Design Practice - Project Ideation

Personal Design Goals

In this first tutorial for design practice, the class considered what skills they wanted to improve on and the type of design project that they would like to create for this semester.  I decided that I would like to improve:

 

Layout and work flow skills

A continuation of Adobe CC skills

Learn Figma to extend knowledge from Adobe XD

Sustainability Development Goal - 17

The project should also take into consideration the Sustainability Goal 17 – Partnerships for the Goals.  This was researched further: https://www.globalgoals.org/goals/17-partnerships-for-the-goals/ to understand how this could relate to a potential project.  Whilst the goals are primarily for developing countries, they present ideals that may be transferred to help all communities get ahead.  The website lists several adjectives to highlight Goal 17:  supportive, empathetic, inventive, passionate and co-operative. Whilst these descriptives may not all be met, I decided to reflect on what I could bring to my design project that would be in alignment with these ideals.

Topic Idea

One of these was an idea that I considered for the RSA project regarding water safety, which I felt could be a good fit for this module.  I  noted that every year, members of the public still get into trouble regarding tidal rivers, beaches and resevoirs, whether in summer or winter. Although the RNLI https://rnli.org/ offers water safety advice, there does not appear to be a local digital format that could help prevent people getting into trouble.  After a brain storming session in class, a list of associations were defined that could be expanded into a mind map (Fig.1):

Water Safety – Quicksand – RNLI – Secondary Drowning – Weaver Fish – Jelly Fish 

Tides – Public Safety – Online Information – QR Codes – Open Water – Flags

Water Safety Mind Map

Fig. 1 Mind Map Sketch - Heugh (2023)

The sketch was then categorised and expanded into four main nodes: stakeholders (unofficial bodies), the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (official bodies), environment and activities.  This makes it easier to sort data and corresponding relationships. The dangers such as drowning were removed with the activities and environmental categories hilighting potential danger areas.  For example water sports may not be dangerous as such but combined with a lack of local awareness and strong water currents may lead to a hazardous situation. 

 

Mind Map For Water Safety Project - Heugh (2023)

The mind map categories also provided the rationale for the SDG Goal 17 adjectives, which are mapped as follows:

Support – It can support associations linked to The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (HM Coastguard) who associate with several organisations such as UK Search and Rescue, National Water Safety Forum and the RNLI, a charitable organisation.  Although not formally linked organisations such as The National Trust could also be included as they manage over 780 miles of coastline in the UK.

Empathetic – It can empathise with those that would like timely and local area water safety information.

Inventive – The information is inventive through the use of a digital app or QR code.  This could be made widely available on websites and safety information portals.

Passionate – It can help people be aware and take interest in their environment and to respect the planet and ecosystem.

Co-operative – It can collaborate with businesses and councils to help bring trade to areas through safety first promotion in their locality.

Project Outline

Topic  Selection: Water Safety.

Name of Product: Water Safety Information Service.

Description: Digital product – App / QR code.

Target Market: Users of beaches and coastlines (wide target audience, which will be segmented).

Design Use: Mobile phone app, QR reader for websites, public safety information portals.

Main Activity:  To provide local information on water safety.

Secondary Activity: To enhance collaborative partnerships (SDG 17).

Reading

The main reading for this week is The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered Design for the Web and Beyond By Jesse James Garrett.   This provide the model for the design, which is grouped into five planes: strategy, scope, structure, skeleton and surface.

 

Practical Skills

Sign up for Figma education subscription and make a simple wireframe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGLfyTDgfDc&t=672s

Attend University Adobe CC workshops and online tutorials.