Survey #2

22.08.16

I spoke to a range of tattoo artists by visiting several tattoo parlours in Wellington including: Rogers Tattoo Art, Cuba St Tattoo, Taupou Tatau, Tattoo Machine, Ninja Flower and more. In total I spoke to 11 different tattoo artists.

Because tattoo artists time is really valuable (usually $150-$180 per hour) I decided to keep the interviews as brief as possible but gave respondents the opportunity to speak their mind and express opinions outside of what I was asking. I took notes throughout and was able to gain some more insights into tattooing from a new, credible perspective. I asked the same set of questions to each tattooist so that I could input the data and get clear results in a similar format to my first survey. 

Some things I took away from the interviews:

• Tattoo cover ups are more common than I predicted, particularly for tattooists that have a good reputation.
• A very small percentage of customers that enter tattoo studios are doing so 'just to look around'. Most are booking or getting a tattoo.
• Tattoo artists tend to think the biggest barriers stopping people getting tattooed are the permanence of them and choosing the right design.
• 10 of the 11 artists interviewed considered tattoos to be addictive.
• Most were against the idea of using a semi-permanent ink and felt it would go against traditions. The artists that were more inclined to use it were generally younger than those who were opposed to the idea.

The question around semi-permanent ink tended to spark a response in the artists that I was talking to. Often it was something that they had heard or thought about already and I was able to have some really valuable discussions with them around the concept.

Those who were willing to use it usually said they'd have no issue with it if the experience and process was the same, whereas those who were against it had multiple reasons for there stance including:

health concerns, ink quality, unpredictable results, clients putting less thought into designs/having the ability to change their mind, tattoos becoming more fashion driven/following trends, a change in the experience/relationship between tattooist & client, wanting their work to last and be seen for a lifetime etc.

Overall I found the discussions really useful and feel like I've confirmed a lot of the assumptions I made around this project initially and after my first survey. Most artists were reluctant to take time out to speak with me at first but once I got them talking about their work and showed genuine interest in what they were saying they opened up a lot and I was able to gain some really valuable insights from them. It was good getting the perspectives of people who tattoo daily (some for over 30 years) and I feel as though I have a better understanding of both the industry and the relationships between artists and clients after sitting down with them.

Survey #1

19.08.16

I conducted a survey through Facebook to uncover attitudes and motivations in relation to tattooing as well as confirming assumptions I had made about my projects potential.

The survey included 4 multiple choice questions and 9 statements that respondents could rate how strongly they agreed or disagreed with. I decided to make the questions as simple as possible to encourage more responses and received a good sample of data with 53 responses in total.

Some of the key things I have pulled from the survey results:

• All people surveyed were between 18-34 years old
• Over half of them had no tattoos

When asked what they disliked about tattoos:

• 50% said 'deciding on the right design'
• 25% thought they would regret it
• 28% felt they would be judged by others
• 32% disliked that tattoos affect job prospects
• Only 9% identified physical pain as a dislike

When asked what they like about tattoos:

• 75% like the meaning behind tattoos
• 60% like them for the look/aesthetic
• 55% like being able to express themselves
• 55% like them because they're unique/original
• only 4% said they didn't like anything about tattoos

Agree/Disagree

• 15% didn't consider tattoos addictive
• Less than 50% agreed that most people regret tattoos
• Over 60% agreed that tattoos should mean something
• 46.2% 'strongly agree' that it's difficult choosing something they will have for the rest of their life - less than 10% disagreed
• Over 50% would be more inclined to get tattoos if they were easily changed or removed
• Just under half of those surveyed found tattooists/studios intimidating
• Less than 6% agreed it was easy finding the right tattoo design or artist

10/5 Report - Feedback with Gray

15.08.16

The 10/5 Report

My Project is about facilitating a stronger connection between tattooists, designers and customers as well as encouraging and promoting tattooing to a wider audience. I initially thought I would achieve this through an app that projects tattoo designs onto a human figure so that users could visualise their tattoos before getting them.

I‘ve recently discovered a new product that has been engineered by students at NYU. It’s a tattoo ink that can be applied and removed with existing tattoo equipment and will also naturally fade from skin roughly a year after being applied.

I think this is an exciting idea that I would like to incorporate into my project because while researching I found the biggest reason people don’t want to get a tattoo is the fact that they are permanent.

At this stage I’m struggling with deciding how to move my project forward and what to create in order to execute my ideas.

I decided to send this report to Gray and arrange a meeting time. I was told he was very knowledgeable around web and app design and hadn't yet discussed my project with him, so I thought it would be valuable to get a fresh perspective on where I was at. 

The feedback I received was really useful and has helped me to consider alternative ways of executing the project, given me a clearer direction for what I should be aiming to achieve and provided me with new ways to progress and move my idea forward.

Some of the things we discussed were:

• To build the app on the assumption I can do anything - don't be limited by technology or knowledge of programs.
• Think about what a tattoo app would look like, create an aesthetic.
• Consider how I might compile a database of images, artists and designs.
• The possibility of using After Effects instead of Invision to execute the application - mock up a movie that shows the interactivity.
• Fake it - set up exercises with different people where the app appears to have projected a tattoo onto their skin and gauge their reactions to it/take feedback from them.
• The potential to create a full brand experience for a tattoo parlour - include packages and various features, a competitive difference.
• Consider how I could design the idea as a business - what would a tattoo parlour look like and include based around the idea of using semi-permanent ink?
• What is the 'brand experience' around a tattoo parlour that uses semi-permanent ink?

Empathy Maps

13.08.16

I've researched a lot into motivations and attitudes towards both getting and not getting tattoos. After speaking with several people who have tattoos and several who don't I took notes on reasons and justifications each person had in regard to their decisions around getting inked. I've created empathy maps in relation to tattoos for: people who don't have tattoos, people who have a tattoo/tattoos, and tattoo artists.

From here I plan to create a journey map for a client who wants to get a tattoo and identify the touch points throughout it. This will help me to get into the headspace of my target market and identify the key moments of decision making when getting a tattoo, and in turn improve my project and the overall brand experience that I'm designing.

Someone without any tattoos

Pain

• Intimidated by tattooists/going into parlours
• Fear of judgement
• Might regret it later
• Physical pain
• Fear the commitment/permanence of a tattoo
• Might not turn out as expected
• The portrayal of tattoos in media
• Finding the right tattoo design

Gain

• Wants to express themselves
• Overcome fears
• Excitement/ A new experience
• Curious about the process
• To be unique/original/an individual
• Promoting identity
• Use artistic freedom
• Rebel
• Be impulsive

Person with a tattoo/tattoos

Pain

• Deciding on the next one
• Unsure about chosen design/artist
• Money
• Finding the best/better artists
• More may detract from current tattoos
• Hearing others opinions on it
• Regret

Gain

• Feeling of control
• Adrenaline
• Conversation piece
• Means something to them
• Aesthetics
• Serves as a reminder
• Gets attention

Tattoo artist

Pain

• Attitudes towards tattooing
• Stereotypes
• Making money vs. making art
• Being commissioned to do bad designs
• Conflicts with client wants

Gain

• Trying new techniques
• Returning clients - rapport
• Creating something the client is proud of
• Extensive portfolio
• Meeting new people
• Challenges in the job
• Tattoos becoming mainstream

MakeHuman

12.08.16

I discovered a free and open source software for creating 3 dimensional humans. It has easy and intuitive parameters including: Age, gender, height, weight, body proportions, face shapes, eyes, chin, nose, mouth, ears, hands, feet, and more details. MakeHuman can be used for illustrations, animations, games and sculpting.  

If I decide to create the app that I've prototyped I think this website will be a valuable resource to use, even through prototyping it will assist my project a lot by being able to create the human figures that I want to apply tattoos to.

Website Link: http://www.makehuman.org/

Feedback #2

11.08.16

Today I met with some peers from my cluster to discuss our projects and bounce ideas off of one another. It was really useful to do this as we're starting to get a grasp of each others projects and were all able to provide and receive some really valuable feedback.

I showed them the app that I've prototyped on Invision and talked about my idea to incorporate the concept of a semi-permanent ink into my project.

What I took away:

• The app could have a feature where photographs are captured and uploaded and tattoo version of the photograph would be generated in a particular style or colour.
• The app could track tattoos that users get and provide reminders and information on tattoo upkeep.
• When tattoos are chosen or saved the app could provide suggestions of future tattoos, show examples of how they could be joined together.
• Rather than using an avatar within the app, would it be viable to use 3D scanners and have a replica of your body to apply designs to?
• Once I have all of the logistics and designs in place I could commission someone to actually create the app rather than prototyping it through Invision.
• I need to speak with people in the industry and get their views/opinions and insights around this concept. It was also suggested I speak with people who do laser removal of tattoos or who have undergone it themselves and try to uncover what motivates people to remove tattoos.
• It would be valuable to look into patents/trademarks/copywriting before spreading the idea around the people I want to speak with about it.
•  I need to think about what could go wrong with this project or throughout my process and take steps to ensure it runs smoothly.

Feedback

08.08.16

After speaking with Jason about my project and what direction to take with it on Friday I took some more notes about areas of interest to look into that could broaden my idea and give me a new focus, I found his feedback helpful and plan to reevaluate what it is I want to achieve from this project and investigate some new areas of tattooing.

Some of the things we discussed included:

• Look into the tensions between different parties involved with someone getting a tattoo - tattooist, person receiving the tattoo,friends & family
• How I could aid the connection between these parties
• Get inside the headspace of people that are concerned with tattoos
• Create journey maps that highlight the tension points for different people in the tattoo process
• Creating empathy maps of the different concerned parties
• How can ongoing relationships around tattooing be established?
• Can tattoos be for good? or create social change?
• Ask why? - Why get a tattoo? why not get one? Why get another? Why refuse to tattoo someone? etc.
• How can tattoos be further established as a social norm?
• Consider ethics when speaking with people about tattooing
• Talk to tattoo artists about their work - ethics don't need to be considered when strictly speaking about someones job
• Look into stresses of tattooists themselves - when learning to tattoo, when clients are unhappy, when mistakes are made etc.
• Consider the commitment of getting a tattoo - What does it mean to people? Is that what puts people off? Does it reflect something about the personalities of people with tattoos?
• Focus on 2 pillars - Why am I doing this? & What do I want to achieve?

Research Cont.

07.08.16

French designers Pierre Emm and Johan da Silveira figure if a robot arm is accurate enough to assemble things, why can't it hold a tattoo gun? The pair embarked on a quest to turn an industrial robot into a tattoo artist and captured the process on video.

Link:  Industrial robot modified for tattooing

Inkbox

Toronto brothers Tyler and Braden Handley have created a new kind of temporary tattoo that will last up to two weeks. The Inkbox tattoos are applied just like the temporary designs found online. You peel off a protective backing, press it onto a clean area of your skin, dampen it with an included wet towelette for 10 minutes, and then peel it all away. 

The tattoos are made from 100% organic fruit and instead of sitting ontop of your skin like traditional temporary tattoos, they stain the top layer of skin after around 12 hours by turning organic compounds in the tissue black.

Website link: https://getinkbox.com/

Research

05.08.16

After uncovering some of the resons people don't want tattoos the main one that was shared by a lot of people was that they don't want to mark their body permanently-that just because they like an image or stand for something now it doesn't mean they will a few years down the track. I found this to be an interesting concept and decided to do some research into tattoo alternatives that aren't permanent.

There are several options for semi permanent tattooing:



Airbrush Tattoos

An artist sprays on airbrush tattoos using a stencil with alcohol-based, FDA-approved cosmetic inks. Although they have become more popular and usually require a smaller investment, airbrush temporary tattoos are less likely to achieve the look of a real tattoo, and may not last as long as press-on temporary tattoos.

Recently Kiwi airbrush artist Benjamin Lloyd has been applying these tattoos to children at Auckland's Starship Hospital. He wrote about his plan on Facebook after seeing the smiles and confidence that children got when he had airbrushed them in the past. In less than 24 hours he had received over 250,000 likes and 130,000 shares on his post.

Article Link





Temporary Transfer Tattoos
Temporary tattoos are applied to the skin like a sticker. They are placed in the desired spot then wet with a sponge, when removing the paper backing the tattoo design stays on the skin for a short period of time and usually fade or wash off within 3-7 days. There are several websites where these can be personally designed and purchased and are an affordable, novelty form of tattooing.


https://www.tattooyou.com/shop/

Tattoo Pens
Semi permanent tattoo pens are smudge-proof, splash proof and very long wearing. Once dry they will last until removed with make up remover or a correction pen. They have a slim tip for more intricate designs and come in a range of bright, saturated colours. These are often used for body painting, photo shoots, theatrical work and trying out tattoos before they're done for real.

Henna tattoos

Henna is a paste made from crushed leaves and twigs of the henna plant. When this paste is applied to skin and left for a few hours it leaves an orange to dark maroon stain in the skin. This fades after 1-3 weeks.

Henna has been used since ancient time to colour skin, hair, fingernails, leather, and wool.

Mehndi is a term used for the application of henna as a temporary skin decoration in south Asia as well as India. The art of mehndi (or mehandi) has been a long-standing tradition stemming from many ancient cultures but is mostly known today for its history and prevalence in India.

Removable Ink

InfinitInk
InfinitInk is a tattoo ink designed to simplify tattoo removal. The ink breaks down more quickly in laser light than conventional inks. It is also the first tattoo ink to be developed in the United States with medical trials for safety testing.
Freedom-2, Inc. produced the ink and released it for sale with limited availability in the United States during January, 2009.

links:

facebook

article

video

Ephemeral
Ephemeral is a NYU student initiative and the winner of the NYU $200K Entrepreneurs Challenge Tech Venture. They seeks to revolutionize the tattoo industry by providing a high quality tattoo ink and unique removal solution. The tattoo ink is specifically engineered to last roughly 1 year and the complementary removal solution offers you the option of safe, easy, and effective removal. Both application and removal can be done by tattoo artists using their existing equipment.

Website
video

Direction #2

04.08.16

In order to determine where I'd like to take this project I have researched and uncovered some reasons and justifications that people have for getting tattoos. I found more information on this than anticipated so have extracted some of the key points to help me decide where I'd like to take the assignment.

Reasons for getting tattoos:

• attention
• self-expression
• artistic freedom
• rebellion
• personal narratives
• reminders - people, past, sayings
• spiritual/cultural traditions
• sexual motivation
• addiction
• impulsiveness
• social branding
• to promote identity
• affiliation/identification with a group
• to tell stories
• to hide behind
• feeling unique as an individual
• aesthetics - beauty, fashion, art
• for a feeling of control
• anchoring ones self
• physical endurance
• adrenaline
• resistance/protest

http://www.huffingtonpost.com

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-24296713

https://www.psychologytoday.com

https://www.researchgate.net

Direction

01.08.16

My feedback during my exhibit was mainly positive but after speaking with Jason about the project he suggested I take a wider approach as my idea may be too specific or narrow for the course of the paper. 

Some things I took away from the exhibit:

• Investigate further into tattoo culture and psychology
• Try not to focus on a solution to a problem that only lies within the tattoo industry
• Look at and identify why people do or do not get tattoos
• Research the barriers to getting a first or another tattoo
• Interview people with them, people without them, people who want them and people who don't
• Create a journey map & identify the moment of decision making for or against getting one
• How can tattoos reflect more than a static image i.e. a moment in time, a memory, a stage of life, can they create a visual archive of someones personal history?

Gallery C Exhibit

29.07.16

For this weeks studio I created a rapid iteration of what I aim to explore. It was a tangible piece that was exhibited among other students projects to have people interact and engage with my idea.

To achieve this I approached the idea a bit differently and using an OHP, I projected tattoo designs onto people interacting with the space to open discussions around my project. The test wasn't hugely successful due to the space being really chaotic and people misunderstanding my idea but I was still able to receive some really useful feedback from Annette, Jason and several other students.

App Prototype

28.07.16

I decided to prototype my app design through the website 'Invision'. This site is really helpful for visualisation and provides me with a way to test and trial my application without having to actually create it.

I received some initial feedback from peers that was constructive in helping me to see what else the app could include and how it was limited. It also showed me that there was definite interest in my idea and several people said that they would download and use something like this.

Invision Link

Week 2-Fail Fast

27.07.16

For week two I've decided to run with my idea around tattoo design. To create a finished product for class I started by planning an application that could project tattoos onto a 3D model, looking at what features would be required and how the app might work.