Week 11:
Mike Pell, Director of Microsoft Garage, on Envisioneering & Prototyping (NYU Stream, Zoom Recording)
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Storytelling & Showcasing, (slides here) (NYU Stream, Zoom Recording).
Storytelling in UX design presentations is an impactful way used to captivate and engage audiences. It is used to share user experiences, journeys, and insights in an engaging narrative format. By weaving together user anecdotes, challenges users face, and solutions that were created, storytelling humanizes the design process, making it relatable and understandable for stakeholders. It helps in showing visual context of the process, showcasing the impact of design decisions, and creating empathy for users’ needs. Through storytelling, UX designers explain the reasoning behind their design choices, which makes the presentations more effective in getting stakeholders to agree.
Week 10:
Prototyping (NYU Stream, Zoom Recording)
In this lecture, I learned a lot about the highlights of prototyping as an active research tool, not just for creating designs but for learning about environments, as well as the stakeholders, materials to use, and tools to use. She emphasized choosing the style of prototyping based on research questions. Multiple techniques like sketching, mapping, storyboarding, materials exploration, paper and digital prototypes, models, and physical mock-ups were given as examples. These methods are used to create discussions, get feedback, and involve users in the design process. Overall, prototyping aids in understanding users, generating ideas, and gathering insights for further iteration.
Brainstorming & Ideation Activity (slides here) (NYU Stream, Zoom Recording)
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Week 9:
The Importance of People (NYU Stream, Zoom Recording)
The lecture discusses the importance of emphasizing the transition from secondary research to primary research methods to derive insights and themes. Speaking with users directly throughout the design process is extremely valuable for feedback and project improvement. Understanding users involves diving deep into their behaviors and goals and what motivates them. Multiple methods for learning about users, including observation, experiments, direct questioning, engaging in hands-on activities, and seeking expertise from field experts or community immersion were included to build the most valuable research.
Cultural Probes (NYU Stream, Zoom Recording)
I learned a lot in this lecture about how we can use cultural probes – personal items of users that invoke emotions of connection and empathy. Her example involved voluntary participation, providing tools and instructions for various activities presented as a gift-like experience. The study was structured by testing with a small group, and was extended based on feedback to 56 participants. She gained a lot of valuable insight that helped build empathy and bridged the gaps of differences.
Week 8:
With this lecture, I learned a lot about how much research goes into the process of design. Without proper research methods being used, a design cannot become as successful. Design is something specific. It should have some kind of purpose and solution. Learning about methodologies was also very helpful. A methodology is a larger ideological framework, the process, the lens, through which the project is created. Ethnographic research is required to include all people and see what kind of experiences they go through depending on their background/location. Human-Centered Design is a creative approach to problem solving. It is very important to keep humans in mind when designing something, so that it can actually be functional and usable.
Week 7:
I learned a lot about planning a project in this lecture. I think it is very helpful to have a proper structure/layout for project plans and have proper phases to divide so that the project feels less overwhelming. I like that I learned about the different phases of project division: phases 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Phase 0 is about brainstorming and concept development. Phase 1 is about research and development and getting feedback on your idea. Phase 2 is about early prototyping and testing. I think it is also important to further break this down by making simple prototypes of specific parts of the whole prototype. Phase 3 is iteration and design. Phase 4 is user testing. Phase 5 is the presentation/demonstration. I think all of these phases are vital to the project development process.
How to Conduct Literature Reviews
This lecture was very helpful in defining and finding literature reviews. As a student, this lecture was very helpful on representing and clearly evaluating what is considered a trusted and scholarly source. It is important to find scholarly sources to support your work because they have been published with thorough research and have been written by experts. It is often peer-reviewed. For the literature review area, I learned about how to not only find validated sources, but also incorporate them into my writing. This was very helpful to also learn how to use the library database.
Week 6:
None.
Week 5:
I learned a lot about storytelling in this lecture. This lecture started with Plato and Aristotle, 2 well-known classical Greek philosophers. However, they had two very different viewpoints on art. Plato considered art to be very mimetic and claimed it as “falsehood.” Regardless of that, Plato still considered storytelling to be a powerful artform. Aristotle, on the other hand, completely celebrated storytelling and claimed that stories brought novelty and new perspectives. Aristotle also included the 7 elements of a narrative: 1. Plot, 2. Characters, 3. Theme, 4. Dialogue, 5. Rhythm, 6. Spectacle. There were also classical Indian philosophers: Anandavardhana and Abhinavgupta. Anandavardhana proposed the theory of resonances, which was that narrative expression created fields of unstated meanings. It is through resonances that emotional feeling/meaning as an experience that is transmitted to the audience. Abhinavgupta focuses more on the issue of imagination in relation to creative expression and brings up manifestation as producing a cognition of something else coming to awareness. Chinese philosophers also mention that there are 4 goals of narrative expression: to inspire a mood, to get people to contemplate, to give warmth to life, and to regulate feelings. I think all of these philosophers appreciate the art of storytelling and it goes to show how much storytelling is used even in different contexts. Additionally, although storytelling should be fluid, there should also be a type of guideline involved in its creation.
In this lecture, I learned a lot about what goes into a proper card game design. This lecture was very useful because it talked a lot about the design process and how the game should be used. It was interesting to see how the different groups interpreted each combination of cards. I like the overall format of the cards for each round: topic, device, attribute, and mood. It can be a little tricky for the user because in one group, the cards displayed “sarcasm” and “pleasure” at the same time, which do not work so well together, because they are opposites in a sense. However, those kinds of roadblocks help the user think differently and come up with new perspectives and ideas. I also really enjoyed seeing the different game ideas of each student in the beginning half of the lecture. I especially loved the paper doll game, because it was also one of my favorite games as a kid and I believe the student interpreted the game through paper in a very seamless way. There was a lot of thought put into the movement behind the game, which is important especially when it comes to the user putting on clothes on the doll.
Week 4:
Lecture 4: Metaphors and Models
In this lecture, I learned a lot about the different metaphors of design models. There is a lot I learned about George Lakoff, a cognitive linguist. He believes that our ordinary conceptual system (the way we think and act) is fundamentally metaphorical by its natural state. He states that humans think through metaphors because that is how we build conceptual systems. I really appreciate how he mentioned that metaphors are derived differently through various social systems/cultures. This shows how much we can think and speak differently depending on where we live and where we come from. I really the different metaphors in our language comparing time and money. Gareth Morgan is an organizational theorist who emphasized the importance of a good metaphor because it can allow us to communicate intent in a more effective manner. There are so many metaphors that I did not think twice about before, such as Apple. I learned a lot about how effective metaphors are when combined with design.
Week 3:
Lecture 3: Use & Social Practices
In this lecture, I learned a lot about design through different psychologists/biologists/designers. I think there is a lot to acknowledge about Martin Heidegger. He said that we always find ourselves thrown into a world of things and that we cannot consider ourselves to be human without the existence of/our attachment to things. We use tools to do activities but only truly notice the tool when it breaks. For every design to be considered “good,” it must be intuitive. We should forget about the existence of the tool while using it. That is what makes good design. I agree with this because when I use new tools, it is an intimidating experience until its use becomes intuitive. Jacob von Uexkull mentioned how all living things live in an “umwelt,” which is the way in which an organism senses its environment/surroundings. James Gibson coined the term “affordance” to describe what an environment offers/provides for an organism and how they are opportunities for taking action. I think its important to differentiate the various ways in which this can apply to different animals, however. I think its important to consider the different aspects of design and its different users.
Design And the Importance of Imaginaries
I really enjoyed this talk because it focuses a lot on how the way we think about the world affects what we do. It really opened my eyes to hear how metaphors and the language choices we make shape our reality for us. The way we think about concepts makes us decide what to do when we come across issues in our path. It is not just about what we understand. We have to dig deeper and think about how we think what we think and why we understand it in specific ways. We deal with a lot of complex and enmeshed systems of nature, technology, and society as well. We go from our environment to AI. There have been huge changes in our society. There is a lot of design research that is happening, which can help us gain new perspectives while we go on the adventure of exploring different imaginaries and how they impact our human behavior. It was interesting to see how we tackle these imaginaries in politics, energy, and behavior.
What Can A Body Do by Sarah Hendren
This was a very interesting discussion about the book, “What Can A Body Do?” by Sarah Hendren, I really hate the concept that a body in this world is considered “misfitting.” I think a lot of people with disabilities may unfortunately feel that way. I like that the author described it in a way where the feeling should be reversed and the world itself is only accepting to certain bodies. There was also a lot of mention about dwelling, which is more than just existing. It is about independently living in whichever way you want. I was really glad that she mentioned the curb space design. I also like the idea of design where if you build an accessible feature for people with disabilities, it can also be positively used for people without disability. I believe there is a lot to speak about when it comes to design, especially in education. This is a book that needs more recognition, to bring awareness to the idea of accessibility and design.
Week 2:
Lecture 2: Theorizing Sketching & Craftsmanship
In this lecture, I learned a lot about the methods of design movements. I also now acknowledge how much designing and planning goes into architecture. There is a lot to do in the design process. I learned a lot about how a reflection-in-action is viewed as a designer being in a conversation with their materials and sketches. It is also a good idea to “honor” your materials. A lot of people will look at you all confused if you say that, but I realized how true it is. Each material is unique and has a lot to offer a designer. Instead of changing it to be something it is not, it is important to honor it while using it. I found it fascinating that Nigel Cross advocated to recognize design as its own separate culture, apart from Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. The more I learn about design, the more I understand the need for this. I like that he mentioned that design is not just for creating nice-looking art, it is for problem-solving and involves a lot of critical and creative thinking. It is also good to note that a lot of people get scared to sketch because they are ashamed at their lack of artistic skills, but every skill requires practice and ultimately, just like with everything else, one learns by doing.
Week 1:
In this lecture, I learned about the evolution of technology and the relationship between humans and technology. Until I watched this lecture, I did not think enough about how much humans are dependent on technology and how both humans and technology are co-dependent and co-evolved over thousands of years. He mentioned Clive who has spoken about how humans need to think critically about what they design because our creations determine our quality of life and how they will ultimately be reflections of ourselves/humanity, because what we make ends up changing ourselves and our world. We also have to realize that art/design end up presenting alternatives to our current reality. I came across the quote by Hannah Arendt, “What we make, (re)makes us.” I think this lecture is a wonderful start of explaining the profound impact that design and technology have on humans and society over time.
Tony Fry: Futuring, The City, & Sustainment – The Remaking of Design
In this speech, I learned a lot about how much of an impact a city’s design has on its present reality and future. Tony gave a lot of examples of cities being built carelessly. A lot of cities are made near coasts, and as we know there is a huge climate crisis happening that is causing ocean levels to rise. A city could easily sink due to rising sea levels. He also mentioned another city that was built carelessly and it sank in a hole. Because we are experiencing such careless designing, Tony encourages the audience not to blindingly follow other design leaders. New designers should lead instead of follow and create sustainable designs. He mentions how humans have a false concept of time and permanence. Humans believe everything is permanent, including cities, but they will not be there forever due to the way they were made, where they were made, and the effects of climate change. He emphasizes how our population is exponentially growing and that we are expecting to reach 10 billion people by the end of the century. We have too many people and not enough resources, which will make living even harder for future generations in the long term. There needs to be more designers creating sustainable designs.