Avalon Exchange - A3 Reflection
For A3, I learned how to experience a space and point out what’s right and wrong with it. I chose Avalon Exchange because I thought it was a store that had a unique identity compared to the other stores in the area. I think my documentation of the physical space was sufficient but not completely thorough. The main portion of my documentation notes consisted of the disconnect between the physical and the digital environments for Avalon (the store versus the website). Obviously if I were to take a video of the space again, I’d shoot a horizontal view instead of a vertical one.
Overall, I think my documentation could have used a bit more research and exploration of the physical space, but it was my proposal that I really dropped the ball on. A big problem of my design process is that I tend to try to design for anyone and everyone, rather than choosing an audience and creating ideas around them. Feedback during the crit for A3 made me realize that I have to know what type of person is the most important in that situation and what can I do to improve their shopping experience. Because of me trying to satisfy multiple audiences, I ran into trouble with conflicting ideas of how to organize the space. If it’s too clean, Avalon loses the identity of being a store where people can search for offbeat clothing deals. My kiosk design didn’t really feel like it had the identity of Avalon either, since it was a bit too minimal and empty.
I’d definitely try to go back to the space and research more about what type of person is commonly associated with Avalon Exchange. I learned that putting myself out there to get the information I need is crucial to simplifying the design process and giving myself a clear goal that I can work towards. Otherwise, I’ll just find myself trying to juggle multiple conflicting ideas and end up getting frustrated at myself for not thinking of the “perfect” solution.
