06/01/2025 - 08/01/2025
Ng Zheng Kai 0359424
Bachelor of Design in Creative Media
Minor Project
Final Reflection
INSTRUCTIONS
Minor Project Reflection
W1
During the first week of class, we were briefed on what we are going to do for this module, and we were asked to choose between 3 projects to take on, which are Warisan XR Immersive Expedition, Expedio Project X-Board Idea Space, and Daikin Project. I initially picked Warisan XR because the AR/VR concept fascinated me, but then my initial group was not sufficient due to the grouping requirements. So our lecturer advised me to change to another group in a different time slot. (I was in morning class and I have to change to afternoon class). I entered the class and joined this group taking on the Expedio Project. After joining the group working on the Expedio Project, I began to appreciate the value of adaptability and collaboration in a team setting. Initially, I was hesitant about leaving my comfort zone, as I had already familiarized myself with the Warisan XR project concept. However, transitioning to the Expedio Project exposed me to new ideas and challenges that I might not have encountered otherwise. This shift taught me the importance of flexibility in a professional environment, where changes in circumstances often require us to adjust quickly. One of the key things I learned from this experience is the importance of stepping out of my comfort zone to embrace new opportunities. By working on the Expedio Project, I gained insights into how design thinking and problem-solving can be applied to real-world challenges, particularly in brainstorming innovative solutions for modern workspace environments. This has not only expanded my technical skills but also enhanced my ability to work with people from different backgrounds and perspectives. I realized that being open to change can lead to unexpected growth and the development of transferable skills that are crucial in any field.
W2
This week, we used Miro to brainstorm and organize ideas for the Expedio Project. We researched platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and websites for marketing, analyzed the X-Board prototype, and compared it to traditional whiteboards by examining materials, functions, and pricing. We also identified competitors and defined the target audience for the X-Board. These activities helped me understand the importance of market research and target audience analysis. I connected this to my interest in UI/UX design, realizing how user-centered thinking and competitive analysis are essential for creating innovative solutions. This experience was valuable as it enhanced my research and collaboration skills. Understanding branding and user needs is crucial for both this module and my future career in UI/UX design. Moving forward, I will apply these research and organizational skills to our project and future endeavors, ensuring my work is both user-focused and market-relevant. Tools like Miro will remain essential for effective teamwork and planning.
W3
This week, we focused on understanding our target audience by creating user personas and developing a questionnaire to gather customer insights. We researched the products and analyzed customer preferences, including likes and dislikes, to inform our marketing strategies.These activities helped me realize the importance of building personas to understand user needs better. It also highlighted how customer feedback can guide product improvements and shape more effective marketing approaches. This process was valuable for learning how to empathize with users and make research-driven decisions. Understanding customer preferences and behaviors is essential for designing user-centric products and campaigns, which is highly relevant to UI/UX design and marketing. I will apply these skills in our project by using customer insights to refine our approach. Long-term, this understanding of persona-building and feedback analysis will be crucial in creating user-focused designs and solutions in my career.
W4
This week, Expedio allowed group leaders to visit the product prototype and take sample photos. Meanwhile, we continued conducting surveys, sending out questions to friends and target groups on social media after obtaining Mr. Mike's approval. Visiting the prototype provided valuable insights into the product’s design and functionality, making it easier to align our research with real-world applications. Conducting surveys helped us gather direct feedback from potential users, emphasizing the importance of understanding customer perspectives. This experience reinforced the importance of combining visual observation with user feedback to inform product development. It highlighted how user-centric research enhances both design and marketing strategies, skills essential for my future in UI/UX design. Moving forward, I will use these insights to guide our project decisions and improve our understanding of user needs. This approach will also be crucial in my future career, ensuring that designs and solutions are both practical and user-focused.
W5
After the survey, we collected 87 responses. Initially, we relied on friends for responses, but later targeted relevant individuals to ensure accurate results. Each group member analyzed different parts of the data, confirming that our original persona aligned with the target consumer group and gaining insights into the required product functions. This process demonstrated the importance of targeting the right audience for surveys to gather meaningful feedback. It validated our persona-building efforts and provided clarity on user needs, reinforcing the connection between research and product development. This experience highlighted how accurate data collection and analysis are essential for creating user-focused products. It strengthened my ability to use research to validate ideas and inform design decisions, which is critical for UI/UX design and other fields. I will apply these skills by ensuring future surveys are targeted and by using data to refine ideas and features. In my career, this practice will help create solutions that align with user needs and expectations.
W6
This week, we analyzed our survey data and presented our findings to Mr. Mike. During the discussion, he emphasized shifting our focus from showcasing X-Board's features to persuading unfamiliar users to try it. Using his feedback, we refined our insights and moved on to developing the problem statement. This discussion helped me understand the importance of addressing user pain points and crafting a persuasive narrative to attract new users. It highlighted the need to balance product features with a strong value proposition to engage the target audience effectively. This experience was valuable because it taught me how to pivot based on feedback and focus on what truly resonates with users. This skill is essential in fields like UI/UX design, where understanding user behavior and motivations is key to creating impactful solutions. I will use this learning to refine our problem statement and ensure our project addresses user needs effectively. In the future, this approach will guide me in designing user-centric products and crafting compelling value propositions.
W7
This week, after presenting the early version of our PowerPoint, we received feedback highlighting flaws in contextual research and the need to focus on dynamic collaboration ideas instead of reintroducing the company. We worked collaboratively to refine the slides, improve analysis, and ensure visuals were supported by clear reasoning. Despite challenges with the initial idea, we brainstormed and revised everything before the deadline to prepare for next week’s presentation. This process emphasized the importance of incorporating feedback and aligning ideas with project goals. It also highlighted how effective teamwork and thorough justification of visuals and concepts can strengthen the overall presentation. This experience was valuable as it reinforced the importance of clear communication, attention to detail, and visual reasoning in presentations. These skills are essential for delivering ideas effectively, particularly in UI/UX design, where visuals and user-centered explanations are critical. I will apply this learning by ensuring future projects incorporate feedback promptly and align closely with objectives. Moving forward, I’ll focus on presenting ideas with clear justification, a skill that will be crucial for both academic and professional settings.
W9
After the presentation, we began working on the advertising and promotional plan for the X-Board. This involved creating a customer journey map for three personas, detailing touchpoints and the media we’ll use to engage them, such as branding, website, social media posts, emails, videos, and collateral design. Each team member was assigned tasks to complete the customer journey map. This task highlighted the importance of mapping user journeys to understand how personas interact with different media. It reinforced the need to align promotional strategies with user actions and preferences to create effective engagement. This experience was valuable in teaching me how to structure a customer journey map and strategically plan media to fulfill user needs. These are critical skills for designing user-centric marketing strategies and creating cohesive brand experiences. I’ll use this knowledge to refine our promotional strategies and ensure they align with our personas’ needs. In the future, I’ll apply these skills to create effective user journeys in both marketing and UI/UX projects.
W10
In class, the lecturer guided us through the final execution stages of our project, covering pre-launch, launch, onboarding, and after-launch phases. We were asked to refine our Miro board journey map based on last week’s feedback. After presenting our progress, the lecturer emphasized the importance of analyzing competitors' ads, asking us to identify why their ads successfully engage customers and encourage them to learn more. This process taught me the significance of understanding how competitors capture user attention through effective advertising strategies. Analyzing their approach helps identify key elements that drive user engagement and informs how we can improve our own promotional efforts. This was useful because it emphasized the need to not only create engaging content but also understand what resonates with the target audience. Learning how to analyze competitors’ advertising strategies is valuable for creating impactful campaigns, a skill that will benefit my future career in UI/UX design and marketing. I will apply this insight by refining our promotional strategies and focusing on creating ads that engage users effectively. Moving forward, I will also consider competitor analysis in future projects to ensure our designs and campaigns resonate with the target audience.
W11
This week, we critically assessed the use of billboards for advertising, recognizing that it might not be effective for a startup like X-Board due to the high costs. We brainstormed unique and creative advertising ideas, considering trending ad formats, and explored inspiration from platforms like Instagram to guide our approach. This discussion helped me understand the need for cost-effective and creative advertising strategies, especially for a startup. It reinforced the idea that ads should stand out and resonate with the audience, leveraging trends and platforms that align with their interests. This was valuable because it emphasized the importance of creativity and strategic thinking in marketing. Learning how to balance budget constraints with impactful advertising strategies will be crucial for my future career in design and marketing, where innovative approaches can make a significant difference. I will apply these insights by ensuring future projects incorporate creative and budget-conscious marketing strategies. In the future, I’ll focus on using trending ad types and platforms effectively to engage the right audience, particularly for new or emerging products.
W12
In this phase, each team member focused on their assigned tasks. My tasks included creating the SOE and copywriting, as well as designing wireframes for the website’s login/sign-up page and testimonial page. I used Figma for the wireframes and created mobile versions as well. This experience helped me understand the importance of both copywriting and design in creating a cohesive user experience. Designing wireframes for multiple devices showed me how crucial it is to consider different screen sizes and ensure functionality across platforms. This was useful because it reinforced the need to design with both functionality and user flow in mind. Creating wireframes on Figma allowed me to refine my skills in UI/UX design, an essential competency for my future career in design and development. In future projects, I will continue refining my wireframing and copywriting skills, ensuring that I design user-friendly and visually appealing experiences. I’ll also prioritize mobile-first design to ensure accessibility across all devices.
W13
For this week, my teammate went to campus to take a photoshoot of the X-Board, while I handled the editing. This experience taught me the importance of clear communication and aligning expectations with team members. Taking on the editing task while my teammate handled the photoshoot showed me the value of stepping up to fill gaps when things don’t go as planned. The miscommunications highlighted areas where I need to clarify roles and deliverables earlier in the process. This situation was valuable because it emphasized the need for proactive problem-solving and clearer communication within a team. These lessons are essential for my future career, where effective teamwork and understanding expectations are key to successful project execution. Moving forward, I’ll ensure better communication and clarification of expectations within teams. I’ll also take a more proactive approach to address potential issues early on to avoid delays in the future.
W14
There were a few last-minute changes needed, and everyone in the team helped each other complete unfinished parts. On the day of the presentation, everything went smoothly, even though we anticipated some critiques. Our team did a great job and gave our best effort. The final changes included logo adjustments, product details, cart design, gallery, and homepage work. For my part, I made sure the background music (BGM) was suitable and shared the email link I created in Figma, allowing my team lead to make adjustments to match their vision. This experience taught me the importance of collaboration and being open to feedback, especially as we refined elements leading up to the presentation. It reinforced the value of seeking confirmation and ensuring that design choices align with the team’s expectations. This was valuable because it emphasized the need for flexibility and attention to detail in collaborative projects. It also showed me how to handle last-minute revisions effectively while maintaining a high standard of quality, which is crucial for future projects. Moving forward, I will continue to seek team input and ensure designs align with expectations, while also being open to necessary adjustments. I’ll apply this collaborative approach and attention to detail in future design and presentation tasks.
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