Blog 2: From Curiosity to Clarity

Hello there, reader! Welcome back. Just to give you some context, one of the major assignments in 302 is for us to write blogs about our project. Reflection on Action. So I will be sharing a short story about how my week went, what I did, and what learnings I discovered. For this week’s reflection, I will be using the CARL framework method from the University of Edinburgh reflection Toolkit.

Context | We are currently in weeks 4 to 5 of the project. At this stage, I'm focused on the discovery phase, which involves deepening my research to fully understand the scope of my capstone project. This includes exploring the benefits of nature on mental health and examining how other public parks and green spaces have been designed to enhance mental health and well-being. 

A crucial aspect of this phase is creating a survey to gather insights into CBD workers' experiences and preferences regarding a park. This step is vital, as it will provide valuable information on user needs and preferences. The survey results will help identify pain points and potential issues, supporting and validating once I make design decisions.  

For 301 , a key event this week was the project progress check. We were tasked with presenting our project within our stream, sharing our current progress, and outlining our vision for the entire project. During the lecture, we also had the chance to engage in hands-on work by creating a visual representation of someone’s project using clay and other scrap materials. In 302, we participated in a writing reflection workshop led by Dr. Ana Benton, where we explored our strengths and weaknesses in writing. This was a reflective experience for me, as I learned how to improve my writing weaknesses, such as grammar and making my paragraphs more impactful. It was quite amusing to discover that most of us in the class shared grammar as a common weakness! 

To provide some context, here’s my current to-do list. Most of it is completed, but I still need to choose an inspiration that will guide the aesthetic for my entire project. 

Action | As mentioned earlier, I previously indicated that conducting a survey is a crucial step for me to establish a foundation for my project. I chose to conduct a survey to better understand users' needs and preferences since my design is centered around them. 

It would be difficult for me to produce anything substantial at this point without this knowledge because I would not have a strong and solid basis for my future design Decisions. I opted to use Google Forms because it's the most accessible survey tool available, and most people know how to navigate it. When drafting my survey questions, I divided them into three categories: User Information, Experience, and Pain Points. 

My first draft included too many repetitive questions, so I had to cut it down short. This survey will also be sent out to my cohort, so I had to keep it concise to respect their time I divided them into three categories. The first category is User Information, which helps me identify who my users are without collecting names or other personal details. The second category is Experience which explores their personal experiences in parks/green spaces. This will help me to understand which features they value the most. The last category is pain points which primarily focuses on their negative experience in parks like safety and comfortableness. This allows me to consider how to make this space safe and welcoming. 

Result | One key event mentioned earlier is the project progress check-in 301, where we shared our vision and process so far. I have managed to submit everything on time, but honestly, it felt a little bit rushed. I was able to put together the information and progress I wanted to share, but when it came to the actual presentation like practicing the script, timing, and building confidence, I couldn't practice as much as I could. As a result, I couldn't present effectively as I hoped to. I was nervous and ended up stuttering because I didn’t have the time to practice well enough. 

Overall, I am satisfied with the content and script of my presentation, but this experience has taught me the importance of allocating time to practice the delivery itself. Being fully confident and familiar with your material not only reduces nervousness but also helps me connect better with my audience. In the future, I’ll prioritise rehearsing to ensure a smoother and more engaging presentation. 

Although there are no results from the survey yet, dividing it into three categories allowed me to capture the essential information and create a streamlined survey. I asked a few individuals to test the survey and provide feedback on their experience. Although their responses are not going to be included in the results, their input focused on whether the survey provided sufficient context, whether the questions were organised systematically, and if the length was appropriate or too lengthy. In my original draft, the feedback I got was that the questions were repetitive and too much to answer. As a result, I cut it down to 11 questions combining open-ended answers and multiple choices format. I aimed for this survey to be completed in approximately 5-7 minutes. Additionally, I indicated that the survey would require an email sign-in but won’t be collected or linked to their response. This measure was implemented to limit each response to one submission, ensuring more accurate data.  

As a result, I reduced the survey to 11 questions, combining both open-ended and multiple-choice formats. I aimed for the survey to be completed in approximately 5-7 minutes. Additionally, I specified that an email sign-in would be required, but assured respondents that their email addresses would not be linked to their responses or collected. This measure was implemented to limit each respondent to one submission, thereby ensuring more accurate data. 

*edit update

I recently got feedback from my mentor, Xin and she has suggested to do this survey in person. Conducting the survey face-to-face allows me to engage in a conversation, observe participant’s reactions, and address any concerns or questions in real time. This approach also allows me to clarify terms and provide explanations, which I wouldn’t be able to do through online platforms like Discord, or email.  

To summarise, a key area for ongoing improvement is managing my time more effectively. While pressure can indeed lead to brilliant ideas, as Thomas Carlyle's quote suggests, "No pressure, no diamonds," the idea encapsulates that to achieve greatness and success one must endure and overcome challenges ("No pressure, no diamond," 2023). Just as diamonds are formed under intense heat, we, too, are shaped by the adversities we encounter in life. However, it’s important to remember that creating an impactful and meaningful design takes time—not just hours or days, but often involves an iterative process. Rushing or leaving tasks until the last minute can cause us to overlook crucial details that contribute to the overall quality of the work. 

figure 1: Thomas Carlyle Quote

For instance, I neglected practicing my presentation and concentrated mainly on the content of the slides, resulting in a presentation that fell short of my expectations. If I did practice my presenting my presentation, I think I could've done a better job in explaining my capstone more effectively.

Additionally, seeking feedback is vital. Initially, I planned to release my survey questions without consulting my mentor. However, my anxiety prompted me to seek feedback, which proved invaluable. The insights I received allowed me to reflect and recognize the benefits of this approach. 

Learnings | In the 302, we participated in an academic writing workshop focused on crafting meaningful paragraphs. Previously, I struggled to keep my paragraphs concise and focused, often veering off topic and jumping between different ideas. Through Dr. Benton’s workshop, I learned a clear structure for writing effective paragraphs: starting with a topic sentence, followed by development, and concluding with a summary. Dr. Benton also emphasized the importance of maintaining a single, clear topic in each paragraph. This is something I am going to start implementing in writing my reports and blogs. 

In our 301 progress presentation, I realised the importance of paying attention to all aspects of the assignment, not just the content but also how it’s delivered. To achieve a high level of success, I need to be thoroughly prepared, ensuring everything runs smoothly. At the same time, it's essential to anticipate and plan for unexpected challenges, such as technical difficulties. 

I also learned that seeking feedback is a crucial step that shouldn't be overlooked. Although I sometimes feel that asking for feedback might cause inconvenience to others or lead to misinterpretation, it opens valuable opportunities for improvement. We often believe our work is in its best form but having someone else review it can highlight areas that need further refinement. For example, I initially thought my survey questions made sense. However, when Xin reviewed them, she pointed out that I needed to clarify certain terms, like what constitutes a green space within the context of my capstone project. 

As Xin pointed out, some participants may find certain terms unclear. To address this, I’ll include clarifying notes before sending out the survey. My goal is to gather enough responses before the mid-term break so I can shift my focus to brainstorming and ideation during that time. In addition to this, I plan to keep working on my 302 report and drafting the third blog post, ensuring both are ready for feedback and submission when we return from the break. 

Feel free to access my survey and miro board.

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References:

(Figure 1) AzQuotes. (n.d.). A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality – Yoko Ono [Image]. AzQuotes. https://www.azquotes.com/quote/48348

No pressure, no diamond. (2023, April 10). The Economic Times. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/speaking-tree/no-pressure-no-diamond/articleshow/110125453.cms?from=mdr