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Reading Reflections

Updated: Nov 24, 2020

November 25, 2020

Interactive Space


For this assignment I went and looked at different interactive elements in theme parks specifically Disney World. I've always loved amusement park rides, and for bigger parks they often use long wait times as a way to immerse people into the story. A lot of queues or heavily themed. For some of the newer rides they've gone into creating digital interactive elements for lines like games and such, and some rides have interactive elements too: the Epcot ball ride, toy story mania, etc. The main one I looked at was for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs it has apparently been removed since. It is interesting to look at though.


These were the links I looked at:


November 23, 2020

Data Visualization Project


For this project I sketched out several ideas. One of my favorites was based on chutes and ladders. I reworked it though to be one long continuous image because that made more sense to me and then it started to look like the screen in google when you lose internet connection.


As I sketched I used temperature as the main visualization point. To me they kind of resembled mountains so I had it in the background. For mine I used what it feels like in pink since I feel like this would be more relevant and then what the actual is for blue.



I actually went and got each temperature for each hour in the 10 days and put it in an excel sheet. I downloaded a plug in for figma that reads .csv files and I planned on generating an accurate line graph. However, I just couldn't get it to work. So, what I ended up doing was using random data.


I used a line to mark each day. I then used cloud visuals to show when it there was a probable chance of rain.


I then got a dinosaur png to represent the runner. This is what I ended up with.

November 17, 2020

Data Visualization


I've always found data visualization really interesting. I myself am I very visual person, and have always thrived when diagrams and graphs were provided. I've had a couple projects in the past that focused on infographics and it is difficult. The reading broke nicely what things needed to be considered, but I thought some of the examples were a little confusing since I didn't know what I was looking at (the first one with the electroencephalogram). The redundant data-ink example with the filled in bar labeled 35.9 was interesting to me because initially I thought it was telling me in two different ways, but it was actually 6. Overall, it reminded me a lot of both the design process as well as my method for writing essays. Iteration being one of the most important aspects, but also narrowing down and making sure you are conveying the essential information. I watched the video first so as I was reading I was thinking of the different ways that it did some of the things mentioned in the reading. It clearly conveyed what each person meant with the narration as well as provided contextual information. The data was presented in a concise way that maintained its emotional prowess. I found this order helpful because I was able to reinforce the reading. Numbers, especially at that scale, can be so hard to wrap one's mind around that a visual is almost necessary to really understand the scope of loss. It reminded me a lot of an exhibit I saw in the Holocaust museum where it was a room full of shoes belonging to people killed in the concentration camps. Another physical example is the Vietnam Memorial where it's this black stone with this seemingly endless list of names. Or even the empty chairs set up at the White House for each coronavirus loss. It's one thing to learn about something, hear or read about it, but there is something about seeing it laid out in front of you that makes it feel more real because it's easier to comprehend then (especially if it's something that has not impacted you directly).


The other examples given to us to look at were also interesting. The Feltron ones were a little confusing to me. I still don't know what the map thing is on the different quarters because they aren't geographically laid out and some of the image choices didn't make a lot of sense to me. I thought the Deviant Cartography was really cool. Using topographical maps was a really smart choice because a lot of people know how to read them, but instead of elevation it's conveying another form of data. I just thought that was really cool. It's also all data-ink.


November 15, 2020

Accessibility Project

General:

I went through the different tabs and options in the the accessibility bit of the phone just to play around. Of course, I don't have a visual, audio, or motor disability so there were some that I couldn't tell how they would be helpful. That doesn't mean they aren't though. Smart invert was interesting, the only thing is that mine flashed when I first set it on and this could be potentially dangerous. I also tapped on switch control, but without an accessory it acted up and the blue box was really distracting to me. I played around with the contrast and transparency settings as well, and those caused subtle changes in the apps, Twitter was one of the few that did an actual color shift.


Color Filter - Grayscale


This one reminded me a lot of the color reading we did a little while ago, as the background really mattered with how much contrast you would have. Some apps were very hard to see against the background I had so I changed it. Notifications (the little red circle) was far less noticeable, I feel like that could be helped by included a white border around it or something to make it stand out a little more. However, this is just a filter so there wouldn't be anything added. I then went around to different apps to see what changed in my experience. I can definitely see how it makes it less addictive as everything is very monotonous. On Instagram, some of the photos were really hard to see because of lack of contrast within them. However, the little feedback that is provided in Instagram and Twitter when you like something helps a lot. Twitter has the little heart animation and Instagram has the brief heart overlay on their photos. I also played Temple Run. I really didn't have too much issue with usability. I think the only thing was that sometimes it wasn't intuitive where to press (ex. to exit out of something) because colors would be used as a visual cue. (I took screenshots but they reverted to color.)


Voice Over and Voice Control


I initially couldn't get voice control to work so I put on voice over. Essentially you would tap on a button once to describe it and twice to select it. However, apps that depend on scrolling like Twitter and Instagram were basically rendered useless. It would select the first image and then would be unable to move to content that extended beyond the screen. However, the descriptions were quite thorough and there were audio instructions. I was able to get voice control to work later on and this was one was a little easier to use. However, I don't know if it would be helpful for someone with a visual disability since I relied on visual cues to know if I pressed the right thing. It also provided no visual feedback and were write out instructions on what to try. I do think this would be really useful for someone who had a motor disability and didn't have the ability to get an accessory that would allow for switch control. With this task, I turned on an audiobook, sent a message to my mom, and tried to go through Spotify. Sometimes it was difficult because it wouldn't register my command.






November 11, 2020

Accessibility and Universal Design


It's easy to take things for granted. I really liked the name of Todd Stabelfeldt talk and the line he repeated throughout, "convenience for you is independence for me". The way that society has talked about disabilities in the past and today it can in the form of "inspiration porn". People don't ask to be your heroes and they shouldn't be forced into that role by and for people who have no understanding of their life experiences. The reading put it in a way that I thought was helpful, "the world disables them when forces them to interact in environments that aren't designed to consider their needs". Instead of cheering people for overcoming challenges presented to them from a world not built to accommodate them, we should be asking ourselves what we can be doing to change that. It's our jobs as designers, engineers, etc. to consider our product through a universal lens. When Todd said it was millions, that wasn't exaggerating. The reading provided a really good overview of the different types of disabilities from cognitive to visual to motor. It was brief and just the tip of the iceberg for what people need to consider. Disabilities are unique and will affect people differently, but opening that door to more people will never be a bad thing. It starts with including that at every stage like the reading was saying, as well as at a hiring level and user testing level. When Todd was describing how hard it was to get a job, it reminded me of a lot of stories from BIPOC people that described how hard it was to get hired. There is different expectations, there shouldn't be, and we should challenge it but it's there. By having a diverse group of employees, user testers, etc. the product can only be stronger. An article I read on the term "inspiration porn" stressed "assuming competence". People with disabilities are competent and capable, it's just about providing opportunity.


November 9, 2020

Grids and Color Implementation


Link to Figma


I honestly didn't change too much. I did change all the white text to a very light version of the blue and the gray is now an opaque version of that same color. All the dividers I made a yellow-toned color to fit the rest of it. My original setup was 60 yellow, 30 blue, 10 purple. Unintentionally so, but it made this part easier. I also still really like my color scheme. Yellow and purple are contrasting colors, and the blue was a nod to Apple's usage, and I think yellow and blue look really lovely together in general. I kept all the icons and text tied to that blue color, while everything else is connected to the yellow like the calendar widgets. Additionally, I went and warmed the temperature of all the photos (which is like this yellow filter) which ties it all a little better color-wise. I did keep the red which is breaking the three color rule. To me, it's meant to draw attention so the fact that it disrupts the color harmony is okay to me. For the grid I applied it so there were roughly 12 columns. I then went an aligned everything the way I wanted it to be, and tried to get roughly a cube length between each divider. It looks a little more cohesive now. I also figured out the horizontal scroll for the schedule and better aligned that as well so there was about a cube between each "row" within that frame.


November 5, 2020

Grids and Color


on grids:

One of my favorite words is "entropy". I don't even entirely know how it's meant to be applied, but from what I understand of it is a scientific term ment to measure the level of chaos or lack thereof. Order presents itself in many facets. The example the first article used comparing Da Vinci to modern design layouts reminded me of one of the most fascinating applications of grids (to me): streets. I studied abroad in Edinburgh earlier this year, and it was divided into two parts: Old Town and New Town. One distinguished itself from the other through its usage of a grid system, the other a maze of tangled streets. Each were separated by centuries and changing ideals. Even then there were methods of organization within that grid of streets in New Town and every other city that uses grid-systems (ex. New York) based on socioeconomic class, perhaps faith, ethnicity and race. Some of those are consequences of a broken, oppressive system, and grids in this scenario unveil problems of society. There is a complexity and underlying story to the grids. I guess this is my long-winded way of saying I find grids interesting. In design, I like the cohesion they provide and I do tend to use them when doing design tasks because as it was mentioned in the second article, that inner perfectionist demands it. Though I found the articles to be a little confusing, it's something I think is easier to understand through practice. I thought the third was a good step guide to how to apply all the information.


on color:

A lot of this was review for me. I've taken a couple classes now that have briefly talked about color, but it's still something I need to get better at. The "shadows" are never black was a lesson that took me a very long time to learn. I actually learned it from a lot fo the artists I follow. "Getting inspiration from nature" or Instagram is something I find to be increasingly useful. My personal favorite is Pinterest. My favorite author talks about reading a 100 books a year in addition to writing and how she sees it as a part of her job. It's her studying her craft and filling her own creative well to get better. As a designer it's important to do the same thing and study what people are doing, why you like it, and implement the lessons you learn from that. The tip about having the color appear as black but have a tone is brilliant. I've never considered that, but the example definitely shows how "alive" the text feels.


November 3, 2020

Figma and Implementing iOS Guide


Link to blog can be found here



October 28, 2020

iOS Design Guidelines and UI Design Dos and Don'ts


Have you ever learned a new word and then all the sudden you just see it everywhere? And you can't tell if it's because the universe aligned to emphasize this one precise learning moment or if it's been there the whole time and you just didn't notice? That's what reading this felt like. It's baffling how much has been there the entire time that I don't notice. Maybe this is a testament to how well thought out Apple's design is. I wouldn't say that Apple is visually interesting. There is nothing they do that I look at and the aesthetic and look of it blows my mind. The closest they've gotten was dark mode. However, they do have this very easy to approach style. It's simplistic to the point that I barely have to think about how to use things, it's just intuitive. This, to me, makes for a more successful interface. They put in the thought so I didn't have to. Little things that were noted in the readings that I thought were neat included how you have to be careful about where you add color. This wasn't a surprise to me, but I never think of the status bar in that equation. It's something so small, I have failed to really think about how I include it in my designs in the past. Additionally, Apples rejection of drop-downs was interesting and how "90% of mobile design is list design". This was highlighted in the Dos and Don'ts reading with the Touch Control example. How Apple uses icons to communicate with users on how they should interact with that list element was really cool. Another thing I thought was cool was how colors are less saturated in dark mode, but they can appear brighter. Lastly, taking consideration of finger size is something I also have failed to consider in past design. Despite the keyboard reading earlier this semester, I always take in the visual appeal of how far apart icons should be rather than the functionality of them. The readings overall were surprising, not because this is new information, this is all stuff I've encountered, I just have never stopped to consider them further than the brief interactions I have with the different elements.



October 26, 2020

Student Info Project


Blog and Figma Here


October 21, 2020

Readings


No matter how many people tell me that "Android is better", I'll won't switch from Apple for the simple fact that I think Apple looks nicer. It's simple, intuitive and when it comes to the things I use my Apple products for, that's all I need. I know that visual appeal is important even if it isn't an indicator of functionality and how people can overlook functionality in favor of look. I've seen people keep things not because they're useful, it can even be something they don't like (a book for example), but they hold on to it because "it's just so beautiful." The readings essentially gave a whole new meaning to "Design is how it works." I really liked seeing the different reading patterns. It's interesting to me because you'd think there would be an order to how people read things and in an odd way there is just not an obvious pattern. As much as AI and other technologies are criticized for their lack of humanity or this is expressed as a limitation, I find it funny when Humans mimic technological behavior like the fact that our brains choose "the path of least resistance" similar to how a charge goes through an electronic. It's almost like a game for the designer. You have this set of tools: color, type weights, size, etc. and you have to solve the puzzle and make something that's easy for people to use and is effective. I liked learning about all the ways elements can be grouped and seen together, and I'm excited to see how I can use these different methods in the future.


October 19, 2020

User Interview/Design Sprint


Progress and final notes here


October 7, 2020

Inspiring Interfaces


Back in the times of going out and doing things, I loved using public transportation even though RTD in Colorado leaves much to be desired. One of the apps that I would use was Transit. It's a transportation app that allows people to plan their commute. It is pretty accurate which is great for when it's cold and snowing. Instead of standing outside wondering when my bus will show up, I can wait in the heat of my car. Besides planning, you can view all active lines near you, track buses, and purchase tickets within the app. I find it to be a reliable tool to help me with something that can be unreliable. Buses aren't some magical entity that appear out of thin air, and this app just answers a lot of questions for me and "seeing" it on the map takes out a lot of stress that can come from commuting.


(I do have to say though when I was in Scotland earlier this year I often took the bus to get around, and I may have like their app more. It allowed you to lock in a route and would track the bus while you were on it, letting you know how many stops you had left to go before you needed to get off. However, it was only through one line of bus and restricted to Edinburgh, where Transit has more variety for buses).



October 4, 2020

Group Work - Part One


Idea: Essentially a "dating" app for creatives (but for professional purposes). People can post their skills and projects, and the app will present them with other people they can collaborate with on that project in order to meet their goals.


JBTD: To make collaboration between creatives easier.


Personas:

Jessica Aaron (24 y.o.)

-A model just starting out

-Doesn't have a lot of access to resources

-Is new to the area

-wants to expand her portfolio

-hobbies: antiquing and figure skating


Benjamin Maxwell (29 y.o.)

-A graphic designer

-Specializes in album covers

-Established in area

-hobbies: A gardener who is not good at gardening.


This app would be helpful to both of them as a means to network or find projects that fit with the specialized skills.


My flow:

That's hard to read so my figma can be found here


Group Flow: TBD


Comments:

In general, I'm excited for the sketching portion. I'm a visual person and this is usually the stage that helps me the most in terms of fleshing out ideas and getting a clear vision of what the end result will be. I like that we are using both JTBD and personas since I haven't used either it will be interesting to see what I find the most useful during this process. It's one thing to read about each but another completely to put it into practice.


September 28, 2020


Figma exploration is continued on this post.


September 23, 2020

"Atomic Design Methodology" and "Everything you need to know about Design Systems"


Besides the fact that I definitely would have failed that chemistry class, I found Brad Feld's breakdown of design systems really helpful (even when it left the atomic metaphor and ended with "templates" and "pages"). Both the readings emphasized thinking about it, as it says in the name, a system: a whole consisting of parts. The "single responsibility principle" is an idea I personally struggle with, but simultaneously agree with as it related to the "molecule" though I suppose this is true of anything like food. If a place only sells one thing it's probably good at it. Another thing I really liked about atomic design was this emphasis on the fact that it wasn't a linear process. It's easier to want to tick off the boxes as you go, but to make something worthwhile and that makes sense in the context of the whole it requires going back and moving around during the process. Just because something worked at one stage doesn't mean it will at another when something else is put into place. The second reading also emphasized principles and best practices. Things like trainings and accessibility obviously have an impact on our product and it's important to include them as a part of the design system. Overall it was really informative on the different ways people will go about things while holding true that each group of elements is important.


September 20, 2020

Figma Intro


this post can be found here


September 16, 2020

interface project


this post can be found here


September 14, 2020

"The Keyboard Derby"


It’s evident how important design was to Steve Jobs and Apple, both in their products but also in the attitude that they approached projects. Technology is a rapidly changing field, so to move onto the next thing is essential to innovation. However, it’s also a key piece in the ideation process. Design is a process of constant working and then re-working, finding the mistakes and learning from them, using those lessons to improve, and inching closer to the finish line. It was cool to see that in practice in this reading as well in the design of the iPhone keyboard. It’s a philosophy that’s also reflective of people as an audience as well. When someone does something whether it’s make a movie or win a championship, everyone wants to know what’s next. By adopting it into the company’s ethos, Apple has shown it’s aware of that, and it’s something that their consumer understands and anticipates. There is always going to be a next thing. I thought a lot about Jobs’ words, “design is how it works”, specifically when Kosienda talked about the “intuitive, row-and-column home screen” and “fluid inertial scrolling scheme that bounced playfully when he reached the end of the list”. It’s these little details that are welcoming to consumers especially when approaching a product like the iPhone for the first time, and also the kind of details that I think are definitive of what he calls “personal technology”. I also thought of it when we got a glimpse into the process behind the keyboard. It was collaborative and not just between people who speak the same language, it was programmers and designers working together and providing each other insight. The keyboard is something I think a lot of people take for granted. It’s not something I would have even thought a lot about while using, and that is a sign of just how well designed it is. They had a clear goal defined for what they wanted which was to allow people to “think more about their typing and less about futzing with the touchscreen and the user interface”. It was about the look but mostly it was about how it worked and if a user would be able to learn it easily. The one thing that did hit close to home was the comment about how brainstorming sessions can become a sneaky form of procrastination. Recently while doing a group project, it felt like we were stuck in that loop where it moved beyond being productive. There does come a time when you have to make decisions in order to make sure you have the time to fail before finding success.


September 9, 2020

“The Design of Everyday Things - Chapter Four and The Guts of New Machine


The reading today made me realize how intentional a lot of design is as well as how unintentional some design is. I’ve never spent the time to break down objects and how I use them. It made me feel less embarrassed of everytime that I failed to open a door properly or was confused as to how to turn on a shower when I travel. Even those very basic and daily actions have to be well thought out to be intuitive. It’s easy to take for granted that knowledge, and there is a lot I do that seems like second nature like turning my car on. Along with realizing what makes some actions so easy, the reading has also caused me to think about why some things are so difficult. For example, my washing machine at home uses an interlock system. It is incredibly frustrating. I’m sure there are uses for a lot of the buttons, but for someone who is pressed on time and care I don’t have a lot of use for them. So the whole process of doing my laundry seems super convoluted especially when I have to press a bunch of things before I’m able to do something that I feel like should be relatively simple. Another thing that was interesting to me is that everything from automatic doors to elevators is still something that’s being innovated to be better (or worse depending on the changes). It’s the subtle things that I don’t think I’d even notice unless it was drastic or challenged any of the constraints Norman talks about, but underlines the importance of details when it comes to creating good user-experiences. When it came to the reading about the iPod, it helped me understand what Jobs was saying when he said “design is how it works”. He wasn’t talking about the parts that made it up and how they worked together, but the experience of the user for that product. The line “making technology underderstandible to mere mortals” really sums up what, to me, he meant. For taps design has to be about more than just how it looks but also the signifiers for the user on how it works. There is a lot of criticism, a lot of it valid criticism, of Apple when it comes to pricing or changes in their products. People continue to buy them though for that aura and because it’s easy to know what to expect and learn how to use their products. Even when making changes that are unpopular (getting rid of the headphone jack) people continue to buy apple products even when it makes some actions inconvenient.



September 2, 2020

"Jobs to Be Done" Project


I work at a bookstore so I'm often asked for recommendations especially by people who haven't read in a while but would like to get back into it.


Job To Be Done: Finding a book for someone who doesn't know exactly what they want.


Emotional/Context/Things to Consider:

  • Age group: reading level, appropriateness of content, etc

  • What do they want out of it? Are they researching something? Is it just for entertainment?

  • While books aren't terribly expensive they are a major time investment. This is especially true if it's a series and it's incomplete. They are daunting in a different way.

  • If cost is an issue, hardcovers are more expensive. So, maybe just limiting search to paperbacks is the way to go.

  • How willing are they to commit? Speaking of time, I usually stick to just stand-alones for new readers or I make it clear there are more books in a series. Some series do have 7+ books, and that becomes more of a money investment as well as a time investment.

  • Are they going on vacation and need something for the plane? Though specific, this tells me to stick to stand alones and more light hearted material. I wouldn't even recommend Nicholas Sparks, not only does he suck as a person, but we all know someone is going to die or something sad will happen, and no one needs that on vacation.

  • Is it for school? Usually it's a specific book, but if it's a choice book it still is really important you find something that they can be semi-excited about since they have to read it out of obligation.

  • Do they read a lot? This requires narrowing down what they've already read but it also makes it easier to find out what they like. If they don't, stick to bigger titles they might have some familiarity with.

  • What shows do they like? If they don't read this can at least tell me what types of things they like or maybe there is a book it was adapted on.

  • What genres do they like?

  • Are there trigger warnings with the book? I try my best to know these for popular titles especially if it's possibly harmful to the reader.

  • OwnVoices. I try to promote marginalized authors as much as possible. This doesn't have anything to do with the customer but we all have a responsibility to uplift one another.

Options to Complete Job:

  • Playing a version of 20 Questions and getting a set of things they are looking for. From there I can narrow down our stock with my own knowledge to find something that might work for them.

  • If limited knowledge,

    • recommending my favorites

    • asking co-workers who are familiar with the genre

    • just recommending books I don't know a lot about but I see people buy it and they appear to enjoy it.

    • showing them the different displays

    • The buy 2 get the 3rd free table. People love discounts and it's one table with the best books of their respective genres.

  • Picking a random book and saying, "it will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will change your life"

  • Picking a book with a pretty cover. Because people 100% judge books on their covers.

  • Recommending websites, bloggers, youtubers, etc. who have content that may help them in the future when figuring out what they want.

  • Googling it. Our computers in the store are so slow, but sometimes it does require a google.

What I end up Doing:

It's usually a combination of things, and it really just depends on the time and customer. If we are busy I have limited time to actually get specific. Asking questions is the most helpful though especially to find something they will genuinely enjoy. There is a book for everything. I had a customer give me: Ireland, paranormal, romance, and mystery. There is a book that fits all that criteria. This also requires me to be aware of as many titles as possible. It was lucky I read a book once that fit all that. If it's a genre I'm unfamiliar with sometimes recommending something I know very little to nothing about it s the way I have to go. More times out of not though, it's me asking a lot of questions. It's easy to recommend your favorites, but everyone has different tastes and feelings. When I first started this is what I would do, you can't get someone excited though if it has elements they aren't about even if according to you "it's really good". If someone has loved a book I hated, this requires me to remove my own judgement and figure out why. From there, I can find something else for them.


Steps to finishing the job:

Once I'm able to get an idea of what they want. I usually show them a selection to choose from. From there, it's about getting them to commit since my job is to actually sell the books. From trial and error, I know not to be too excited about a book on my end. If I am, this usually intimidates people and the stakes are just higher. I really stick to giving general details, trying to remain as vague as possible, giving a comparison to a book they've probably heard about (make it less foreign), and allowing them to pick from a couple options is what works.


Unexpected Solution:

Bookstores are a little bit behind on technology. I always liked this feature on Doordash where it gives you the most popular dishes. I'm indecisive and trying out new food places is a big adventure, so having that and knowing people already like those dishes is really helpful. It also helps me decide what I should get. I know some restaurants have tablets that you can go and order from in the restaurant. Having something like that in a bookstore that gives you information on the top books in a genre as well as ratings and reviews a customer can look at in store could help them make their decisions. We have receipts that print out other books people might be interested in, I'm not going to lie they do suck as recommendations. The concept is nice though. Allowing customers to search books they know and seeing suggestions for what to check out next could also be helpful especially if no one working knows what that book is or anything about their preferred genre. That being said, some people love the tech-less energy of bookstores, and others would rather just talk to a person. I love talking about books with people so really it's all fine with me.


August 31, 2020

"Know Your Customers 'Jobs to be Done'" and "Personas"


Both "Jobs to be Done" and "Personas" are new ideas to me, and the importance of specificity was highlighted in both. I think it's instinctual to want to base design decisions on correlations, but it's like how it is explained in "Know Your Customers'", correlation doesn't equal causation. This actually reminded me of Tyler Vigen's Spurious Correlation graphs. What I found the most interesting was the little details that informed people's decisions to buy in the "Jobs to Be Done" model. While both models aim to focus on the user and look at a user's goals and what they would want from a product, "Jobs To be Done" looks at what ultimately drives a user to use the product and overall experience as opposed to just the creation of the product which is what it seemed like "Personas" did. The biggest difference between them was revealed to me with the apartment complex example in "Jobs to Be Done". While "personas" aims to create realistic users, they are ultimately "people" based on data points about people. To me this felt like using a stock photo version of a person rather than an actual candid photo since they still were picking a choosing qualities. The people behind the apartment complex even used a lot of what was suggested in "Personas" initially by asking a targeted audience, using focus groups, and seemingly made it a place that people would like to move to at face value. However, it wasn't until they asked actual buyers that it was revealed that it was a dining room table, what it symbolizes, and the stress of moving that informed a lot of people's decisions. Despite interviewing and people saying that a dining room wasn't important, the process of getting rid of a dining room table was. While both models are user-centered, "Jobs to be Done" seems to take a more emotional approach to me while "Personas" just feels overly technical.


August 26, 2020

"What is a Designer?" - Mike Monteiro


It's really refreshing to read something that tells you to value your work especially in a society that tends to undervalue anything deemed "creative". The idea that "magic won't save you from this dragon" is something I've had to learn over the course of my college career. I've been challenged by my professors in that sense. I know I tend to rely on the fact that I am a creative person. My work was harmed because I wouldn't ask myself why I was doing what I was doing, who it was for, and I wouldn't set clear goals which makes it harder to decide when I was done. I did things because I wanted to and just kind of wandered aimlessly without really knowing what I was trying to accomplish. I really like to learn about how things were created from amusement park rides, films, and video games. I own a lot of Disney Art Of books, it's pages of redesigns, research on cultures they're based on (as is the case for Frozen and Moana), and descriptions of all of the decisions that went into the movie. All of it is work that made the movie stronger. It's all been important for me to understand what I also need to consider to make my own work stronger. Monteiro really emphasizes that you should respect both yourself and your work, and one of the points I really enjoyed was to consider the ethical impacts of your work. I think this is really important because even though once it's in the world, you can't control what happens, you are responsible for its effects. This is just something I wish engineering as a whole talked about more.



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