#halvo372

[designumn2015]

Project 3 Process

After my presentation, Emily brought up very good points about my idea. I think there’s a lot of pieces that it can include, but I wanted to keep it simple for now. I think loading it up with a lot of extras wouldn’t be right for now, just because it is a new idea. There were a lot of questions about it being kind of rude to remind people to call people, and that if you really wanted to talk to them you would remember. I don’t think this is that big of a problem, because my audience is college kids or business people who are literally so busy they just plain forget. Plus, if you have a lot of people in your life, sometimes your brain just doesn’t remember things that aren’t work or school.

My favorite precedent study that I have found is Snapchat’s “Need Love” feature. This feature shows you people that either you haven’t Snapped in a while or someone that just hasn’t been snapped by many people in a while. This is the closest and most relevant thing I have found that relates to my Connect Me app. There isn’t much out there, but I know the technology exists.

http://techcrunch.com/2015/04/06/how-snapchat-friend-emoji-work/#.xflxmv:EyhW

[designumn2015]

Project 3 - Process 2

(Awkward, I posted this on my own tumblr, sorry) After my meeting with Emily, I decided to change my idea all together. I realized I had completely made something up and there was nothing that I could research because nothing existed. Therefore, I decided to go a simpler route and do a mixture between technology/electronics and consumer products. An app was a good way to go, because what else does the population use more?

The new idea is an app that is able to use cookies data to send you reminders to keep you connected to other people. Being able to have an app that knows the last time you talked to people, so it can remind you to text/call someone you haven’t talked to for a while is something I, along with plenty of other people, need in their life.

So as I restarted my project, I did my research and then got stuck on user interviews/community brainstorming. At the library with one of my friends, she introduced me to a website called usability.gov. In this website, it gives me an idea of what usability I need to think about when it comes to my app.

Brainstorming of questions:

1.  What do you look for in an app?

2.  Have you lost connection with loved ones since going to college?

3.  Would you benefit from something that reminded you to contact people you haven’t in a while?

4.  Would you actually contact them if a reminder came up on your phone?

And off to brainstorm!

[designumn2015]

Weekly Reflection

This week I’ve been thinking about how spring effects designers. I think that spring, or in Minnesota the beginning of beautiful weather, brings out the designer in people. It makes people want to think a little bit differently, to reach out and change what they want to do and how they want to do it. Warm weather I think also makes people feel a lot happier. I always kind of equate warm weather with creative activities. Like drawing for example. As the weather gets warmer, you see more people outside drawing, or doing other things like that.

Warm weather makes me happier, so I usually feel more creative. How do you feel?

[designumn2015]

Reflection :)

I definitely enjoyed the weather that we’ve had this week. It has been a nice break from the cold, and it has brought back the inspiration that fashion brings. When it is cold, we tend to just put on a sweatshirt and a coat, because we want to feel comfortable and warm. But when it becomes nice outside, it gives everyone the opportunity to wear whatever they want, because the weather does not play a huge role in this.

I have had the opportunity to go through my closet, which has also prompted me to get rid of some of my clothes, and really try harder with what I put on my body. I can look cute and everyone can see it, so I try a little bit harder than I did in the winter.

This weather has also made me think a lot about summer and effectively having fun and also finding myself an internship in Milwaukee. I revised my resume, applied for a few jobs, and did some thinking about possibilities on where to go with my family and boyfriend while I am home.

[designumn2015]

Project 2 - Process 2

After presenting this week, a few more ideas came to mind. A lot of people seemed confused and stuck very hard on it starting on fire or the portability of it. We just want it to be better for the consumer in the long run.

One way to improve upon our ideas is to add something, like a sensor that needs to be touched or something, that will turn your alarm clock off (not just on snooze) if you are off of your pillow, and then once you are on your pillow, falling back asleep after pressing the snooze wouldn’t be a problem.

Something interesting to think about. I know I wake up right away after my alarm goes off, but I know a lot of people who have to snooze a couple times before they wake up. This would prevent falling asleep after turning your alarm off instead of snoozing it, and missing work or classes.

Another idea that I thought of when someone in class asked about the portability, with so much technology these days, it wouldn’t be that hard to connect to an app instead of a solid thing on your bedside table. This way it could be as portable as you want. 

Below is an awesome idea for a snooze device that could perfectly go along with the idea of our pillow. Check it out!

[designumn2015]

How does evaluating past failures prevent future collapse?

I believe that if you are fully aware of your past mistakes and failures, it prevents you from making the same mistakes. Although if you are dealing with a completely different situation, you may fail more, but how you deal with failure is what will prevent future collapse. Knowing exactly what you did wrong and not being afraid of failing will keep you prepared for anything, and you may be able to see the signs of problems ahead of time rather than when it is too late.

I, personally, like reminiscing on my past failures when I look to new challenges. Thinking about what I could have done differently and how what I did could relate to my new challenge is how I prepare myself for uncertainty. You have to have a lot of tolerance of ambiguity, especially when it comes to design and thinking through problems and thinking creatively. When you work in a group it is even more important because everyone has a different way of thinking and coming up with ideas.

[designumn2015]

Project 2 Process

I can’t lie and say that I have contributed a lot to my group’s project. Because of a family emergency that happened over break, I had to miss every day of class this past week. Luckily my group chose to use my original problem so I had already thought about a few ideas. My group though created a great prototype that I definitely believe is an awesome idea! My original problem was alarm clocks and how annoying they are. My group decided on a pillow that was able to help this problem, especially when it came to waking other people up.

I automatically thought about fit bits and how they have a setting where you can make them vibrate as an alarm. I know I hate wearing things like jewelry or things like it when I sleep so the perfect solution is a pillow. As long as it’s comfortable, a pillow is a comfortable way to wake up that you don’t have to worry about wearing or anything like it. Plus, if it lightly vibrates, it’s a more pleasant way to wake up anyways, like you’re being gently shaken by your mom or something.

A big thank you to my team, who did this pretty much without my help. Emily, I’m really sorry that I haven’t contributed as much as I want to. I take full responsibility for this.

[designumn2015]

What does ideating look like to me?

There are a lot of ways that I form ideas. One of which is literally going on google and searching things, or going on Pinterest. This is the easiest way for me to think of ideas for just about everything. This helps me see what others have done and what I could do as well. Although sometimes it feels like copying, I usually try to do the opposite, where it just sparks other ideas in my head. This is especially useful when I am doing any sort of graphic design work.

When it comes to ideating on a regular basis, I typically think in silence for a while and see what I come up with. And if I still can't come up with anything, I usually ask around. Like, what would you do in this situation? I typically like to get in the mind of the consumer, because I am an advertising major. It is what I think about all the time.