Constraints:
My design process personally was effected by the two-week time frame in a sense that I did not get stuck on brainstorming on solutions for an extended period of time. I think that sometimes I jump into ideas too early, so I was used to not dwell too much on all the possible solutions, in this case, it benefited our group’s outcome. I think since we decided the second day we met what our game plan was going to be, it made us more productive and focused. I feel like we decided our plan and started out so strong… then we started to fizzle out midway… but then I think we ended strong.
Working with classmates provided a constraint in the sense that we all had to wait until each other were done with their portion. Our schedules, living locations, styles, and workflow are so different from each other which on the one hand enriches the work but on the other hand can get complicated when needing to meet, make a cohesive brand, and get designs done fast. I think my team tried to push against this constraint making for a more smooth group project experience, even though we did run into minimal speed bumps.
I felt like having an assigned project/place was a good and healthy constraint especially since the project was so short! The constraints of having an assigned project helped me think more creatively when a project is too open ended I tend to get caught up on too many possibilities. I think being given an assigned project/place makes it more applicable to real world assignments in the workplace.
Opportunity:
This experience will inform my work with teams in future design work by paying attention to my group’s strengths and weaknesses more. Promoting collaboration is key and meeting up in person to brainstorm and set the stage is essential and something I will encourage my future teams to do.
Participating in design challenges and charrette style projects I feel are most rewarding to me. I have a some what short attention span when it comes to projects. I love quick projects and challenges because it does not allow me to get bored or stuck because it is moving so fast. The excitement in the speed really motivated me and made me think faster and more creatively than I have in longer projects. I am also used to working in a speedy environment in the work place so I feel comfortable and pushed by challenges like these.
The way I approach new experience and coworkers will stay the same because I think most of the time I approach things with an open mind. I will be more be more vocal when I believe things are being handled improperly and be cultivate a collaborative and listening space for my other group members in the future though.
Application:
One of the special group moments we had was the third time our group had met, each individual had worked on a piece of the project outside of class only having the logo and color scheme as parameters. We presented the ideas for how we thought our posters and deliverable should look and feel, our work was all over the place across the board which was wonderful to see the vision each of us was having for our outcome. We thought it might be helpful to switch computers and redesign things that others had made in our style but then decided that was counterproductive and that we needed just to delegate roles within the group that we would then be in charge of. Working in a group benefited me in this way because it was amazing to see other people’s thought process for all the different aspects of the project then fine tune them and craft them to our brand, seeing each individual’s style, thought process, and strengths are key to collaboration.
I normally like to work by myself because I am on my own time frame. But while working with a team the motivation for time management is increased because you need to get approval from the group on your designs and present to your group. Where as if this was an individual project I would already know where I was heading in my minds-eye and would not have to have as many “check ups” on the process. Working in groups is also more pressure because you do not want to let your group down.
Group work is hard especially in a group of five because here always ends up being individuals that feel like they are contributing either too little or too much.
My group did a really good job brainstorming and thinking of solutions, we encouraged each other to push ourselves in the design process which was very motivating. This motivation made me work faster, better, and smarter.
Our level of quality in our end design deliverables was very cohesive which was a relief because that was the hardest part to coordinate within a group. In my opinion, we could have had more deliverables but it is probably good that we kept a number of deliverables to a happy medium because the deliverables crafted and all the way thought out because of the limit of deliverables we presented.
My contribution to the group project:
-I created the motion graphics of the logos for the video
-Found, curated, filmed, and placed appropriate film and music within the video.
-Worked on the overall video as a whole: production, editing, and seeing the video through to completion (with Trevor’s help)
-Made and curated the whole website
-Provided feedback and guidance to the overall team
The following link shows our design process, deliverables, and reflection:
Presentation, video, and poster on the google doc:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B30lw1n9HFbzeE9rQUNBakRRcms
Link to The Stream Website:
https://keburke3.wixsite.com/thestreamraleigh
My advice:
Make quick and smart decisions that aren’t based as much on “the now”/current. Let “the now” influence you to think creatively and toward the future….yet still make it realistic but don’t get hung up on logistics.
GD301_Branding, Interaction, Service Design 