Interviews in the home

This week my goal was to conduct a second round of interviews. However, this time I wanted to go to the persons home and hold the interview in person. This was important to me for 2 reasons.

1: I thought it would help the conversation could be more natural and organic

2: I wanted to document their environments myself and gather more in-depth photos / videos

One issue I faced with this was that while people were happy to talk about their home over the phone / online, less people were happy to invite you into their space and let you document it in detail. Therefore I decided I would do fewer interviews this time round and instead focus on the depth of the stories.

First Interview: Kiera

The first person I spoke to was Kiera. Kiera is 25 and currently working in London. She lives in north London with two of her friends also in their early 20's.

When speaking to Kiera, a key theme for her was that she likes to surround herself with objects that bring joy. Her love is for all things fantasy and enjoys filling her space with things that feel magical. She has spent years curating her things so that it can create the perfect safe space for her.

Key points discussed:

• Kiera really enjoys when friends come round and she can show them all of her things. What she has recently purchased, something she has rediscovered or something with a story. She thinks that these moments of sharing builds connection and is a special moment between friends.

• Her objects makes her feel happy and safe

• She always has a special attachment to things she has made. (Pot she painted, artwork, pillow etc)

• Some of her most sentimental objects are those that have been passed down through generations. She has several books and art sets that were passed down to her from her grandmother and therefore mean a lot to her.

Photo documentation of her objects.

Second Interview: Jod

The second person I spoke to was Jod. Jod is 27 and also based in London. Jod has lived with their partner for nearly 4 years now.

When speaking to Jod, the way the collect and display their things was very different to Kiera. Jod's space was busy, bright and eclectic. Every corner of the room was filled with something.

Jod's ethos behind their decorating is to create a space that is safe, comforting and feels like them. They feel that their objects are a reflection of their life. Over the years they have collected hundreds of objects that represent a specific time in their life. Whether it is things from their travels, presents from people, artwork made by themselves/ friends & family, or items they have purchased together as a couple, everything has a story behind it.

Key points discussed:

• Jod's Bass Guitar is their most sentimental item. They have had it since they were 13 and was the first instrument they ever had. It represents the beginning of their musical journey.

• Artwork was a massive talking point for Jod. Art is something that plays a large role in the way they decorate their space and how they feel.

• Jod also has this Furby that is highly sentimental to them. it was a gift to their partner when they had their one year anniversary. Jod's partner was never allowed one as a child despite really wanting one. Therefore Jod tracked one down from the year that they would have wanted it and bought it off eBay.

• Jod not only wants their space to feel and warm for themselves, but also for friends and family who may not have a space of their own.

Photo documentation of Jod's home

Third: Susan

The third person I spoke to was Susan. Susan is 52, a nurse and based in Brighton. She has lived in several countries over her life and now has been based Brighton for 4 years with her husband and youngest child.

Susans space is carefully curated and selective. Everything displayed in her home has a story behind it and holds memories about a specific time in her life. A lot of her items have been collected over the years in the different countries that she has lived in. Susan wants her space to represent her life and her family. Photographs of her family and key memories are really important to her and what she holds most value to.

Key points discuessed:

• Photos and artwork are really important - Most of the photos in her home have been taken herself. This is because she liked to be reminded of the places she has been and lived

• Lots of her most sentimental items have been passed down through generations. -eg: Grandmothers photo box

• Susan wants her space to feel safe and like a reflection of her family.

• - Everything has been carefully placed and chosen for a reason. She does not like clutter or to feel overwhelmed in her space

Photo documentation of Susans home

Fourth: Milly

The last person I spoke to was Milly. Milly is 25 and living in London with her girlfriend. Milly loves buying things for her home and decorating her space. However because she lives with her girlfriend she has to be aware of how much stuff she puts in their environment.

Key points discussed:

• Milly childhood toy 'Peter'. Peter Rabbit was her grandmothers toy when she was a child. When Milly was born her grandmother passed it onto her. Over the years the toy has been so well loved it is fading away. This is her most valuable item and will always keep it with her

• Books are important to Milly. She loves to read and always have something to read next.

• She likes to keep her space quite simple but curated. Everything she loves and feels like it belongs in her home.

• Enjoys the feeling of going out and buying something new for her flat. The object brings joy and also encapsulates the memories of the day she bought it

Refelction:

Overall I was really happy with how these interviews turned out. It was definitely the right decision to speak to people in their home and gather documentation myself of their space. Next week I am going to condense and analyse these interviews to draw out key themes and see which direction it is leading my project. I additionally want to analyse the photographs I have taken and see the different stories they express.

Next Post: Analysis of Interviews