Community Feedback Consultation
Showcasing the Final Design Concept
The purpose of this week was to develop and present our final design concepts to visitors of at the community feedback consultation. After developing a concept, we were tasked to present our ideas and design process from previous phases to the general public. Boards were generated that illustrated the problem statement, target users, research from Phase 1 and 2, user testing from Phase 3, use cycle, UI screens and an exploded view accompanied by a bill of materials and orthographic projections of the final concept.
The boards I created were successful in explaining the breadth of design work over the course of the semester through Phases 1–4.
The community feedback consultation was a great way to get an outside perspective from people who had no background on our projects. Each team was able to showcase their individual projects and provide context into what they have been working on. Prototypes were showcased to bring more depth into the design concept and to explain features to visitors.
Feedback
After meeting with around a dozen visitors, I was able to take notes on their positive and constructive criticism on the provided feedback sheets. For my consultation with visitors, I was able to articulate my project goals, target users, and use case and manufacturing methods. Developing a elevator pitch helped to define exactly what problem and opportunity I would be undertaking in a clear and concise way. First impressions to the project and its goals were well received and easily understood. I was able to speak to visitors from different backgrounds including industrial design, information technology, and also a representative from the EDC (Education Development Centre). Meeting with a diverse range of visitors enabled me to get perspectives from different disciplines and how my project it could potentially appeal to them.
I was able to get some users to test out various design features too, including the back support for the wearable as this was important for the overall comfort of the product. The prototypes I chose to showcase were evident in demonstrating certain design features. General impressions were that it was beneficial to the use cycle and functionality of the product.
In terms of the feedback received from the community feedback consultation about the design in general, most of it was very positive and otherwise constructive. Many thought that the concept was very well thought out and that the iterations that I have gone through throughout the design process showed many explorations and evolutions. The vast majority were able to see the value of the project to education and could see it as something happening in the near future. Those who had a technological background could speak to the immense impact this could have on the digital learning landscape and providing accessible learning to anyone.
In regards to the physical product, some comments that people made were that ergonomics, proportions and organization were areas which might need more refinement. Some were concerned about the bulkiness and how efficient it would be to access the equipment. Some said that it could use some exploration to develop a slimmer more mobile form, while still focusing on the internal organization of the equipment. There were also comments on different material choices and considering features to include security aspects into the wearable (ex. zippers that prevent theft).Other comments revolved having a more concrete use cycle and to develop more of a narrative to how the product would be used. A scenario journey map was also mentioned as a good place to start with how to design the form to match the users’ needs.
As for the UI component, many were impressed with how much thought was put into the actual features and how it may lend itself to a student. General thoughts were that they liked the aesthetic and felt that it provides a level of sophistication to the learning experience. However, one comment was to create more of a narrative of how the app experience ties together with the wearable experience.
Next Steps
As Phase 4 comes to an end, I was able to reflect on this phase and determine what my next steps will be. Following this week, Phase 5 will begin which involves delivering the final deliverables. Comments received from the community feedback consultation will be helpful in determining areas of refinement moving forward with the final design. Aspects in regards to form and UI development, hierarchy and functionality will be heavily stressed in the next week. Determining the scale of the model will also be done.
