Design Exploration - Task 1: Project Proposal

26 Sept 2024 - 31 Oct Oct 2024 (Week 1 - Week 6)
Vincent Lee // 0359386
Design Exploration // Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media // Taylor's University
Task 1: Project Proposal

Instructions

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Task 1: Project Proposal
Once you have decided the direction of your project, you will prepare a proposal brief explaining the reasons for your project and how you intend to carry it out. This area will consist of proposed research areas, data gathering methods and technical executions for your project. Be realistic with your proposal, as you have limited amount of time, resources and energy to do so but at the same time allowing you to exercise your creative skills beyond your comfort zone.


Week 1 - Ideation/ Topic Research

Figure 1.1 - Ideation/ Topic Research, Week 1 (26 Sept 2024)


Week 2 to Week 4 - Topics Development

Figure 1.2 - Topics Development, Week 5 (24 Oct 2024)


Task 1 Submission
Thorough competitor analysis, and refine the sitemap and user flow.

Figure 1.3 - Task 1: Project Proposal Submission, Week 5 (24 Oct 2024)


Feedback

Week 2 - Ideation/ Topic Research
- Idea #1 - Remote and Hybrid Work
The idea of catered two different industry of people (employers and employees, lectures and students) with an application should be reconsidered as these two industries have different needs and wants. Aside from that, try to explore different task manager application to avoid being too generic.

- Idea #3 - Rituals Offerings
It will going to be just another e-commerce website/ application. Seller can just upload their product through e-commerce platforms like Shopee and Lazada, and achieve the same outcome.


Week 3 - Topics Development
- include aspiration slide

- Idea #3 - Religious Goods
Provide references first and foremost, following only create mood board, then low-fidelity and high-fidelity wireframe.


Week 5 - Topics Development
Below are the main concerned from Sir Asrizal until the approval of the topic.
  • App Direction
Sir Asrizal noted my interest in building an e-commerce app for religious goods and questioned the feasibility of this idea in Malaysia. He emphasized checking if there’s a local demand, as people traditionally buy these items in physical stores.
  • Market Analysis
He asked if there were any similar apps in Malaysia and emphasized understanding my target audience’s buying behavior. He noted that if the market is not yet open to purchasing such items online, an e-commerce platform might face challenges despite being well-designed.
  • Consumer Behaviour
He questioned if younger users, who are more familiar with e-commerce, are the primary buyers of religious items, as the traditional customer base might prefer physical stores.
  • App Features 
He asked about the core features or MVP (Minimum Viable Product) of the app and suggested ensuring that the features are relevant to your audience's needs.
  • Practical Considerations: 
Sir Asrizal asked about the specific offerings, like delivery and memberships, and whether instructions on arranging religious offerings are essential. He also mentioned the need for a photo catalog and potential logistical challenges.


Week 6 - Task 1 Proposal
Mr. Asrizal asked whether the app would include a best-selling category or organize the inventory by occasion. Other than that, it’s good to go.


Reflection

Week 1
While I wanted to step beyond my comfort zone, I ultimately decided to focus on expanding my skills in website and application design. Following Mr. Asrizal’s suggestion, I explored platforms like Pinterest and looked into trending industries projected for the next 5-10 years as a guide. After some initial exploration and research, I used ChatGPT to gather information, followed by a deeper dive into research papers to understand current issues, weaknesses, and challenges in the industry. This process helps me design with a stronger user experience in mind, aiming to address common issues faced by existing applications.

My ideas are not yet fully formed or precise, nor do I have a complete plan for each concept. However, I’ve documented my thoughts across four ideas (in Figure 1.1) to prepare for further discussion in the next class with Mr. Asrizal.


Week 2
After consulting with Mr. Asrizal, the outcome wasn’t quite what I expected. I had felt confident about the 'Ritual Offering' idea, but Sir suggested that a 'Task Manager' app might be a better choice. Though initially disappointing, I took some time to process and reflect on his feedback. I've now decided to put extra effort into developing both the 'Task Manager' and 'Ritual Offerings' concepts.

To start, I’ll apply what I learned in the previous module by identifying key problems and the target audience, selecting three MVP features I want to showcase in each application. From there, I'll create user flows, wireframes, and eventually a prototype, which will be my focus for the next stage.

 
Week 3
This week, I defined objectives and listed the minimum viable products (MVPs) for both the 'Task Manager' and 'Religious Goods' ideas to guide the final deliverables for this module. Each concept now includes at least three MVPs, along with a mood board and references sourced from Pinterest. I also created a sitemap for each idea to visualize the content structure, incorporating additional features like membership benefits and order tracking.

Initially, I felt overwhelmed, unsure if Mr. Asrizal would still recommend focusing on the 'Task Manager.' To strengthen the case for 'Religious Goods,' I added more details to show its potential and convince Mr. Asrizal of its value. Ultimately, though, it comes down to my own choice and belief in what will enhance my portfolio. As Mr. Asrizal advised in the first class, we could either deepen our expertise by expanding on past work or step outside our comfort zone with new approaches like animation or 3D prototyping. I opted for the former, sticking to e-commerce, even though ‘Religious Goods’ overlaps with my previous KOI app project in this category.

Finding references has been challenging, as there are plenty for 'Task Manager' but almost none for 'Religious Goods.' To address this, I’ve referred to general e-commerce apps for mood board inspiration, design direction, and elements suitable for 'Religious Goods.' With no direct app references, I also looked at resources like Holy Bible apps to study content layout and user experience, using these insights to inform my wireframes and content planning.


Week 4
Since there hasn’t been any progress since the last class, I didn’t meet with Mr. Asrizal for a consultation. Instead, I took the initiative to pick up where I left off. If I’m not mistaken, Task 1 is due next week, so I’ll need to work hard to catch up on everything I’ve left unfinished.


Week 5
Picking up from where I left off has helped me broaden my perspectives and refine ideas for StudyBuddy. However, delving into user needs and wants would have required more time, extensive feedback, and an experienced designer to bring the concept to life effectively. Ultimately, I'm determined to focus on Lotus and Light as my topic. I’m unsure of what Sir Asrizal thinks—perhaps he sees me as a bit stubborn, or maybe my responses convinced him that it’s a viable idea. This topic also feels more manageable since I previously worked on the KOI App, providing me with a foundation.

While I can speak English, I sometimes struggle to fully express my ideas, which impacted earlier consultations with Sir Asrizal. After discussing this with a classmate last week, I prepared more thoroughly, focusing less on time and more on clearly explaining my progress. I addressed his concerns about the target market, app concept, features, and challenges. Ultimately, he gave me the green light to proceed. His questions helped me refine the app concept and its content, pushing me to approach it more thoughtfully.


Quick Links

Task 2: Project Development



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