User & Society.
In the ‘Design <> Research’ course, I learned that qualitative data goes beyond simple collection; it requires total immersion into the world of the target community. By conducting a thematic analysis, I gathered data, creatively combining text, quotes, and photos to identify patterns in participant behaviors. This process taught me how designers can amplify the voices of a community by appealing to them through creative outcomes, such as probe kits, that make them feel truly heard. In here I saw a strong connectedness between U&S with C&A and the importance of appealing and aligning with the community you wish to design for, seeing how U&S fits seamlessly in the initial stages of a design process.
My development in User & Society (U&S) has progressed linearly in years 1 and 2.
I now view the understanding of human nature - our habits, cultures, and emotions, as essential to the initial stages of any concept. This perspective was applied throughout Project 3, where I managed user questionnaires and ensured that ethical consent forms were prioritized to maintain participant comfort. I made use of similar methods in ‘Business Innovation Methods’ by designing an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) experiment canvas and conducting user interrogations to validate my concept’s success.
Furthermore, in Project 3, I came up with the idea to develop a weekly "cookbook draft" to iterate on our AI model, Flavor Fusion. By cooking recipes generated by AI and reflecting on the outcomes, I integrated self-reflection and user-centric input into the design cycle. This iterative process solidified our final concept and reinforced the importance of continuous user feedback in creating a resilient design.
During my B3.1 semester the development of this expertise area was also a highlight, but expected. Having close client-contact and adapting to what he wanted but also proposing new ideas as experienced engineers was fascinating, as my company managed to adapt and evolve towards the client's vision based on communication, research and understanding. As a company, we also successfully broadened his vision and pushed him towards the most viable design options. This was inspiring to me and I strongly value this skill of versatility and adaptation in my designs for my future client encounters. Additionally, I was also very interested in the development of UX/UI for the APP of our product, for which I gave input for and learned about APP interfaces, button placements and APP flow for the user to have an enhanced positive interaction and experience.
