Patternmakers 29/11/22 Patternmakers 29/11/22

Join Patternmakers

We are looking for a Business Administrator to join the Patternmakers team in the new year to assist us with the smooth running of the business, managing all administration and finance processes, supporting business operations and managing business risks.

Business Administrator

We are looking for a Business Administrator to support the Patternmakers team in the smooth running of the business, managing all administration and finance processes, supporting business operations and managing business risks.

We would love to meet someone with business administrator experience who enjoys working independently, using their initiative, sharing ideas and has a focus on continuous improvement.

Patternmakers is Australia's research agency dedicated to culture, creativity and community. The team works with major cultural institutions, government agencies, creative businesses and non-profit organisations to reach new audiences, secure support and grow their impact.

The role is highly flexible and can be partially undertaken from your own home or workspace, though you will need to attend regular team meetings online and face-to-face.

We are offering the right candidate a permanent part-time role, with potential to extend or expand. The contract will be for 23 hours per week (equivalent of 3 days), ideally spread across four or five days. Choose the hours that work for you - morning, noon or night.

We will provide the online software applications you require for your role and systems/process training.

We are a fully flexible, mobile team who work from home - and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

If you would like to apply for this role please email your resume and a cover letter telling us how your experience, approach and goals suit the role.

Submit your application on Indeed here.

Applications close on Thursday 8 December at 5.00pm AEDT.

About the Author

Tandi Palmer Williams
Managing Director

Tandi is Founder and Managing Director of Patternmakers. She’s an arts research specialist and leader of the agency’s research projects.

Past posts on this blog

Patternmakers 20/10/22 Patternmakers 20/10/22

Join Patternmakers

We are looking for an experienced leader to join the Patternmakers team in a Manager capacity to assist us with research and insights.

Manager, Research and Insights

An exciting opportunity to join the brilliant team at Patternmakers in the newly created role of Manager, Research and Insights.

This role oversees projects, leads the team of Research Analysts, facilitates client meetings and workshops and ensures the integrity of outputs relating to research and analytical insights.

It is the perfect role for someone who loves to collaborate, work in a flexible and well paced environment with an interest in building teams, business and diversifying the client and income base.

A key senior leadership position, this role can be based from home (70%) and in person (30%) with flexible working arrangements. The 30% will take place primarily in Sydney and Melbourne (majority of clients are based here) and for quarterly retreats and as negotiated, at HQ in Sydney.

For the Position Description, please see here.

For a confidential discussion or more information, please contact Recruitment Lead, Jade Lillie on hello@jadelillie.com

To apply, please email Jade with your CV and cover letter (maximum two pages) outlining your suitability for the role and using subject line: Pattermakers: EOI - Manager, Research and Insights.

Applications close on Friday 25 November at 12.00pm AEDT.

About the Author

Tandi Palmer Williams
Managing Director

Tandi is Founder and Managing Director of Patternmakers. She’s an arts research specialist and leader of the agency’s research projects.

Past posts on this blog

Patternmakers 28/4/22 Patternmakers 28/4/22

A manifesto on the power of evidence

Without evidence, we are flying blind. In this post we share the Patternmakers manifesto on the power of evidence.

We believe that the difference between those who are serious about their cause, and those who aren’t, is evidence.

When we take the time to examine the evidence, and rigorously reflect, we see more clearly what we need to do. We understand opportunities with greater clarity, we prioritise more effectively. We prioritise based on what truly matters - not whim. And we build consensus with stakeholders more quickly.

Without evidence, we are flying blind.

I believe that the difference between those who are serious about their cause, and those who aren’t, is evidence.

If we don’t marshall evidence behind our vision, we are missing a trick, because evidence makes everything easier.

It makes our arguments stronger, it proves why we are needed and it makes the case for what we want to do.

When we take the time to examine the evidence, and rigorously reflect, we see more clearly what we need to do.

We understand opportunities with greater clarity, we prioritise more effectively. We prioritise based on what truly matters - not whim.

We create products that aren’t good - they are great. And we know they’re great because we have the evidence.

In fact, having the evidence means it’s not just us with the knowledge we are great, it’s our stakeholders, our funders, our partners and future partners.

In this day and age, it’s not enough to do good work. The story of that work needs to be told to the people that matter.

It needs to be shared, so its influence can spread. So others can learn from us, and so we can make a difference in a bigger way.

Good evidence helps us reduce subjective views of our work.

Mitigate risk.

Build consensus.

If a good idea is tested, examined, piloted, it’s not just a good idea any more, it’s a great cause ready for investment.

Examining evidence is how we keep improving, growing, learning.

It’s how we future-proof our organisations.

If we’re working on something we really believe in, I believe it’s our duty to take it seriously and give ourselves the best chance of success.

Without an evidence base around our work, we’re flying blind.

Taking pot shots in the dark and hoping we hit something.

As we look around the world at the issues we face, it’s clear the stakes are high. Too high to do nothing.

I’m passionate about this because I’ve seen the difference evidence can make (read more about our backstory) and at Patternmakers it’s what we do every day.

I’d love to know what you see as the power of evidence!

About the Author

Tandi Palmer Williams
Managing Director

Head geek and leader of Patternmakers.

Patternmakers' Privacy Policy (2021)

Privacy is important to us. This page sets out our Privacy Policy.

Introduction

Patternmakers Pty Ltd (ABN 97 627 469 649) respects and upholds your rights under the Australian Privacy Principles contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) ("Privacy Act"). Patternmakers Pty Ltd also adheres to the Privacy (Market and Social Research) Code 2014 (“Code”). For more information about the Privacy Act, the Australian Privacy Principles and the Code click here.

This Privacy Policy for Patternmakers Pty Ltd (“Patternmakers”) lets you know what personal information of yours we hold, what we do with it, who we will disclose it to and how you can access the personal information we hold about you. You can also find out here how to change inaccurate personal information and how to opt out of receiving communications from us.

What personal information about you does Patternmakers collect and hold?

The information Patternmakers collect could include name, email address, IP address, age, gender, postcode, household income, opinions and feedback in relation to cultural experiences. When providing personal information you have the option of remaining anonymous or to use a pseudonym to be identified by. However, in certain circumstances, such as where we receive your contact details from a third party or where the research data itself may potentially allow for identification, this may not be practicable.

Depending on the nature of the research we conduct, we may also collect sensitive information from you, including country of birth, health and family information. Sensitive information will only be collected with your prior consent, and only if it is directly related to, or reasonably necessary for, the research we conduct. Sensitive information will only be collected in anonymous surveys, so that your information remains confidential.

How does Patternmakers collect and hold your personal information?

Patternmakers will generally collect your personal information directly from you in the course of you participating in our research and/or online surveys. However, we may also from time to time collect personal information about you from third parties, such as supporting partners. If so, we will inform you as soon as practicable of this collection and the circumstances of this collection.

If you are a respondent to a survey, Patternmakers will generally collect your personal information via Checkbox Survey at www.checkbox.com or via Alchemer (formerly SurveyGizmo) at www.alchemer.com. The information collected is only for research purposes, and no personally identifiable information will ever be used for marketing.

Checkbox Survey data is stored securely on servers hosted in Australia. You can read more about Checkbox Privacy Policy here: www.checkbox.com/privacy_policy/ and their data hosting in AWS centres here.

Alchemer survey data is stored securely on servers hosted in the USA. Alchemer is committed to complying with international regulations including GDRP. You can read more about Alchemer’s Privacy Policy here: www.alchemer.com/privacy/.

We may also collect personal information in MailChimp at www.mailchimp.com if you opt-in to join our database of research participants or if you subscribe to a newsletter from our website, www.thepatternmakers.com.au. You can read more about MailChimp’s Privacy Policy here: www.mailchimp.com/legal/privacy/. MailChimp complies with Australian Privacy Law (Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) for its storage of customer data.

If you register to attend a Patternmakers event your information would be collected via EventBrite, www.eventbrite.com.au.

What are the purposes for which Patternmakers use, handle and disclose your personal information?

We will only use and disclose your personal information for the purpose of conducting our research and in accordance with this Privacy Policy. We will not use or disclose your personally identifiable information provided for research for the purpose of advertising, promotions or direct marketing activities. If you declined to participate in our research, there are limited circumstances where we may use your personal information to re-contact you for a research purpose, but only if we have valid reasons to believe a genuine research concern warrants such re-contact. If you have participated in our research, we will only re-contact you if you were informed of this, opt-ed in, or we have valid reasons to believe a genuine research concern warrants such re-contact.

Patternmakers may also collect personal information (name, email address or postal address) when you provide it to receive specific services, such as contracting us to deliver research services, or buying a ticket to an event. This information is stored in secure databases. As a customer of Patternmakers, your email address may be added to a mailing list, as purchasing from us is an indication that you want to hear about our services. However, you can unsubscribe at any time. The information you provide will not be used for any other purpose without your consent. You can choose not to receive such information.

Who will Patternmakers disclose your personal information to?

We will not disclose any personally identifiable research information we collect from you unless we have your express prior consent and will only report the information you provide in an aggregate form that will not personally identify you. We will not disclose any personal information or personally identifiable research information to a third party for a purpose other than conducting our research unless we have your express prior consent or are required to do so by an Australian law or court/tribunal order.

In the course of conducting our research we may rely on third party service providers to host or store the data we collect who are located overseas. The names and locations of those suppliers are:

Checkbox Survey Inc., based in the U.S., data stored on servers hosted in Australia.

Alchemer LLC, based in the U.S.

WolfBrown LLC, based in the U.S.

MailChimp, The Rocket Science Group LLC, based in the U.S.

Microsoft, based in the U.S.

We will also take reasonable steps to ensure any service providers (and their employees and contractors) comply with relevant privacy regulations in their jurisdiction, as well as this Privacy Policy.

Openness

You have the right to request access to any personal information we hold about you. You can request this information by contacting the Privacy Officer at the details listed below. Where we hold information that you are entitled to access, we will respond to your request in a reasonable time and endeavour to provide you with a suitable range of choices as to how access is provided (e.g, emailing or mailing it to you). A fee may be charged to cover the cost of retrieval. However this fee will not be excessive and will only apply to the facilitation of your request.

If at any time you believe that personal information we hold about you is incorrect, incomplete or inaccurate, then you may request amendment of it and we will either amend the information or make a record of your comment, as we think appropriate.

Questions and complaints

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or believe that we have at any time failed to keep one of our commitments to you to handle your personal information in the manner required by the Privacy Act, the APPs or the Code, then we ask that you contact us immediately using the following contact details:

Jodie Bombardier, Operations Manager: info@thepatternmakers.com.au

We will respond and advise whether we agree with your complaint or not. If we do not agree, we will provide reasons. If we do agree, we will advise what (if any) action we consider it appropriate to take in response. If you are still not satisfied after having contacted us and given us a reasonable time to respond, then we suggest that you contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner by:

Phone: 1300 363 992 (local call cost, but calls from mobile and pay phones may incur higher charges). If calling from overseas:+61 2 9284 9749

TTY: 1800 620 241 (this number is dedicated to the hearing impaired only, no voice calls)

TIS: Translating and Interpreting Service: 131 450 (If you don’t speak English or English is your second language and you need assistance and ask for the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner)

Post: GPO Box 2999 Canberra ACT 2601

Fax: +61 2 9284 9666

Email: enquiries@oaic.gov.au

Patternmakers Website

When visiting Patternmakers’ web site, the site server makes a record of the visit and logs the following information for statistical and administrative purposes:

the user’s server address – to consider the users who use the site regularly and tailor the site to their interests and requirements;
the date and time of the visit to the site – this is important for identifying the website’s busy times and ensuring maintenance on the site is conducted outside these periods;
pages accessed and documents downloaded – this indicates to Patternmakers which pages or documents are most important to users and also helps identify important information that may be difficult to find;
duration of the visit – this indicates to us how interesting and informative Patternmakers site is to candidates; the type of browser used – this is important for browser specific coding
In order to optimise Patternmakers web site and better understand it’s usage, we collect the visiting domain name or IP address, Computer Operating System, Browser Type and Screen Resolution

A cookie is a piece of information that an Internet web site sends to your browser when you access information at that site. Cookies are either stored in memory (session cookies) or placed on your hard disk (persistent cookies). The Patternmakers web site does not use persistent cookies. Upon closing your browser the session cookie set by this web site is destroyed and no Personal Information is maintained which might identify you should you visit our web site at a later date.

Be in the loop

Patternmakers 18/2/21 Patternmakers 18/2/21

Join Patternmakers

We are looking for a talented junior Research Analyst or Trainee to join the small but mighty Patternmakers team to support our research and consultancy projects.

Join a friendly team committed to making a positive change in the culture, creative and community sectors.

We would love to meet an outstanding student or recent graduate with a friendly approach who is keen to get their teeth into challenging projects for government agencies, cultural institutions and charities.

Research Analyst/Trainee

We are looking for a talented junior Research Analyst or Trainee to join the small but mighty Patternmakers team to support our research and consultancy projects.

Join a friendly team committed to making a positive change in the culture, creative and community sectors

Flexible contract: Work from home (approximately 3 days per week) from anywhere in Australia
Learn on the job and get trained in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies

Responsibilities and Duties

- What you will be doing -

You will be working closely with the research team to support the successful delivery of projects. Your jobs and responsibilities will include:

Undertake project-related tasks including transcribing interviews, entering & coding data and programming and testing surveys
Undertaking administrative tasks such as scheduling interviews, coordinating payments and general project administration
Assisting with business proposals and project reports, including proofing and formatting of Word documents & PowerPoint presentations, preparing graphs using Excel data and collating documents for publication
Analysing quantitative and qualitative data for client projects, and drafting reports
Supporting the research team including diary management, travel bookings, electronic filing and system management
Working with other team members and collaborating on key administration, content and communications tasks
Problem solving and troubleshooting miscellaneous issues as they arise.

The role is flexible and can be undertaken independently from your own home or workspace. The role includes regular client project meetings, research team meetings, as well as weekly Patternmakers team meetings.

Our clients are located across Australia and all meetings normally occur via videoconference. The role may occasionally involve overnight interstate travel (although this has reduced due to COVID-19 travel restrictions).

Qualifications and Skills

- What we are looking for -

Very strong analytical abilities – asking questions and identifying insights and solutions from information
Excellent communication skills and an ability to write and speak about complex topics in plain English
A friendly, positive, professional approach when dealing with clients and a can-do attitude when taking on a range of tasks
Highly organised with strong time management skills and the ability to work independently from home
Attention to detail and ability to check documents for errors and ensure accuracy and quality
An ability to multitask and work flexibly under tight timelines. This may include some work in early mornings or late nights to meet deadlines.

- Prior experience -

This is an entry level position and you do not need an extensive work history, though some experience in professional settings is desirable.
Working knowledge of the following systems is desirable; Microsoft Office (Outlook, PowerPoint, Word and Excel), Survey Gizmo/Alchemer (or any survey software), MailChimp, Canva and Squarespace, but training will be provided.
You will have a Bachelor Degree (or soon be graduating), with a focus on either:
- Business/commerce i.e. marketing, communications, market research, business analysis, etc
- Social policy i.e. humanities, social sciences, social inquiry, etc.

You will have achieved very strong academic results in the past (either ATAR and/or University).

- Workspace and equipment -

If successful in gaining the role you would be employed on a Casual basis.

You will need your own workspace, laptop computer and internet connection.

You will also be required to maintain a quiet and safe workspace at home that complies with our OH&S working-from-home checklist.

You will be provided with an annual working-from-home allowance which can be used to cover costs of small items such as a laptop stand, ergonomic chair, headset etc.

Benefits and Perks

- What we offer -

We are offering the right candidate a six-month contract, with potential to extend or expand. The contract hours per week are negotiable, however we are anticipating from 15-25 hours per week, ideally spread across four or five days each week. Choose the hours that work for you - morning, noon or night – but availability for meetings during business hours (AEST) is important.

We offer a competitive hourly rate, plus superannuation and we provide the online software applications you require for your role.

We are a fully flexible, mobile team who work from home - and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

If you would like to apply for this role please upload your resume and a cover letter on au.indeed.com by 26 February 2021.

About the Author

Tandi Palmer Williams
Managing Director

Tandi is Founder and Managing Director of Patternmakers. She’s an arts research specialist and leader of the agency’s research projects.

Past posts on this blog

Patternmakers 20/4/19 Patternmakers 20/4/19

What career advice would you give your younger self?

In March 2019, our Founder Tandi Palmer Williams joined a panel at a KYHO Networking event called ‘Breaking the Mould’, held at UTS Startups. In this post, she shares her experience of imposter syndrome, burnout and entrepreneur lessons, in case it helps anyone out there embarking on a journey of their own.

I recently had the honour of speaking at a KYHO Networking event called ‘Breaking the Mould’, held at UTS Startups. It was a great conversation, covering imposter syndrome, mentoring, burnout and entrepreneur lessons. I thought I’d share my responses to some of the facilitators questions, in case this helps anyone out there embarking on a journey of their own.

Can you describe what your career path has looked like from graduating university to where you are now?

I spent the first seven years of my career at professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. Firstly graduating as a Chartered Accountant, I then retrained as an Economics and Policy consultant and helped organisations conduct economic analysis to inform their strategy. It was a real thrill seeing my work leading to regulatory change, major investment and international partnerships - and I learned a lot from some talented economists.

But in all honesty, I was miserable. I was working late into the night, sometimes on jobs not aligned with my values, and my health was starting to be affected.

I could see that some things that we innately know are important, like cultural expression, sense of community and social bonding – aren’t easily measured in dollars and cents. I was working my butt off, but it wasn’t for what I believed really mattered.

I became fascinated with fields like cultural economics, triple bottom line accounting and social return on investment, and eventually followed my passion into the cultural sector and worked for three years in Research & Strategic Analysis at the Australia Council, the Australian Government’s arts funding and advisory body.

After falling in love with my (now) husband, I moved to the UK and worked for two years at Nesta, managing the research elements of the $5m Digital R&D Fund for the Arts. I’m grateful for that experience seeing the inside of an innovation lab and having opportunities to work with some of the world’s most iconic institutions like the Royal Opera House.

I started Patternmakers back in Australia in 2016 after I had been freelancing for one year full time. Today I lead our brilliant team of four researchers, and a network of contractors and advisors across Australia and internationally.

At what moment did you decide it was right for you to start Patternmakers? What has the reception been like, and how did that feel?

From Covent Garden to Colac (VIC), I began to realise that many arts organisations and cultural institutions were experiencing similar issues: trying to grow audiences, secure funding and deliver greater impact.

I’ve now worked with organisations of all different structures and sizes and I’ve seen how some organisations grow and really make a difference, even in hard times when there’s an economic downturn, or public funding is declining.

They do it by becoming insightful institutions. It’s not about counting dollars and cents. If you’re an impact-driven organisation you need to be adopting the practises of research and insight to reach more people, secure funding and deliver even more good in the world.

Today, Patternmakers supports cultural organisations to become more insightful and impactful. With my team of researchers and strategists, we help cultural leaders collect data, create experiences people love, evaluate their impact, build compelling business cases and share their knowledge to grow the sector and change the world.

We’ve now been operating for two and a half years, and demand for our services has led to us to grow really strongly. It’s been a real rollercoaster.

But my reasons were also somewhat selfish… When my husband and I started planning a family, I started thinking about how I could grow a great business that could allow me to work flexibly.

I’m really pleased that I can now support other parents the same opportunity to balance work and family.

Have you ever felt imposter syndrome? If so, how have you broken out of that thinking?

Of course. We all live in fear that someone will find out that we’re not good enough to be doing what we do.

But I try and channel it into self improvement and professional development. I can recommend the book ‘Feel the fear and do it anyway’.

Do not let imposter syndrome stop you doing things. Just make a commitment to yourself that fear and self doubt and insecurity is not going to be the driver of what you do & don’t do.

What advice would you have to young women who are entering the workforce and are feeling like a fraud or an imposter?

What I’m learning about tackling imposter syndrome is that it can help to identify and articulate the value that we bring to any conversation. Saying ‘I’m only this’ or ‘I’m just that...’ is not helping anyone. Even the youngest person in the room has something that no one else has: the perspective of youth and everyone wants to tap into that.

A colleague of mine Kathryn Geels, who now leads the Engaged Journalism Accelerator, recently shared with me the value of taking time out to reflect on your work, roles, track record and really articulate what your unique perspective is.

So for me, it’s that I understand the language of both art and maths. And it’s not until my 30s that I could see the patterns and connections and the narrative of my career, but looking back, it was always there.

How should a young person starting out go about accessing mentorship or acquiring a mentor?

Getting good guidance is critical. And there are actually three types of mentors I have accessed at different times: a great boss, a coach, and several mentors.

I’ve been lucky to have several great bosses in my journey, such as Bridget Jones, who taught me about the value of quality research closely linked with strategy. We were joint recipients of the Award for Collaboration at the Australia Council which was a great honour.

It definitely pays to seek out jobs with someone amazing to report to. You can even do reverse checks on them!

A great coach is also gold. I’ve worked with Monica Davidson from Creative Plus Business for the past three years and it has been partially subsidised by the NSW Government through Business Connect. So valuable.

A mentor, or in my opinion several mentors also play an important role. And as my co-panellist, career coach Rebecca McFarland, pointed out. It’s perfectly fine to have mentors that don’t know you are their mentor!

What has been the biggest challenge in your career to date?

In the early part of my career it was managing burnout and navigating organisational dynamics. As an ambitious, self-motivated employee there are times when bureaucracy can slow things down and it can grate when you hit certain roadblock. But there are many things to be learned in such situations too.

Since starting Patternmakers, the challenges are many, but so are the rewards! Producing work that is very high quality, while balancing the books does lead to many late nights, very few true holidays and worryingly blurred boundaries between work and everything else.

They say the entrepreneurs journey is a financial one and I tend to agree. There is a lot to learn about managing cash flow, assessing profitability and getting to know your business model inside out, and with every recruit, it can change. There have been months when I’ve wondered how we will make payroll, but it is a great discipline in becoming very, very resourceful.

In the next five years an area that will be demanding for me is HR and recruitment. Because for a business at this particular stage (and frankly, life generally) it’s all about surrounding yourself with the right people.

Did you receive a piece of advice when you were starting out that was particularly influential?

Don’t hesitate to put yourself forward. A good friend of mine, Morwenna Collett, encouraged me to apply for the Australia Council’s Arts Leaders Program. At the last minute, I put in an application. It was successful and it ended up being a pivotal experience that has shaped my world ever since.

If someone asks for a volunteer, put your hand up. If you see an award category that’s relevant to you, put an application in! You’ll be surprised how often you get further than you think. And building a great track record is the best thing you can do for your career.

What advice would you have liked to have heard?

Trust your instincts. I’ve taken on projects that I knew weren’t the right fit - and learned my lesson the hard way. More and more, I want to be selective about the people, projects and ideas that I let into my life.

And enjoy the journey! Research is the most exciting, enriching, fulfilling career. Being in the field, meeting people, hearing about their lives is such an honour and it’s so important to love what you do each day.

About the Author

Tandi Palmer Williams
Managing Director

Patternmakers’ Founder and Managing Director Tandi Palmer Williams is an experienced consultant and arts and culture research specialist.

Between 2013 and 2015, she was Research Manager for the Digital R&D Fund for the Arts, based at Nesta in London.

Be in the loop

The role of evaluation: a Patternmakers internship

As part of her internship with Patternmakers, Bianca Mulet is undertaking a research project into the role of evaluation in the arts and culture sector. Bianca is a UTS student studying a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a major in Social Inquiry (Social and political sciences).

This winter we have hosted our first intern, Bianca Mulet. Bianca is a talented UTS student studying a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a major in Social Inquiry (Social and political sciences). As part of her internship with us she is undertaking a research project into the role of evaluation in the arts and culture sector.

Her project involves a series of interviews with arts sector leaders, policy makers and researchers. She'll be publishing the results on this website before the end of 2018 (sign up to the newsletter below to make sure you hear about the findings).

The project

Bianca aims to investigate to what extent evaluation is impacting the arts and culture sector, and how it can strengthen the work of an arts organisation.

Her research will also provide an evaluation of Patternmakers’ work with past clients like the Museum of Contemporary Art, Australian Theatre for Young People and the Australia Council for the Arts.

Background

Data is now regarded as this century’s driving commodity, generating enormous shifts in science, business, economics, media and politics. While data and technological advancements have made us fluent in online shopping, social networking and entertainment, Bianca's interest lies in how data is reshaping the way we access, interact with and make meaning out of art and culture.

Methodology

The primary research method Bianca will employ is one-on-one interviews with arts leaders, researchers and policy makers.

Bianca is exploring the following questions in her interviews:

What is the impact of engaging in research, data analysis and evaluation?
How has Patternmakers’ process of research and evaluation aided in meeting the outcomes of creative projects?
What social, cultural or political issues have arisen from the gathering, interpreting and recording of data? How does this have the potential to inform policy making?

Background research on the topic will inform the interview questions and provide the groundwork for eventual thematic analysis. Bianca will gather secondary data from news outlets, industry publications, blogs and academic dissertations to broaden my understanding of the issue through economic, political, social and/or cultural frameworks.

Stay tuned

We're excited to be hosting Bianca and supporting her research on this important topic. We look forward to sharing the results of Bianca's research project once complete.

About the Author

Penny Cannan
Communications and Business Administrator

Penny has a background in Art and Design, Communications, Brand Identity and Project Management.

Be in the loop

Patternmakers 9/5/18 Patternmakers 9/5/18

Join our merry band

We’re on a mission to inform, inspire and empower creative thinkers with data. If this sounds like your bag, register your interest to stay in the loop with future opportunities. From full-time employees to the occasional freelance gig, we’d like to hear from you.

We are looking to build our network of Patternmakers in 2018.

If you're an analyst, project manager, writer, designer or facilitator who is excited by data & creativity, we'd love to hear from you.

Whether it's full-time employment, an internship, or the occasional freelance project, we could have opportunities right for you.

Read on for more information about how we work, or skip straight to the point and register your interest now.

More about Patternmakers

Established in 2015, and trading as Patternmakers since 2016, we are a research agency and insight service for creators.

Much of our work is made up of consulting to arts and cultural organisations. Our clients include some of the largest cultural institutions in Australia, as well as smaller artist collectives and producing companies. Our project work covers program evaluation, audience research, data analysis and evidence-based planning.

We are also building an Education and Events program, to help creators build skills in research, analysis & evaluation. This May, we will be launching a Data Discussion series with Data after Dark at Vivid Ideas. We also deliver training modules in-house for organisations like NIDA, and deliver guest lectures for subjects like Festivals Management at the University of Sydney.

The team

Our founder, Tandi Palmer Williams, is an alumni of the Australia Council's Arts Leaders Program, and is a trusted advisor of senior managers and artistic leaders across the sector.

The core team includes Research Manager Brooke Boyce, Business Administrator Penny Cannan and Operations Manager Jodie Bombardier.

We also have several Advisors, who work with us on a contract basis, including consultant Peter Matthews, researcher Bridget Jones and disability expert Morwenna Collett.

We also work with writers, editors, designers and programmers on a regular basis.

What we offer

Our core team and contractors all work from home, or a location of their choice. We meet regularly at client sites across the country, and for co-working 'sprints' in Sydney.

Flexible conditions mean the team can choose their own hours. We have a set of values that we hold dear - and we always strive to delight our clients, colleagues and partners.

We offer a competitive hourly rate, plus superannuation and all insurances.

To find out more about opportunities to work with us, please register your interest now.

For any questions, please contact info@thepatternmakers.com.au

About the Author

Tandi Williams
Managing Director

Patternmakers’ Founder and Managing Director Tandi Williams is an experienced consultant and arts and culture research specialist.

Be in the loop

Patternmakers 23/6/16 Patternmakers 23/6/16

The art of asking (good) questions

The speaker wraps up their presentation, thanks the crowd, everyone claps. Then comes the awkward moment when the convenor asks for questions. *Deafening silence*

Sound familiar?...

The speaker wraps up their presentation, thanks the crowd, everyone claps. Then comes the awkward moment when the convenor asks for questions. *Deafening silence*

Sound familiar?

As a researcher, consultant and Committee Member for the Sydney Arts Management Advisory Group, I attend dozens of presentations and panel discussions each month – and many a Q&A makes me want to #facepalm.

Asking good questions is hard – but I am realising it’s really important. And I’m happy to put my metaphorical hand up and say it’s something I want to get better at.

In education settings, questions are a critical tool for learning, and in professional forums questions can be the key to real understanding and knowledge exchange for mutual benefit.

But easier said than done, right? Eric Sanders at Big Think says, ‘Anyone can speak in public, but not everyone knows how to ask a good question. You will have a much better chance of having your question heard and receiving a clear response if you practice and improve your question-asking skills.’

So how exactly does one ask a good question? After some digging, here’s what I found:

Prepare to be active

This requires both homework and the right mindset. Reading up beforehand can help you anticipate what the session is about – and understand the context more fully.

If you’ve chosen to be there – really make a commitment to concentrate and stay engaged. If you’re late – or tuning out – you might miss the part where they already answered your question. Oops.

Just like at a performance, sitting at or near the front often helps me focus (and I find I get more out of it if I can see the whites of their eyes!)

Bring a notepad

Taking notes might seem like hard work, but it can help clarify and crystallise key take-outs. If a question forms in your mind – write it down as you go – otherwise they can disappear into the ether.

I find pen and paper often works better than jotting things in my phone – and I can more easily refer to my notes when it’s time to speak.

Remember that whatever age and stage you’re at, your perspective is relevant. You don’t need to have grey hair to be worthy of the microphone. If something is mysterious to you – it probably is to others in the audience.

Follow your gut – but do so respectfully. Science Professor explains, ‘As a spectator at a talk, I enjoy a well-posed killer question, no matter who delivers it, but I think that everyone, from first-year students to ancient professors, can be most effective at asking these questions if the questions are simple and polite.’

Devise your question

Mind blank? Ask yourself: if I were to leave this room and try to apply what is being talked about, what would I need to know?

Speakers are often leaders in their field and if there is opportunity to ask for help – we should be seizing it with both hands (or one raised hand, rather). It’s also an opportunity for them to understand YOU better.

Can you push the speakers to be more specific about recommending an action, or giving an example? Is there something inconsistent in what has been said? What have they missed?

Philosopher Guy Longworth says there are 7 types of questions, including ‘the clarification’, ‘the comparison’ and ‘the counter-example’.

If in doubt, ask them about their personal journey. Speakers often skip over challenges or failures, and asking them about their mistakes or lessons learned often yields interesting answers!

Put your hand up

ot really any way around this one. Don’t think, just do it. Nice and straight now.

When it’s your turn, remember to breathe. Public speaking expert Lisa B Marshallsays ‘when you take the time to fill your lungs, it’s as if your voice is riding on a supportive cushion of air, and your throat muscles can stay relaxed. Your voice will carry better and have a richer, more pleasing sound.’

A good trick from the acting world is to imagine that the inside of your mouth and throat are as large as the room you are speaking in.

Offer some details about yourself (name & role at a minimum) before you ask your question. This will help the speakers, and the rest of the audience, understand where you’re coming from. It’s often nice to thank the speakers for sharing and say what you found interesting about their presentation.

If you’re battling to express your question succinctly, give a brief example of what you mean. Research shows that telling a story helps create empathy – and is more likely to be remembered.

Leave it open-ended

Asking open-ended questions will get insights and additional information you might not have known existed. Lifehack explains that questions with “would,” “should,” “is,” “are,” and “do you think” all lead to yes or no. Questions with “who,” “what,” “where,” “when,” “how,” or “why” lead to people giving some thought to their answers and provide much more information.

Tip – make sure you actually ask a question. There is nothing worse than someone who starts with ‘this is more of a comment than a question’. Even if you have an idea to share, and loads of experience in the area, finish with a question to throw it back to the speaker.

Listen

If you haven’t quite got what you’re looking for, don’t be afraid to probe a little more – ask them a follow up question such as, “What makes you say that?” or “Why do you think that?”

But in general – listen. SAMAG Committee Member Alli Burness said, ‘if it’s anything like user experience interviews, you should listen at least twice as much as you speak, and don’t interrupt.

Once you’ve had your go, say thank you and let the moderator move on. You can always approach the speaker after the session to discuss in further detail (and most speakers enjoy the attention too).

Now give yourself a high-five for asking a great question. Next time you’re at a public forum – remember how good it feels to contribute.

About the Author

Tandi Williams
Managing Director

Patternmakers’ Founder and Managing Director Tandi Williams is an experienced consultant and arts and culture research specialist.

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