Final Synthesis: Assumptions + Empathy
First essay: Final Synthesis: Assumptions + Empathy
In your work, you were asked to regularly check your own implicit bias or preconceived notions about a problem and those who experience it. What are some assumptions you held about your users’ needs, or other potential blind spots you have as a designer? Did empathy help you create a more useful end product, and if so how? What strategies or tools helped?
Second essay: Final Synthesis: Ambiguity + Process
In this course, your team slowly moved from “don’t know, could be” to “do know, should be” (remember that Double Diamond?) While we gave you some direction and tools, your process and outcomes were largely self-directed and next steps were sometimes uncertain. What did you learn about your tolerance for ambiguity, and about the exploratory process of design? What might be useful as you move on from this class?
Third essay: Final Synthesis: Feedback + Iterative Design
As part of your work in this course, you were able to get regular feedback through instructor critique, focus groups, presentations, reflections, and even the team check-in. What is one piece of feedback that had an impact on you? How has (or hasn’t) your relationship to feedback changed through your experience in DES1000?
Requirements: depends
This will resemble your typical weekly reflection, but a little amped up. The approximate length for each of these mini-essays should be 300 words, and you should have a clear thesis that you then support. Focus on specific, tangible experiences, and avoid generalizations or repetitive statements. In addition, please comment meaningfully on one colleague’s post for the same prompt (must be for one of the four discussion threads you contributed to). I suggest you review the grading rubric, as it is a little different from your reflections.
Our topic is about climate change, and throughout the semester we\’ve been through several phases. First, we were asked to empathize with the users and see who really is suffering from climate change, and we eventually agreed to talk about people with respiratory issues. Afterward, we were asked to create our HMW( How might we….) question and come up with innovative solutions. We (my group) then thought about a small handheld device (which looks like an electronic vape) that a person can use to help breathe in when the air quality is bad.
Answer preview to Final Synthesis: Assumptions + Empathy
APA
344 words
