1/14/25
Checking in After Winter Break
Aside from getting some much needed relaxation, I spent a good portion of winter break thinking about and strategizing the execution of my Capstone.
More specifically, I took a closer look at my tentative Project Timeline and assessed my accomplishment of these goals before the first iteration's due date in a couple of weeks.
As I mentioned in the first step (Weeks 1-2), my plan for the next week or so is to dig deep into Google Analytics and create an informal "research report," while simultaneously starting my focus group testing.
At the end of this phase, my research and initial feedback should lead me to create low-fidelity wireframes to build off of.
Winter Break Progress – Research Report and Reaching Out
Aside from this strategizing, I got a head start over winter break on my Research Report.
I've been playing around with the "Path Exploration" feature on GA-4, and it is already providing me with some great insights as to how user flow is being directed throughout the TE website.
As for my focus groups, I've been reaching out to a few key contacts to find willing participants, i.e. local K-12 teachers:
• My boss (Jen Kracha) has some contacts from previous design feedback rounds (downside of these contacts is that they have a preconceived notion of the site.
• I have another contact I've been reaching out to from a local private school who can hopefully get me talking to their teachers.
• Finally, my fellow Society of Women Engineers Officers can help me get in contact with local elementary, middle, and high school teachers.
That being said, I hope to get my focus groups squared away before the end of the week, or early next week at the latest. The only roadblock to this progress area is the response time of my contacts.
In the meantime, I plan to create an informal document to gather my users' feedback.
Reflecting on My Progress and Moving Forward
Looking back, I wish I'd made more progress on my Capstone over break. However, I don't regret the time I spent away from my computer and with my family, friends, and dogs. I'm refreshed and ready to put my head down and make a good deal of progress on this first phase of my project!
Looking Back – Expert Panel Feedback
My Capstone Proposal panel feedback was mostly positive, which I'm extremely thankful for. However, the panelists had some key feedback for me, which I'll absolutely absorb as I move forward this semester.
Key feedback points:
• Think about opportunities to build on TE brand and current functionality of the website.
• How can I make sure my final product is highly accessible in this web format?
• Consider illustrating the adventure of navigating and innovating within an existing design system.
• Manage expectations with client-sided relationships in terms of appropriate Capstone deliverables.
• Think about opportunities to build on TE brand and current functionality of the website.
• How can I make sure my final product is highly accessible in this web format?
• Consider illustrating the adventure of navigating and innovating within an existing design system.
• Manage expectations with client-sided relationships in terms of appropriate Capstone deliverables.
I plan to integrate this feedback into my design process in several ways – building in time for accessibility research, scheduling frequent check-ins with TE marketing director to ensure branding consistency but also presenting new ideas, and keeping in mind the personal storytelling aspect of my project.
Lessons Learned (So Far...)
Though my project has "just started" in the broader sense, I feel I've already learned many valuable lessons about myself as a designer and researcher, but also my ability to time-manage.
Specifically in the time-management area, I recognized that I had a hard time getting started in the beginning because of my hesitance to start such a massive task. However, I'm proud of my consistent effort and growth to keep moving forward.
