This just shows you refining your focus and being selective with your materials.
• Break it down into small tasks. Set a few hours aside each week, in separate blocks, to stay engaged in your research. Short breaks between stints will keep you motivated. The more effort you put in from the beginning, the less cramming you have to do at the end. And remember, quality is most important – it’s all about diving deep into a subject, not skimming the surface of everything!
• Study skills aren’t just for the end, nor are the librarians. Our Course Librarians at AUB are a bank of knowledge waiting to support us – use their help from the beginning. This goes for referencing too; keeping on top of your bibliography throughout will be a lifesaver. Regular appointments with study skills for feedback and a second opinion of your work will ensure you’re on track and getting all the support you can be.

Overall, I wish you all the best luck in your dissertation writing! It’s such an exciting time and I know you will do great in whatever topic you choose. If you follow a topic you’re genuinely passionate about, you will produce an exciting, original and fresh written piece. Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint!!