Blog 3: Back in Business

Well, well, you're still here? Welcome back, reader. Welcome to the second half of the semester. 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 share 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 | To provide context, we have just returned from a two-week mid-semester break. Before the break, I had a few plans in mind, though I kept my expectations realistic, knowing I would not accomplish everything. Now, we are technically in Week 7 of the semester (or Week 9 if we count the break), and this is when the workload really starts to build. As mentioned in my previous blog, I initially planned to conduct my surveys in person. This approach ensured that participants fully understood my questions, as I had included terms that might not be entirely clear. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, my mentor fell ill, resulting in the cancellation of our studio class, so I had to revert to my original plan of conducting the survey online. 

I had hoped to complete the surveys before the mid-semester break, as they would provide essential insights into users' needs and help shape the vision for my park design. Now, I am crossing my fingers that my classmates will complete the survey. I am in the early stage of my project's interpretation phase, where I gather valuable information to inform and guide the development of my design concept. In the coming week, I hope to get more responses by approaching my classmates in person once we return. I am also close to finalising my architectural inspiration. I have researched a few architects who have inspired me since high school. 

This week is crucial as I have to get back on track and accomplish the things I could not do before and during the break. I have several assignments due, like the next blog, report check-in, and project partner presentation this week.

Action | Because of the class cancellation, I sent the survey via Discord, hoping my classmates would answer. To get everyone's attention, which I am hoping would work, I have tagged everyone. I hope that by doing this, I will get more responses as they are notified. Another critical decision I need to make is the overall look of my design concept. Should I aim for something intricate or keep it simple and minimal? To help answer this, I have researched a list of architects who inspire me and align with my project goals. I wrote down what I like about these architects and their research into their techniques. This action is to explore techniques I could potentially apply in my work and see if they align with my project goals. I have narrowed it down to two favourites: Shigeru Ban and Mies van der Rohe.  

Additionally, I conducted a critical analysis of various green space and public park designs, both conceptual and built. I reviewed relevant articles, identified key features of each park that I found appealing, and considered whether these elements would be suitable for inclusion in my own design. 

Results | Honestly, I did not accomplish the tasks on my to-do list I planned to complete before and during the semester break. I could not conduct my survey in person due to the cancellation of the last studio class and had to rely on online responses. However, despite tagging everyone, I have only received a few responses, which are insufficient for me to start developing my design concept. This will delay my timeline, as I had planned to gather insights during the break and begin ideating concepts. If I had started the surveys before the last week of the semester break, I believe I would have had enough information to begin ideating my idea. 

Additionally, during the break, I set up several tasks to complete but could not achieve as much as I had hoped due to a lack of information on user needs, which I expected to obtain from the survey. If I could go back and revise my approach, I would create a detailed timeline for the two-week break rather than just listing tasks. This would allow me to maximise my time, balance work, and rest more efficiently. 

Learning | From the unexpected event of missing the studio class, where I had planned to ask my peers for interviews and surveys, I learned the importance of planning. I did not anticipate how quickly the semester break would approach, and this oversight impacted my progress. I am still developing my time management skills but have also noticed my resilience when things do not go as planned. I would easily panic and stop in the past, but through experience, I have learned to adapt. Despite the delay, I quickly planned my next steps for when we returned. During the break, I took the initiative to personally ask some of my peers to complete the survey while ensuring their anonymity.  

I have realised that I struggle with managing multiple tasks simultaneously. I prefer having a structured approach where I complete one task before moving on to the next. However, I often start numerous tasks at once due to time constraints. To address this, I plan to focus on closing and finishing all the incomplete items on my Miro board by the end of the week. 

I have also learned the importance of managing my expectations. During the semester break, I created a to-do list but did not plan how to allocate my time effectively. As a result, I allowed myself some leniency and forgave myself for not fully accomplishing everything on my list. Moving forward, I will use this experience to inform better planning strategies, ensuring I have a clear structure and deadlines to follow.  

Action Plan | As we enter the second half of the semester and the pace picks up, I must make significant progress, especially since I am currently behind schedule. According to my project timeline, I should be in the ideation phase by now, but I am still completing the interpretation phase. I must gather additional survey responses to gain insights into my design decisions. 

When we return from the break, my top priority will be to conduct interviews and surveys with my peers. I must complete this promptly to have material for creativity and presentation by Thursday, when we also have a project partner presentation feedback session. My immediate focus will be on generating as many ideas as possible, both good and bad. Additionally, I must visit Takutai Square to take updated photos, as the online ones are insufficient for my needs.