Work in Progress Tutorial

Thursday 19th of March I had an online tutorial with Emma one of my supervisors. I spoke about my project progress and she voiced her concerns on my projects. Mainly that it is too broad I need to focus it down more and know my own project so I am not swayed to change the output based on what people suggest to me. Emma also asked me to provide proof of who I had contacted to participate and how was I selling my project. Although most places I contacted rejected my proposal due to the sensitive nature of the project and the confidentiality of the patients etc. Majority of the organisations I got in contact were through phone call so I do not have an exact paper trail of what was said. So far I have two participants on-board who both have very different stories. One of which has had a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery she has expressed an interest in getting tattoos to cover her scarring the other has had a double mastectomy and has not had reconstructive surgery she faced a negative experience with her consultant who more or less told her to think about what others would say if she didn't get reconstructive surgery. I think this is an important issue maybe to tap into that women can be put down if they don't chose the most popular option but I do not want to use this project as a platform to slander/attack any person I'd like to be leverage to tell her story but not to bring others down.

Here is a list of charities/ organisations I had contacted:

National Breast Cancer Research Institute

Europa Donna Ireland

Breast Cancer Ireland

Cancer Care West

Inis Aoibhinn

Tuam Cancer Care

Irish Cancer Society

Marie Keating Foundation

I also posted a call out on my personal Facebook page and contacted Facebook groups:

Breast Cancer Support

Breast Cancer Sister Support

Breast Cancer Support Group

NH Young Adults Affected by Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer Survivors Ireland

Most organisations were contacted by phone call and the Facebook pages were contacted by messaging the Admins:

"To whom it may concern, My name is Emily Mae Ernstzen I am a final year graphic design and illustration student in G.M.I.T. For my final project, I am focusing on the use of tattoos to help cover/ adorn scarring left after breast cancer treatment. I am looking for some participants to aid my research. The project's aim is to show women alternate options to conventional reconstruction and show how women can feel empowered and strong again. In this project, I am to create a design project which will contain the stories of real women who have undergone breast cancer treatment and those who have had mastectomies/double mastectomies or reconstructive surgery. I would like to interview these women and gain a broader understanding of their journey. Due to the sensitivity of this topic anonymity will be provided to any participant if that is their wish. If anyone would like to find out more or wishes to participate please do not hesitate to contact me at designemilymae@gmail.com. Involvement in the Research Study is voluntary, and participants may withdraw from the Research Study at any point. I would greatly appreciate if you could assist in helping me contact willing participants. Thank you for your time and any consideration is greatly appreciated.

Kind Regards

Emily Mae Ernstzen "

After speaking with Emma I contacted a few more International groups etc to ask for assistance. I will also generate interview questions and research tattoo meanings.