Group Maker Project 2
UX 201 Maker Lab 1
Creation of an interactive product that addresses a social concern and incorporates the concept of the critical making process.
Group Maker Project 2
Overview
During the semester, in my Maker Lab 1 class, we were presented with two different group assignments; Group Maker Project 1 and Group Maker Project 2. The second project required us to create a product of our liking that address a social concern which provided us with more creative freedom. With that, we were also required to perform a Show and Tell session where we shared our prototype and research with our fellow classmates. we were required to create a product as well as a prototype to present to my fellow classmates.
Tools
Canva
Google Docs
PowerPoint
Type
Group Project
Duration
1 month
Skills
Researching, Prototyping, Presenting/Sharing
Steps Taken
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Define the Problem and Find Target Users
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Conduct Research
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Ideation
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Prototyping
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Sharing
Design Objetive
Working in groups, the challenge we had was to create a product that involves a social issue/concern. In addition, this project should emphasize and use critical making concepts (Inspiration, Understanding, Ideation, Making, and Sharing). The main design objective of this assignment was to create a three-dimensional product that incorporates the "DIY' thinking concepts as well.
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The Problem
Products that we all use in our every day are so ingrained into society that oftentimes, we do not sit and reflect on whether or not those products are good for the environment and also inclusive and accessible to a lot of different people. With the creation of our phone case, there is an opportunity to educate users are inclusive and environmentally friendly designs.
Our Solution
What if there was a phone case that was both inclusive and environmentally friendly?
It is important to design with different morals in mind. With products, users should not have to worry about compromising their morals. Furthermore, our main target audience with this project was people who may have different types of motor function disaiblies who may have trouble using their phones on a daily basis.
Design Process
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Inspiration
Research & Brainstorming
Understaning
Defining problem
Ideation
Drawing sketches & design features
Making
Creation of 3D final prototype
Sharing
Show & Tell of research and prototype in class
Sketches
01.
This was our first idea sketch for our product. With this idea, we were keeping our design simple by making a pop-socket-like product that is able to connect to any phone. Once it is connected, users are able to use different features and software such as language translator. However, this idea was very broad and did not align with the goals and aims we had for this project.
Issues:
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Required more use of hands than we would have liked
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Bluetooth features can disconnect which can create even more problems
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No other feature for assisted holding, etc.
02.
Instead of going the Bluetooth route, we decided to keep the classic look of a phone case and add features that improve the usability and functionality of a case. In the design, we included a phone strap and a tripod for assisted holding.
Features Included:
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Tripod stick that splits into two (attachable by velcro)
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Attachable strap for assisted holding The clasp feature may not be accessible
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Volume and power on buttons are tap sensitive instead of pressure sensitive
This is the final design we decided to prototype.
03.
A rough sketch of the tripod we wanted to include. This feature/attachable part of the product helps with taking pictures (almost like a selfie stick) as well as works as a stand.
Issues:
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Not as stable as we wanted
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Three-leged was hard to prototype
We included a tripod in our final design but made some changes and modifications.
Prototype Creation
Materials Used
Recyclable and available materials we had on hand.
Creating our Prototype
Meeting up and working together to create our final physical prototype.
Final Product
Phone Pieces
Attachable pieces and phone case. This phone case has two add-on pieces in addition: a strap and a tripod.
Strap-on View
Phone with the strap attached by velcro.
Tripod-on View
Phone with the strap attached by velcro.
Conclusion + Reflection
This project was really great as it challenged us to think outside the box when it comes to creating ideas for the phone case while keeping the overall features (e.g., volume button) the same. In doing this, we were able to advance our thinking when it comes to ideation, understanding, etc. I really enjoyed this project as it was fun to go through the design process.
What Worked and What Didn't
The phone case as a whole worked. The ideation phase worked really well as we were able to come up with ideas really quickly. With that, when difficult situations arose, we were able to think of alternatives on how to solve them or come up with a whole new idea.
Although the creation phase of the critical making went fairly smoothly, there were moments when we had difficulties. For example, with the tripod, we weren’t able to make it three-legged as we were unable to figure out a way to prototype it which was why we chose two legs instead. Furthermore, we had trouble with making the slider part of the tripod come out but not fall out completely.
Next Steps
If we had more time, we would love to use materials that are biodegradable so we are staying true to our social concerns. In addition, we would love to figure out a way to make the tripod have three legs so it is able to withstand the weight of different types of phones.
My Evoltuion as a UX Designer
This project really helped me think outside the box about how we can take everyday objects and make them accessible and different. In addition, I am able to think more critically about my design choices and whether or not the choices I am making are consistent with our users’ needs.
