Dissertation Funeral

Many have traumatic memories associated with the act of writing a dissertation and tend to focus on how frustrating, overwhelming and time-consuming the process was, rather than the positive lessons for growth that came from the experience - such as learning about a new topic or discovering a new career direction. Having completed my dissertation and witnessed the effect it had made on my mental health, I decided it was time to move on. Initially, I had thought of accumulating all of the notes, documents, scribbles, and the many packets of biscuits to scan and create a publication from. However, by visualising the feelings associated with these objects, I found this brought them back rather than letting go. Instead, I threw a funeral for the dissertation. Usually at these services those who wish to say goodbye to the deceased attend and express their memories. While this can be an upsetting event, attendees often feel relieved as it allows them to focus their grievance on the good times and what they will treasure, compared to their loss. By throwing a dissertation funeral, my aim was to help fellow peers with the process of reflection as they became more focused on what they had learnt. While these experiences may not have been the most positive to reflect upon, they do shape who we become as both people and designers.