Week 12: Concluding Reflections

It’s the final week of the module and I've spent some time reflecting on my experiences so far. Below are the key areas that have stuck out to me and that I've learnt from:

Prioritisation

I spent a great deal of time learning how to use Figma through various tutorials and a lot of experimentation. More often than not, I created and modified visual elements in meticulous detail, and sometimes lost track of time in doing so. It’s possible that I used this as a form of procrastination, albeit accomplishing small amounts of the project goals at a time. I’m pleased to have identified this characteristic of my working practices and will factor it into my time and scope planning, as detailed below.

Feedback and Testing

Having conducted user research and generated insights from the data collected, I spent a lot of time planning what the flow of the user’s experience would look like. This was particularly helpful when it came to designing the information architecture, however, I neglected to test the usability early on, meaning I was scrambling for user feedback near the end of the project. If I’d made sure to test earlier and more frequently, I’d have been able to fail fast and learn fast, allowing me to iterate based on any ineffective designs (IBM 2022).

Improved Time Management

At the start of the module, I didn’t spend enough time planning my workload and I failed to truly grasp the requirements of the assessment until mid-way through. Due to an extended deadline in the previous module, I didn’t have a break from studying before commencing this project. Resultantly, I was slightly burnt out to start with and didn’t take the necessary steps to make the best use of my time. Going forward, my chief concern before embarking on new learning material is to scope out my time and gain a full understanding of what’s required of me. This would include validating my understanding of assessments with tutors and creating a backlog of tasks based on any assessments. Failing to do this at the start of this module led to periods of extreme stress and frustration, and I categorically do not want to be in that position again. Luckily, I was successful in planning a 10-day break from my job and studying before the next module begins. I hope this will be sufficient time to recuperate and rest my mind.

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References

IBM. 2022. ‘Fail Fast and Learn Fast - IBM Garage Practices’. [online]. Available at: https://www.ibm.com/garage/method/practices/culture/failing-fast/ [accessed 18 May 2022].

UNSPLASH. 2017. Man Sitting at a Desk, Leaning Back on His Chair. Available at: https://unsplash.com/photos/KQ0C6WtEGlo [accessed 16 May 2022].