Week 14 - Semester 1 Reflection

In semester one I explored the issue of sexual harassment and gained knowledge and understanding of this social issue on a global scale. I researched and investigated this problem primarily through reading existing content. I explored data collection methods and information surrounding sexual harassment in urban areas by asking users to narrate journey's home and pinpoint locations they felt unsafe. I also explored using data visualisation as a method to display the data I gathered.

Looking over the past semester I've had time to look at my strengths and weaknesses. Along side my honours project I've had to balance my dissertation as well. I have found an area that I am passionate and interested in and have through research have gained an in-depth understanding of the surrounding social issues. I have explored a variety of data gathering techniques however I would like to investigate these methods in more detail to generate further insights to help shape my final concept ideas.

I have an interest in the attitudes and behaviours surrounding sociological issues faced in modern society. I have spent the past semester focussing my research on sexual harassment and thinking about ways in which we can work towards changing the norm. I have found it challenging trying to come up with a concept that aims to "solve" the problem of women's exposure to sexual harassment. I have been researching the issues surrounding sexual harassment but I also want to start exploring the presence of everyday sexism. Street harassment is perhaps the clearest manifestation of the spectrum of sexism, sexual harassment and sexual assault that exists within our society. I want to explore the sociological issue of sexism and gender discrimination on a wider scale.

I have a topic that I am passionate about and an idea of the kind of illustrative style of interactive installation that I want to create. I need to spend the next couple of weeks gathering more information surrounding the behaviours that are associated with sexism and the attitudes that prevent girls from reaching equality.

Areas of strength

• Solid primary and secondary contextual research

• Knowledge and understanding of the social issues concerning project area

• Exploration of data visualisation sketches

Areas of improvement

• Data gathering techniques could be expanded as a way to generate more varied insights

• Further and more in-depth user research to be carried out

• Explore the behaviours surrounding the attitudes that are preventing women reaching equality

• Think about overall concept and consider the final outcome potential options

Blog

• Blog was updated regularly with weekly progress updates

• Posts could be in more detail rather than having one summary post of the week

• Do more research in general and post more often

From reflection

• Do more user research and experiment with a variety of data gathering techniques

• Create a clearer narrative between the storytelling and data visualisation

• Start to think about final concept ideas and narrow down potential outcomes