Primary and Secondary Research

PRIMARY RESEARCH

It has first-hand-experience data.It is unpublished and is more reliable, authentic and objective. Primary data has not been changed or altered by human beings, therefore its validity is greater than secondary data.

METHODS

Focus Groups – bring together respondents with common characteristics 
Observation - actually view respondents

Experiment - controlled variables and respondent groups.

Non-personal survey – on site, telephone, mail, fax, computer, panel

Personal interview - one-on-one survey with respondents

Official records – internal document survey research

MERIT

Degree of accuracy is quite high.

It does not require extra caution.

It depicts the data in great detail.

Primary source of data collection frequently includes definitions of various terms and units used.

For some investigations, secondary data are not available.

DEMERIT

Collection of data requires a lot of time.

Large financing required.

Primary data not successful for certain type of inquiries.

Requires a labour and skill.

SECONDARY RESEARCH

It has data that has already been collected by others. These are usually in journals, periodicals, dailies, research publications, official records etc. Secondary data may be available in the published or unpublished form. When it is not possible to collect the data by primary method, the investigator go for Secondary method.

METHODS

Unpublished Personal Records

Diaries

Letters
Government Records

Census Data/population statistics:

Health records

Educational institutes records

Public Sector Records

NGOss survey data

Other private companies records

MERIT

Use is very convenient

Saves time and finance.

In some enquiries primary data cannot be collected.

Reliable secondary data are generally available for many investigations.

DEMERIT

Very difficult to find sufficiently accurate secondary data.

Very difficult to find secondary data which exactly fulfils the need of present investigation.

Extra caution is required to use secondary data.

Not available for all types of enquiries.

Yorkshire Visit

The Hepworth Wakefield Gallery by David Chipperfield.

Our first field trip was to this gallery located in Yorkshire. It is an art gallery built on the historic Wakefield waterfront area. The structure has two levels. The ground floor contains the reception, shop, cafeteria, auditorium and back office areas. The floor above has all the exhibition spaces linked with open doorways. There is like a flow of movement for the eyes of a visitor from one gallery to another gallery to sudden glances of the exterior through the full-length windows.

Source: http://www.davidchipperfield.co.uk/project/the_hepworth_wakefield
Exterior

A strong monolithic structure with exposed insitu concrete looking like its floating on the river.

It gives an appearance of irregular heighted structures closely interlocked to each other and fully exposed.

Interior Elements

Staircase- Looks lifted and draws the attention of the visitors as they enter the art gallery and pulls them upwards towards the exhibition spaces.

Galleries- There are diverse angle walls and sloped ceilings that makes each space different from the other and creates a unique atmosphere. With these sort of wall angles and placement a mysterious feeling is created of what lies behind each wall.

Light- Daylight enters the spaces through slits or incisions in the ceiling or through carefully oriented and scaled windows.

Every element of this structure feels like it is sitting one on another. Ceiling sitting on the walls and the walls carefully sitting on the flooring. Entire structure feels like it is floated or lifted and gives a feeling of airiness.

I find the seamless flow between the exterior and interior with the use of skylights, shadows and long windows, its like getting small breakout spaces in the middle of viewing and concentrating on the art in galleries. A creative balance and lightness inside the structure and gives the same feeling even from the exterior.

 All photographs clicked by myself during the visit.

Designing for Small Spaces

The current scenario in India, is that the population of metropolitan cities is constantly increasing and usable land is decreasing. Each year more and more people are migrating to cities and the available resources and land there is getting exhausted. Urban space is at a premium and homes are by necessity smaller. Land rates are increasing with each day. Indians live in joint families where there are almost only two earning members for a family of six. Low incomes and high property rates are leading them to reside in small, overcrowded apartments.

Hence now the challenge is how efficiently the interior designer can make use of the smallest space available. Every small space should be made to use at its utmost and every dead space made alive. What has begun as a financial necessity, should lead to happiness in living in small unique spaces.

In small spaces there is less to clean, it is cheaper to maintain and in turn lowers the cost of utilities and less to furnish. Small spaces forces you be organized and not be a pack rat. My topic is all about, when given a small space how most efficiently it can be used and make it cozy instead of cramped. With the help of a good design help people to accommodate and organize well in less.

Storage ideas in staircase. 

Sleek and leggy furniture pieces and transparent furniture options. 

 Pattern used to create appearance of spaciousness.  

Example of multiple use of space. 

Small space study area and kitchenette.

Just the minor addition or alteration of certain small elements in a space could completely transform the feel of the entire space. Create spaciousness not just by area but by feel.

Bibliography:

http://www.kropatinteriordesign.com

http://www.amiaustininteriors.com

http://www.laurieflower.com

http://www.sherwin-williams.com

http://www.bhg.com

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com