Week 9 & 10
This is the prototype section within my Design for Equity framework. I have nearly completed this phase and am moving into the test phase next week. However, in response to the user-testing feedback I get next week, I will likely come back to this phase to further iterate.
This blog post is structured using The University of Edinburgh’s (2018) CARL Framework.
Describe (Give Context)
Weeks 9 and 10 have been a whirlwind of finalising key elements for my Bloody Strong project. In Week 9, I was focused on developing the brand identity, working on social media mockups, refining the poster designs, and preparing the logistics for printing the conversation cards. By Week 10, my attention shifted to completing and submitting my poster while also planning user testing and preparing the conversation cards for print. These weeks also included managing my 302 report and tackling personal challenges, such as being sick and dealing with a stress fracture, which added complexity to balancing my workload.
What Did You Do?
During Week 9, I gathered feedback on my poster designs, started mapping out the printing process for the conversation cards, and worked on social media mockups in FIGMA, which are almost complete. I also updated my 302 report to reflect my revised project plan but intentionally left some parts to work on after Week 10 to focus on other deadlines.
In Week 10, my primary goal was to complete my poster. Based on peer feedback, I added an infographic to visually summarise the core elements of my project. I also tried my best to stay focused on my own progress, avoiding distractions from comparing my work to others. Additionally, I began outlining the logistics for thorough user testing of the conversation cards and mapped out my next steps for printing.
Reflecting on these actions, I realised how crucial it was to allocate time effectively. Each task — from poster refinement to user testing planning — needed clear steps and prioritisation. This highlighted my ongoing challenge with balancing deadlines across different components of the project.
How Did It Feel?
At the start of Week 9, I felt overwhelmed by the number of tasks I needed to complete. However, as I made progress, especially after receiving positive feedback on my poster and preparing the logistics for the cards, I started to feel more in control. By Week 10, despite still dealing with illness and a foot injury, I felt a sense of accomplishment. I was proud of the work I had done on the poster and the way the project was coming together. Reflecting on how the project has evolved from its initial concept gave me a deeper appreciation for the design process. However, I am still slightly concerned about finding enough time for user testing and balancing my other commitments, including my 302 report.
What stood out emotionally was the relief and reassurance I felt when I received feedback from peers and saw tangible progress in the project. This shifted my mindset from feeling overwhelmed to feeling empowered. It made me realise how much I depend on external validation to keep my confidence up, and how managing my energy during physically challenging moments like illness is just as critical as managing my time.
Step Back (Look for Patterns)
A key pattern across both weeks has been the importance of feedback and collaboration. In Week 9, peer feedback was instrumental in shaping my poster and social media mockups. In Week 10, that same feedback helped me refine the poster further, particularly with the infographic addition. I also noticed a recurring tendency to get overwhelmed by the workload, but once I broke tasks down and took them step by step, the stress became more manageable. Another pattern was the importance of avoiding distractions from peers’ projects. I found that staying focused on my own progress kept me grounded and allowed me to work more efficiently.
This made me reflect on why feedback has been so valuable in this process. Feedback not only provided new perspectives but also affirmed areas I was unsure about, such as the infographic on my poster. I now see that feedback is essential not just for refinement, but for reaffirming my confidence when self-doubt creeps in.
What Went Well?
Both weeks saw significant progress in different areas of the project. The feedback on my poster was invaluable, and I’m proud of the final design I submitted. My social media mockups are nearly finished, and I’m confident in the logistics for printing the conversation cards. Additionally, I’ve successfully updated my 302 report, ensuring that it aligns with my current progress/changes. In Week 10, the biggest thing for me was staying focused on my own work and avoiding unnecessary stress by not comparing my progress to others, which allowed me to remain productive.
What Went Badly?
One of the challenges I faced was dealing with illness and a foot injury over the course of both weeks, which made it difficult to maintain my usual productivity. This, combined with the pressure of deadlines, led to a meltdown early in Week 9 when I felt overwhelmed by the workload. In Week 10, I was slightly concerned about not having enough time to conduct thorough user testing for the conversation cards. I also found it difficult to move away from my personal design aesthetic when making certain decisions, which limited my ability to be more open to feedback and experimentation.
Why?
The stress in Week 9 stemmed from trying to juggle multiple aspects of the project at once, without a clear plan for how to tackle each task. The illnesses and foot injury compounded this by physically limiting the amount of time I could dedicate to the work. As for my concern about user testing, it was largely due to poor time management—balancing multiple projects at once made it difficult to prioritize testing. In terms of design, my attachment to my personal aesthetic may have held me back from fully exploring feedback from others.
Reflecting more deeply, I see that some of these issues are not just circumstantial but habitual. For example, my struggle with time management and workload balance has surfaced before in other projects, showing a pattern that I need to address by creating more structured timelines.
What Could I Have Done Differently?
Looking back, I could have benefited from asking for help earlier in Week 9, particularly with the FIGMA mockups and box template design. This would have alleviated some of the stress and given me more time to focus on other tasks. In Week 10, I should have mapped out the user testing process earlier to ensure I had enough time to get thorough feedback. I also need to continue working on incorporating more peer feedback into my designs instead of relying so heavily on my own aesthetic preferences.
Look for Answers
Moving forward, I will seek help for the final stages of the FIGMA mockups and box template during the next class. I will also create a detailed plan for user testing to ensure I allocate enough time to gather valuable insights. In addition, I will reach out to peers to gather feedback on my designs, specifically focusing on areas where I’ve been too attached to my personal style, to strike a better balance between aesthetics and functionality.
Ask for Advice
I plan to ask for feedback from classmates and instructors on the FIGMA mockups and box template to ensure everything is correct before moving forward with printing. I will also seek advice on how to approach the user testing process more efficiently and ask for input on refining my design decisions to better align with user needs rather than my personal preferences.
Make a Plan to Improve
In the coming week, I will:
Finish the FIGMA mockups and box template by seeking peer and instructor feedback.
Create a concrete plan for conducting thorough user testing with the conversation cards, ensuring I leave enough time for multiple rounds of feedback.
Continue to ask for feedback on design decisions, particularly around areas where I tend to rely on my personal aesthetic and explore how to integrate peer input more effectively.
Stay focused on my tasks and manage my time carefully to avoid feeling overwhelmed as deadlines approach.
My final poster hand in.
References:
The University of Edinburgh. (2018). CARL – A reflective model. Reflectors’ Toolkit. https://www.ed.ac.uk/reflection/reflectors-toolkit/reflecting-on-experience/carl