Blog7 - Report Check-in

The Experience

This week, in addition to designing three different layouts for the final exhibition poster, I also completed the Design302 report check-in, which required finishing three sections of the report. This made my schedule very tight. While I haven't started producing the posters yet, having multiple layout options early on has helped with planning. Besides this, I collaborated with my partner for a presentation, receiving useful feedback. One key suggestion was to reference the "Safe Swim" website for designing the educational features of my noise pollution website.

Figure1

Layout of the Final exhibition poster.

Reflection in Action

The aim this week was to develop effective poster designs for the exhibition and to complete the required sections of the Design302 report. I decided to create multiple layouts for the poster to give myself more flexibility in refining the final design. The Design302 check-in added a lot of pressure, but I managed my time to complete all the tasks. Collaborating with my partner during the presentation allowed me to gather feedback, especially the suggestion about the "Safe Swim" website, which made me think more about functionality and user experience for the educational part of my project. My assumption was that balancing these tasks would be possible, but it resulted in significant time constraints and stress. Despite this, I felt satisfaction after completing both the report check-in and the poster drafts. My partner's feedback indicated their support for the project, and I felt encouraged to incorporate their suggestions.

Theory

This week highlighted the importance of time management when balancing multiple tasks. Completing the report check-in while working on the poster design was challenging, but it reinforced how crucial it is to allocate time properly for different project aspects. The feedback on the poster designs and educational website also showed how valuable collaboration can be in broadening perspectives. By referencing the "Safe Swim" website, I learned more about how user-centered design principles can enhance the practical application of my website. This experience will inform future design processes, especially in managing workload and gathering external feedback.

Preparation

For the next time, I will plan more realistic deadlines and spread out tasks to avoid tight schedules. Earlier preparation of report sections will help reduce pressure closer to check-in dates. I will also explore user testing earlier to ensure that the final design is effective. In terms of collaboration, I will continue to seek external feedback to help refine my ideas. Additionally, I plan to study more user-centered design references to enhance the functionality of my website.