The beginning of Group 1

On the morning of Friday 9th January, the mystery of the Robert Violette Live project was unfolded to all Art and Design MA students in the Bonnington Lecture Theatre at NTU. The briefing included an overview of the project to be undertaken in groups of 10. Each group was expected to produce a publication related to the student experience in or outside NTU. Certain students appeared puzzled, knowing that this was not their 'niche' area, whilst a few had humorously extended their premature ideas to its final production.

As the lights gradually illuminated the room, everyone scurried towards the table containing leaflets of the Radiator Project Festival and the list of names within each group before heading to the MA Studio. Ambitious members of group 1 were already collectively sitting at one of few tables situated near the studio entrance, easily drawing out those belonging in the same team by waving their index fingers and chanting "Number 1!".

As individual introductions of team members came to an end, the group began to revise the brief. It began with a casual mind mapping session, were members debated on the issues of 'how to', 'what', 'who', where' and 'why'. Each person reflected how they were inspired by a personal motive, which concluded four potential ideas:

- Publication of portfolio
- Cultural food
- Hidden treasure hunt around Nottingham
- How to guide to get out of creative practitioners lifestyle

Having just had our first group meeting, we decided to reflect on those ideas and return on Tuesday 13th to begin our critical debate, and develop one of the few initial ideas that were concluded.

So far, group 1 lives up to its name!