Blog 4.1: Week 7

Welcome back, reader. I hope you are doing well. We are week 7 out of 13. 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

Figure 1. Current state Meme GIPHY

Context | This week has been quite eventful. Several tasks are due, including blog submissions and report check-ins. By the end of the week, we also have a project partner presentation, where each of us will deliver a two-minute individual presentation to our project partners: Alex from the Waitemata Local Board and Charlotte from Resilio Design Studio. 

Although the project partner presentation is not graded, it will provide valuable feedback to help refine our projects. We have been allotted just two minutes to present and 3 minutes to get feedback due to time constraints and the large size of our group. I need to strategically use this brief but valuable time to ensure I receive meaningful feedback on my project. Over the next few days, I aim to accomplish a few key goals. I am currently in the ideation phase of my project, but I feel I may be falling behind in terms of productivity. It is clear I need to act to get back on track. 

On top of managing the workload from my capstone, I am also job hunting. Unfortunately, the number of available jobs in our industry right now is relatively low and highly competitive. Many entry-level or graduate positions ask for an unrealistic three or more years of experience, which feels frustratingly out of reach.  

Figure 2. Life After College Meme

Action | In my previous blog submission, I received feedback highlighting the need to improve my reflective writing, particularly in the Results and Learning sections. I was meant to write about learning about myself, not what I learned from class. I find this a bit hard because sometimes, I do not have any “learnings” at all, or I still learn the same thing. To help me improve, I took notes and organised the feedback on my Miro board. As I write this week’s reflection, I keep that feedback close to ensure I stay on track and avoid the same mistakes. I have also revisited the guiding questions for each section to ensure I address them thoroughly. 

In addition to that, I created a dedicated frame on my Miro board. I often forget the week's key highlights and lose track of what I want to write about. This new frame helps me organise my thoughts while keeping a clear structure in front of me, making the writing process smoother and more focused. 

Figure 3. Weekly Blog Reflection Frame

In preparation for my project presentation, which was limited to just two minutes and two slides, I quickly outlined the content for each slide. I chose to provide context on slide one and showcase my progress and vision on slide 2. Since the goal of this presentation was to gather feedback on the early stages of our projects, I streamlined the process by reusing the context slides from my 301 presentations, along with some material from my 302-slide submission from a few weeks ago. This allowed me to focus more on refining my message within the time constraints. I also chose not to use pre-made templates in Canva, following a strong recommendation from my mentor, Xin. Instead, I used background photos of Tākutai Square sourced from the internet. For future presentations, I have realised it is important to use my own images of the site. This will help me avoid copyright issues and ensure that the visuals align more closely with my vision for the project. 

Figure 4. Preparation for Project-Partner Presentation

After my presentation, I received a few pieces of feedback, but one in particular stood out: “Are you encouraging people to sit on the grass or not?” This question made me realise a potential conflict in my design vision. While I planned to create multiple seating areas, this could reduce the amount of grass in the space. It got me thinking about how much of Tākutai Square I am altering and whether I am unintentionally sacrificing green space. Keeping the grass is important to me because I see it as a way for people to reconnect with nature physically. 

Before heading home, I took a quick field trip to Tākutai Square. Visiting the square in person helped me envision the space much more clearly. I had never actually spent time there before—only catching glimpses of it while rushing to catch the train. This visit allowed me to take my own photos, as most of the ones I had were sourced online and did not fully capture what I needed. As I explored, I noticed some new features: elegant folding chairs and huts placed in the centre, giving the area a classy touch. The bean bags were also there, adding a relaxed vibe to the space, although I noticed that the water sprinklers on the right side were not turned on or were not working. I also spotted some flower boxes filled with vibrant, colourful flowers. It was a bit amusing because I had to take the photos discreetly—it felt awkward with a security guard nearby, so I tried to act casual as I snapped the pictures! 

Results | Visiting Tākutai Square, my chosen site location, gave me a much clearer understanding of the area. Relying on estimates often leads to wrong assumptions and unnecessary extra work. Seeing the space in person allowed me to observe how people interact with it, identify potential improvements, and determine which elements should remain unchanged. It also helped me verify my assumptions, particularly regarding environmental factors—such as which areas receive the most sunlight, which are exposed to the most foot traffic, and which “dead” zones could be repurposed for better use. 

Planning the content of my slides helped me provide clear context to my project partners and, in return, receive valuable feedback. It is crucial that the audience fully understands the direction of my project. However, I realise I may have overloaded the first slide with too much information, making it overwhelming for them. It seemed like they were not sure where to start reading and had to squint because the font size was too small. I believe the best approach for future presentations is to include just the right amount of information and ensure everything is easily readable. I can maximise the use of bullet points and focus on explaining the details during the live presentation. 

I also decided to go for a no-script presentation unlike what I usually do. There were two reasons for this: first, the presentation was only two minutes long, and I felt writing a script would take more time than necessary. Second, I wanted to test my confidence and approach it as more of a conversation. I believe that if you are the one who created the work, you should know it well enough to present it naturally without relying on a script.  

In my last presentation, I was strongly advised not to use pre-made slides templates. Instead, I opted for a simple design, using photos of Tākutai Square as the background. I believe this approach helped the audience focus more on the content rather than being distracted by design elements. While aesthetics is important, maintaining a balance between clarity and visuals was key in this context. Using site-specific images made the presentation feel more personal and connected to the project. Moving forward, I plan to continue this approach, but I hope to use my own photos in future presentations.

Figure 5. Project Partner Slides

Learning | One of the key takeaways from this week was the importance of first-hand experience. Visiting the site helped me realise that no amount of desk research can fully replace the insights gained from physically being in the space. Observing how people behave in Tākutai Square gave me valuable insights into how my design could best serve the community, such as identifying which areas are frequently used and which spaces could benefit from more attention. Rahima Hashmi, an interior designer, stated in an article that “a site visit engages all the senses, providing a multi-dimensional understanding of the space” (Hashmi, 2024). I could see the scenery, listen to the ambience, feel the textures of surfaces, and even take in the distinct atmosphere.

Preparing the slides did not take as much time as I anticipated, which allowed me to focus on the quality of the content rather than getting bogged down in the design process. This ease of preparation gave me more confidence when presenting. I also noticed that the audience seemed to connect more with the presentation because I spoke naturally and without relying on a script. Presenting without a script tested my knowledge of the project, which was both challenging and empowering. It made me feel more confident in my understanding, although I am still undecided if I will continue with that approach. 

However, I did learn that simplicity is key. I overloaded my slides with too much information, and the small font made reading difficult for the project partners. I could see them struggling to engage fully with the material, which clearly indicated that I needed to refine how I presented information visually. Moving forward, I will ensure my slides are more concise and readable. 

Interestingly, the project partners did not ask many questions after my presentation. I am unsure if that is a positive or negative sign, but I am choosing to view it as a good thing— perhaps I covered all the necessary points and left them with a clear understanding of the project. Lastly, the entire experience helped boost my confidence in presenting, and I will focus on refining my approach, keeping in mind the importance of clarity, brevity, and confidence in delivery. 

Going without a script was a risky decision, but it ultimately boosted my confidence. At first, it was terrifying—my hands and feet were restless, I felt nauseous like I might throw up, and I made several trips to the bathroom before it was my turn to present. However, the most valuable lesson I learned that day was the power of “mind over matter.” It is a simple phrase that describes our ability to regulate ourselves in moments when situations feel beyond our control. While the situation itself was controllable—I chose not to use a script—the physical effects of nervousness were overwhelming. 

I have always disliked presenting because having people stare at me makes me question whether I am making sense or look like a fool while they just politely pretend to understand. At that moment, I had to stop overthinking and reassure myself that everything was fine. I learned that I could fake confidence—and I eventually became confident by doing so! 

I came across an article from the Harvard Business Review where it mentioned that while a speaker’s primary goal is to engage and inspire, many communicators feel compelled to write out their speeches because they mistakenly believe their goal is to be perceived as a great speaker or writer (Schwartzberg, 2021). Writing a full script can be time-consuming; in my experience, it often makes us sound robotic. When presenting, I have found that I prefer to speak naturally and transition between points in a way that feels more human rather than sounding overly formal, making it challenging to connect with the audience. Reading from a script can create a barrier between the speaker and the audience, and personally, I appreciate it when presenters engage with their audience directly. It makes the presentation feel more relaxed and approachable. 

I recall using this approach in one of my first presentations for 301, where I asked, “Could I see a show of hands from those who have been stressed at work or by work?” I followed up with, “Well, it is good to know we are all in this together.” This simple interaction helped me build a strong connection with my audience. As Schwartzberg pointed out, people are more likely to pay attention to speakers who genuinely engage and show sincere interest in them (Scwartzberg, 2021). 

Action Plan | Currently, I feel like I am running out of time. I really need to get my ideas in order and stop focusing on unnecessary things. I should also try not to dwell too much on feedback. Although I have been getting better at accepting constructive criticism, it is important to move forward. Over the next few weeks, I need to return to working on my report, as I have neglected it too long. I must also stick to a strict schedule and complete my to-do list on time. I tend to write long to-do lists, but I struggle to finish them because I easily get distracted by other tasks. For the coming weeks, I will continue in the ideation phase, working with pen and paper to sketch out the space I envision. Keeping a notebook or taking quick notes when ideas come to mind will help ensure I do not forget important thoughts.  

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Giphy. (n.d.). Dog in fire meme. Giphy. https://www.giphy.com/explore/dog-in-fire-meme [Figure 1] 

Hashmi, R. (2024). The importance of site visits in an interior design journey. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/importance-site-visits-interior-design-journey-transform-hashmi-bpeaf 

Reddit. (2022). Life after college [Meme]. Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/meme/comments/v9rote/life_after_college/ [ Figure 2] 

Schwartzberg, A. (2021, January 29). Stop scripting your speeches. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2021/01/stop-scripting-your-speeches 

Sarmiento, A. (2024). Blog 4 Header 

Sarmiento, A. (2024). Preparation for Project-Partner Presentation [Figure 4] 

Sarmiento, A. (2024). Project Partner Slides [Figure 5] 

Sarmiento, A. (2024). Weekly Blog Reflection Frame [Figure 3]