In this section, I intend on sharing some of my sources (journals, books, articles etc.) as well as findings regarding my literature review. As I was reading all these books and articles for my secondary research, I remember getting overwhelmed either because I was so excited and wanted to just keep reading or because I just felt like I was finding all this interesting information and didn’t know how in the heavens it was all going to come together and make sense. Also, being a designer and thus a visual mind, it didn’t help that I kept worrying about how this information I was gathering was all going to make sense.

My thesis advisor, Prof. Visocky (Ken) suggested writing a COMPREHENSIVE research outline. At first, I thought that this would just be like anyother outline I have written in the past, but it actually ended up pushing me to form clusters/groupings for my research. I attempt to make sense of my finding and this has helped me keep my study framed. I began to think of it as skeleton for my final paper and now, that it’s approved I feel better about the different silos of information I created and less scared about writing my paper.

Tips for writing a comprehensive outline:

1. Start with a general outline before you can funnel down and get very detailed. For example start with the major parts of your paper; introduction, body (literature review, primary research review, research synthesis and analysis, deliverable, testing, results etc.) Conclusion.
2. Once you have your general silos, start to make sub-sections of the general sections. For example under your introduction, you might want to talk about a) Define problem  b) Thesis statement c) Implications of study
3. Once you have your sub-sections, go ahead and write a small detailed definition for each section and sub-section. This could be anywhere from one to three sentences as long as it describes what that section is about. This will help you stay on task in the long run when you start writing your paper.
4. Don’t slow yourself down by being critical of your writing. At this stage you want to flush out any ideas that you have. Let  your research findings guide you, you will neat pick the writing once you start writing your paper.
5. Be flexible! Remember that writing an outline is just like any other design project, it requires multiple iterations and revisions, so don’t be frustrated when it takes you a while to get your outline completely flushed out.
6. If looking at this outline like a paper stresses you out, use stickies, note cards, look at it as a map with one part leading to the other…
7. This will take you a while depending on your research. It took me about a month and a half to organize all my information especially since I could only dedicate about an hour and half to two hours everyday for it. Give yourself a reasonable time frame to work on this.

Key areas of focus during this Secondary research phase:

• Uganda Education structure:
  This section will give a general overview of the Uganda Education structure (Primary school to University/Higher Education).
  • Major institutions governing the education system
  • Challenges facing the current system.

• Design Education in Uganda
  • Brief history of Design education
  • Designers without borders influence on design education in Uganda
  • Design education at the University level (courses, curricula etc.)
  • Cultural and institutional barriers affecting design education
  • Role of technology in design education
  • Professional practice/carrier paths in graphic design
• Design Pedagogy and Curricula:
  This section basically takes an in depth look at all areas concerning the education of a graphic designer.Undergraduate curricula (courses, exercises, critique etc.)
  • Critical thinking
  • Design Research
  • Technology in the classroom
  • Engaged learning
  • Career paths in Graphic Design

Interesting Articles I found.
Below is a list and quick summary of a few articles I have found in the local Newspaper (The new vision) that talk about and address the issuing pertaining everything design in Uganda.

http://www.enteruganda.com/brochures/printers08_two.html

In this article, I found an interesting case study from one the leading digital printing companies in Uganda.

“We have put in place a team of committed and highly creative designers and technical personnel, who have made the process of developing concepts, graphically presenting them and finally printing them a pleasant experience for the clients,” he says. He adds that even with their undoubtedly vast experience, the designers still have to undergo regular training in new designing software…”

This was interesting to me because it affirms that need for an affordable education in graphic design. The current culture centered around this company is one of  an apprentice nature. I am really interesting in investigating the current culture and attitude of the Ugandan people towards design education and design in general.

http://www.enteruganda.com/brochures/printers08_eight.html

“The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) indicates that Uganda’s printing industry directly employs 7,000 people in over 380 companies.  But there are many more people directly and indirectly employed in the local printing industry. The statistics further indicate that of the 380 companies, 275 are based in Kampala (the capital city) with 199 employing between five to nine people. Only five companies employ more than 100 people”.

“He says that even with low literacy levels many have found employment in printing firms, first as apprentices before learning on the job and becoming experts. If government supports the local printing industry, it will become one of the highest employers”.

http://www.enteruganda.com/brochures/printers08_six.html

“The outdoor advertising industry in Uganda is increasingly growing. Companies are now preferring billboard advertising and this has created high demand for signage and large format printing materials”.