Design Capstone: Progress Reflection (iv)
14 Oct 2023
Written by: Yasmin Dullabh
This is the fourth status report and reflection of my progress on my capstone project.
[image transcript: "week 10: 02.10.2023
actual project
right now i am figuring out how i will be visualising my final project methodology.
→ it feels, looking back at what i have done so far, that i have not necessarily stuck to the double diamond method, rather i have shifted away and moved towards my own framework. i feel that working in a pattern that best aligns with my own practice and what feels natural to me
→ i need to figure out how i am defining each phase."]
[image transcript: "week 11: 09.10.2023
today i focused on branding guidelines for my final output. i haven't done much work over the week and weekend. i have started to transcribe the audio from the workship we held.
i need to talk to Diana about including stories from those who aren't in my target audience.
i plan to interview some people this week to gain more inssights and content for my zine.
week 11: 09.10.2023
week 11: 14.10.2023
i had underestimated the mental toll my personal life was having on my project work. i feel that i am often so drained that i cannot make any significant progress on my capstone project. this is not aided by the emotional and personal nature of my project.
however, i have made significant progress on my low-fidelity prototype which is a positive.
looking back at my choice to use the double diamond method, while i can appreciate it with its structure, i have discovered that this structured approach to design is something that is not of any benefit to me for this project (and maybe my practise as a designer in general).
→i am someone who is led by my emotions. i make choices, while often influenced by logic, but my best decisions have been those in which i have followed what felt right both emotionally and in my soul.
for a project which is so heavily focused on storytelling (authentically), it only makes sense for my design method to align with that."]
low-fidelity zine prototype
[image transcript: "week 11: 15.10.2023
the election results are almost fully in (98.7% counted). it is 1:00 a.m. this is all i can focus on. however, i feel that this is relevant to discuss here. our current political climate heavily impacts how we exist in the world, and therefore, naturally impacts the manner in which we create. a change in government is not something i personally wanted. a national-act government is something which many queer people across the country fear. this is also a feeling shared by POC, especially by Māori and Pacific peoples, with the act party (not that national is much better).
essentially, it is not the greatest time to be a queer South Asian creative.
week 11: 15.10.2023
the feedback i have gotten so far for my first low-fidelity prototype has been positive, however, people have pointed out a few things that i will need to change. my plan is to further develop my prototype to hopefully gain more feedback and improve my final zine.
i intentionally reached out to my queer and South Asian peers so that i make sure that what i am making is liked by my chosen demographic. i have asked for feedback from those outside of my demographic to gain valuable insights into how the zine is viewed by those outside of my chosen demographic.
LOW FIDELITY PROTOTYPE
♡ the flow of the pages
→ add more red thread to help add to the cohesiveness (to tie it all together)
the layout could appear "a little chaotic to some people"
→ i need to be mindful of this.
→ adding more connecting elements throughout the zine should help with this
HOWEVER...
do i enjoy the chaotic nature?
... YES!
this potentially capturing the complexity and diverse nature of the lives of queer South Asian creatives."]