Completing these tasks has increased my awareness greater awareness of how different design practices can be used to understand and solve problems. Throughout the five weeks, I was required to observe, collect data, test designs, investigate making and, experiment with AI. Each task taught me a different way of looking at design and helped me better shape my understanding of the design practice.
The first task helped me improve my observation and drawing skills. Drawing vehicles every day gave me the opportunity to practice perspective and understand how objects are constructed from three-dimensional forms. I found that using different techniques changed how I approached drawing. When I used pen, I could not erase my mistakes, which forced me to slow down and think more carefully about the forms I was drawing. Over the week, I became more confident at breaking complex objects into simpler shapes and became more aware of perspective and proportion.
The second task developed my ability to pay attention to things that I would normally ignore. By recording the colours of cars in my neighbourhood, I was able to collect primary data and identify patterns that were not obvious to me before. The fact that 86% of the cars were monochromatic was particularly interesting. This task showed me that design is present in everyday environments and that even something as simple as car colour can reveal patterns in consumer preferences and the built environment.
The user-experience task gave me a better understanding of the importance of testing designs with real users. Testing my wallet with my family showed me that different users can experience the same product in very different ways. The main problem I identified was the difficulty of removing cards, which was especially noticeable when one of the users did not have fingernails to grip the cards. This helped me understand that usability and accessibility cannot always be judged from the designer’s perspective. User testing provides evidence that can reveal problems that may otherwise be overlooked.
The documentary task changed my understanding of the relationship between designing and making. I found the boatbuilder particularly interesting because he described boatbuilding as a “three-dimensional sculpture, a functional piece of sculpture.” This demonstrated how function, aesthetics, materials and craftsmanship can exist together within one design. I also became more aware that materials can influence the design process rather than simply being something selected after an idea has already been developed.
The AI task gave me the most direct experience with a developing design technology. Using CoPilot allowed me to quickly experiment with different ideas for improving my poster. However, I found that the AI often changed details that I wanted to keep and struggled to understand my specific intentions. This showed me that although AI can be useful for rapid experimentation and prototyping, it still requires the designer to direct, evaluate and refine the results.
Overall, these tasks have made me more aware that design is an investigative and iterative process. I have developed stronger skills in observation, research, user testing, and critical analysis. As well as this, I have learned to question my initial assumptions and use evidence to inform my decisions. These tasks have greatly improved my understanding of the design practice and will help inform my own future practice.