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Design Research Jam

GRAF 1150

Example Research Topic

How can contemporary Toronto tattoo shops create safe, welcoming, and inclusive environments for women, people of colour, and members of the LGBTQ+ community?

Historical Context

How has this topic been approached or understood over time?

SEARCH TOOL: GBC Library Search

SEARCH TERMS: tattooing social aspects

SAMPLE SOURCES:

Martin, C. W. (2018). The Social Semiotics of Tattoos: Skin and Self. Bloomsbury Publishing. https://librarysearch.georgebrown.ca/permalink/01OCLS_BROWN/1acol81/cdi_askewsholts_vlebooks_9781350056497

Lars Krutak, & Aaron Deter-Wolf. (2017). Ancient Ink: The Archaeology of Tattooing. University of Washington Press. https://librarysearch.georgebrown.ca/permalink/01OCLS_BROWN/1acol81/cdi_askewsholts_vlebooks_9780295742847

Current Policies

How are businesses or organizations addressing this issue right now?

SEARCH TOOLS: Google (or other web search tools), Scott's Ontario Directories, Business Source Complete

SEARCH TERMS: Tattoo shop policies

SAMPLE SOURCE: “FAQ & Policies.” TRU Tattoo, https://www.trutattooshop.com/faq-policies. Accessed 13 Sept. 2024.

Recent Events

What are recent changes or events around this issue?

What are the lived experiences of people impacted by this issue?

SEARCH TOOLS: Canadian Major Dailies, InfoTrac Newsstand, CBCA Complete

SEARCH TERMS: Tattoo shop safe space

SAMPLE SOURCE:
Queer Vancouver-Based Tattoo Artist Creates Safe-Space Parlour. 2023. www.cbc.ca, https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2177519683762.

Industry and Government Data

How does this issue impact large populations? On a local level? On a national level?

SEARCH TOOLS: Statista, IBISWorld, Business Source Complete, Statistics Canada, City of Toronto Demographic Data, UN Demographic Data

SEARCH TERMS: Tattoo

SAMPLE SOURCES:

Statista. (December 12, 2019). Which of these would be reasons for you to have a tattoo done? [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved September 13, 2024, from https://www-statista-com.gbcprx01.georgebrown.ca/statistics/721517/reasons-for-having-a-tattoo-done-by-americans/

Statista Survey. (June 22, 2017). United States: Important aspects when choosing a tattoo shop in 2017, by gender [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved September 13, 2024, from https://www-statista-com.gbcprx01.georgebrown.ca/statistics/722337/important-aspects-choosing-a-tattoo-shop-americans-by-gender/

Academic Criticism and Analysis

What sort of critical analysis has been written about this topic?

SEARCH TOOLS: Art & Architecture Source, Communications and Mass Media Collection, PressReader, Diversity Studies Collection, GBC Library Search

SEARCH TERMS: tattoo AND (environment OR space)

SAMPLE SOURCE:

Simpson, Ruth, and Alison Pullen. “‘Cool’ Meanings: Tattoo Artists, Body Work and Organizational ‘Bodyscape.’” Work, Employment and Society, vol. 32, no. 1, 2018, pp. 169–85, https://doi.org/10.1177/0950017017741239.