Week 28: Critical Reflection

Critical Reflection

Looking back at fourth year as a whole it has been anything but smooth sailing. Beginning the semester with the loss of someone who has had a huge impact on my university experience and ending with the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite facing many challenges along the way my fourth year journey has been a memorable one.

I knew from early on that I wanted to design something that educated people about sexual harassment and drew their attention to the problem. Over the first semester I explored different methods of gathering data and experimented with data visualisation techniques. I enjoyed trying out new ways of gathering data but I wish I had done more primary research than desk research. One thing I regret not trying out was introducing the use of cultural probes. Although I did generate a lot of insight from using traditional methods such as surveys/ interviews. I would have liked to push myself outside of my comfort zone and uncover new ways of gathering data.

As time progressed into the second semester I felt like I was getting nowhere, I had no idea how I was going to design an interactive installation so I kept putting the making phase to the back of my mind. I love the researching phase, the more I learn the more I want to know and I continued to keep researching in hope of that “lightbulb” moment. I think starting the making phase earlier would have benefitted me as making the control panel and Lego prototype were pivotal points in my journey. Prototyping allowed me to express my ideas in visible tangible form and helped me decide what was relevant to my project and what wasn't.

I feel as though I spent a lot of my time fixated on the idea and layout of an interactive installation rather than the content that I could work with. I had gained insights through talking to different women but struggled to think of the best way to present this data. I spent the beginning of the second semester focussing on how I could design the space where as I should have been designing the installation around the content I already had.

With MK2 fast approaching I started to stress about my project a considerably amount, most people had well resolved prototypes and I still did not have my idea. Working from home as opposed to the studio was strange at first and took some time adjusting to. However speaking to my friends and family and trying to explain my concept to them is ultimately led me to my idea of "The Venus Project." The more I spoke to people the more my idea became clear: I wanted people to understand the reason why I was investigating sexual harassment and why it is such a relevant issue in today’s society. What I discovered was if you want people to listen and engage you have to provide them an opportunity to explore the topic in a light-hearted way.

The COVID-19 situation has impacted my personal honours project massively. Packing up my things in the studio and moving back home was incredibly disheartening, I had been looking forward to the degree show since the day I first applied to study at DJCAD. Moving back home was extremely demotivating, I struggled to adjust from working in a busy creative environment to sitting alone in my house. I found it very challenging adjusting to the situation.

Once I had adjusted to working at home and had figured out the mechanisms of how my installation would function the lack of motivation began to ease off. I had accepted that my end of fourth year experience was not going to be what I had expected it to be, but I still needed to create something I was proud of. Research was a big part of my project and although I could not get out and interact with people in person, I made the effort to contact people virtually and ask for their advice on my work.

Despite gaining some input from friends and family whilst working towards finishing my prototype, due to the tight schedule I was unable to ask for much feedback once I had actually finished. I would have liked the opportunity to test my installation in real life with people so I could get feedback on how to improve it. I am pleased with the approach I took in regards to educating people, however I would have like to do some more user testing so I could make the installation more physically interactive. I did not want to incorporate any form of technology within the installation itself as I wanted people's main focus to be interacting with the content on the boards. I did want to use technology as a way to raise awareness and draw attention to the project, I wanted to include a webcam that would live stream to a website and show people interacting with the installation. As well as the website, I wanted to explore the option of creating a digital version of "The Venus Project", allowing a much wider virtual audience to engage with the project.

Overall I am happy with how my project turned out considering the circumstances - despite my final prototype being made out of BBQ skewers I think I have a concept that has a lot of potential. I am pleased with the approach I have taken in an attempt to educate people on a relevant sociological issue in a fun and engaging way. I would like the opportunity to create my installation in real life so I can get more in depth user feedback and make adjustments.