Final Project: Designing for UX I

PHASE 1 : DISCOVER part I

For the past one month, we have been busy with the final project for NM4210. I'm teaming with boon and min, the same team for assignment 3: Improving the learning experience @ lecture theatre. This time around, the workload is 2 to 3 times more!

Here's the project description: "For final project you have to actually design and develop (prototype) an interactive product. This could be a website, a software application, a game...." Yap, short and sweet, with many possibilities. Heh.

With much research and the lectures given by Mr. Reddy, we somewhat know what is 'user experience'... but the tough part is the idea! We were initially quite blurred by the requirements, as we tot that it was supposed to be an "IT" product, something that got to do with technology. After clarifications, we were told that any product or idea is ok, so long its a good and money making product. Heh. So that widen the scope, a little.

Initial Ideas & Brainstorming

It is always the toughest part, thinking of a novelty idea or product that can earn millions. Especially when we need to come out with something that has the fine elements of usability and UX. The former is already quite tough, let alone combining both of them together. And then there's this common human tendency tat we always try to think of a product first b4 solving a need. Very wrong.

Although we might end up with the same end product (coincidently), looking for the perspective of solving a need is very much more critical than taking care of the functionality the product has. It is something Mr Reddy strongly emphasize on, even on other modules, like 2208 or 3208, and even 4205. If we started off with a product, what we will be doing is to fine tune the product, and not finetuning the needs. I'm sure most of us are caught in similar situations before. Heh. (Staying true to this methodology or philosophy did help us coming out with PAL, and some other critical projects, like the stock market stimulator in 3208.)

Apart from that, we had to define our end users, our clients and our very own company~ There are just many needs to be solved. But the solutions to it is either already created or it's not fanatastic at all.

It was rough initially, having some of our ideas rejected by Mr. Reddy during class. The 1st was to solve the problem of the long queues @ most, if not all, ladies toilet. I think there is a general need for this problem, but our proposed solution is some what already been done, overseas. And according to Mr. Reddy, was quite a failure. Sigh. We kinda knew of 2 products that can indirectly solve this problem, make that 3 (<--this is quite nonsense and straightforward)

1st was a urinal meant for ladies. 2nd was the paper funnel thingy that allows ladies to use the normal mens' urinal. The 3rd, well, is to simply allocate more space allocation to the ladies toilet when architects are designing new malls etc...

Our idea was actually to build a small compartment, big enough to allow ladies to do their thing, but much smaller than the current cubicle. As our product was meant to allow ladies to do "small business" only, it allowed us to make the "compartments" small. We also wanted to redesign the urinal (ladies) and to promote a "new experience" when using our "compartment".

I felt quite positively for this idea, but when Mr. Reddy told us that the whole urinal thingy was a failure, we didnt pushed for it further (although i still feel something can be done! i might, if i have the $ in the future.)

The 2nd idea was from boon. He felt that the IBM lappies are kind boring, mainly black and mechnically looking. Something can be done to it. So we tot of ideas to repackage it into a more vibrant product, as we know that IBM are known for their stability and fine architecture for their lappies. But then, the feedback was that it was kinda turning into a "campaign" or a sales or marketing thingy... Thus, no more pursuing of the idea.

Some other ideas came to our minds too, but most are rejected too. ARGH.

So finally..........

Draft Idea

We met a couple of times more in school @ library and cracked our brains... trying to think more novelties..... And we had 2! After many hours of brainstorming and feedbacks from one another...
Boon went to meet Mr. Reddy as min n i couldnt make it during that time slot. And we have some positive results.

The 1st was something to do with weight management. (which died too).

The 2nd and the final idea that got "accepted" is....... PARK A LOT SYSTEM!

This system/product serves and tries to solve the need of looking for a car park @ town / CBD (better time management) As most drivers will know, securing a lot at the major malls are rather difficult, esp so during peak periods.

So this system, Park-A-Lot (PAL) allows 24/7 viewing of live car park information and also the booking of a lot! Yap. We envision that drivers are allowed to book lots even b4 reaching their destination. This saves precious time queueing and hunting for a lot. less hassle. more convenience.

And so, we stayed on with this idea, and pushed on...