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In relation to the topics elaborated in the last theoretical class, I chose to work on a more in-depth critical analysis in regards to the Fiction Design topic. The sub-topic I will be discussing in this essay is “Designing for Future Scenarios” in which I will be analyzing the highlights of the positive aspects and benefits that I believe from a personal and critical point of view in a substantiated and referenced essay.

The concept of Designing for Future Scenarios is a method of imagining new possible new features and designing products that would be the solution to those scenarios. This can benefit us in the short term and medium term not only because it makes us have critical thinking in the moment but also because we get to imagine possible scenarios that are not yet present in the real world.

Design Fiction allows us to engage with the world on a deeper level, making us ask questions such as: “(…) would there be less enforcement done on Sundays; would different users prefer to do long-but-infrequent flights or shorter-more-frequent flights?” (Lindley & Coulton, 2017).

In my point of view, the benefits that Designing for Future Scenarios can have in the short term is that it gives us the ability to ask questions about potential future scenarios, for example: “would there be less enforcement done on Sundays; would different users prefer to do long-but-infrequent flights or shorter-more-frequent flights?” (Lindley & Coulton, 2017). This is very beneficial because it allows professionals to anticipate possible challenges that could happen in the near future.

On the other hand, Designing for Future Scenarios can also have benefits in the medium term, where it goes beyond simply predicting possible challenges and push boundaries of what’s possible, which can makes professionals think “outside of the box” and create innovation. As referenced in the following text, “(…) research into empathic computing is still exploratory, and will not be viably implementable for some years (if ever).” (Lindley & Coulton, 2017). In other words, research into technology that understands human feelings and emotions is still very out of touch with reality, however, because we work on understanding such a complex matter, it sharpens our knowledge and way of thinking that could be very beneficial in the medium term, as mentioned.

In conclusion, I believe that it’s important for professionals to design their products in a way that not only it corrects the problems we may possibly have in the future but also to experiment and create innovation so that they can shape their way of thinking and go beyond of what’s possible.

Webgrafia: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315697467_Design_Fiction_as_World_Building

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In relation to the topics elaborated in the last theoretical class, I chose to analyse the topic of “Trends”. The sub-topic I will be discussing in this present essay is “Trends in Design and Technology” as seen in the title. I will be analyzing the positive aspects that I believe are beneficial from a persona and critical point of view.

In short, the concept of trends is a general direction in which something is developing or changing. In a world where everything around us is ever-changing, the importance of tracking trends has become prominent for professionals across all types of fields. Digital tools like Google Trends allows us to monitor shifts in customer behavior, preferences and societal interests, which enables us to adapt to the trends and innovate.

In my opinion, tracking trends can benefit us in the short term and medium term in a way that it provides us immediate answers to recent problems while also predicting scenarios and implementing strategies. In the short term, trends can give real-time insights into what the consumers are looking for which helps businesses stay relevant and responsive to their target audience’s needs.

On the other hand, trends can also benefit in the medium term, where they can help professionals anticipate potential events to create a well organized strategy. By doing this, businesses can adapt to future trends accordingly. This forward way of thinking not only creates innovation but it also allows businesses to position themselves in the market with efficiency and determination.

As I mentioned earlier, one notable tool that professionals often use to track these changes is Google Trends. By using Google Trends, business can respond very quickly to the customer demand, allowing for more direct marketing towards what the consumers want to see. This platform can respond to both short term and medium term events by providing the user real-time data on public interest as well as long-term trends over months or even years.

To summarize, tracking trends provides both short term and medium term benefits for professionals especially for those who are designing for the future. I believe that in the short term, tools like Google Trends can be incredibly useful to give insights into what the public wants which allows businesses to adapt quickly. In the medium term, understanding the trajectory of trends can create innovation and professionals the necessary tools to anticipate future challenges they may potentially encounter.

Webgrafia:

https://trends.google.com/trends/

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“Importance of Insights in Design Thinking”

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“Importance of Insights in Design Thinking”

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In recent years, Design Thinking has been playing a very essencial role in overcoming challenges when designing a product. This process consists mainly in understanding the user’s needs and motivations rather than looking for a product that can satisfy everyone, making this a problem driven method instead of solution driven. This process comes with the generation of insights, which is crucial for designing a product that is mainly focused on what the user needs. In this essay, I will be discussing how the Insights play a big role in Design Thinking while giving my personal opinion on their benefits in the short and medium term.

Insights are the right hand of Design Thinking, which would only further complicate any challenges if we did not include them in the process. According to Stefanos Zeinos from Stanford Graduate School of Business, understanding the user’s needs begins with empathy: “(…) Spend time with your users. Ask questions. Think ahead. (…)” (Stanford Graduate School of Business, 2024). This allows us to find the core problems within our target audience by acquiring insights that help with future design decisions.

Additionally, Zenios also states, “Prototyping is a quick and inexpensive way you can make your early idea usable, so you can go back to your users and get their feedback. (…)” This phrase explains how we can perform user interactions to refine these insights when prototyping as many times as needed. The feedback gathered in this process is essencial to make sure our solution is not only up-to-date but also quick and effective.

In my point of view, using insights in Design Thinking can have benefits in the short and medium term. In the short term, the use of insights leads to immediate solutions when we are in the process of prototyping which would avoid any type of flaws that could emerge within the prototype. In the medium term, I believe that the insights help to build an audience that is driven by empathy, hence why it’s important to know the user’s needs so that we design a product directly to them, making our audience loyal and in trust with us. Regarding this topic, Zenios notes: “(…) Engage in a conversation, but be prepared. What do you want to learn? Be a good listener and try to listen to the stories that your user is sharing with you.” emphasizing the importance of gathering information from our users.

In conclusion, it is extremely important to create insights during the process of Design Thinking. Engaging with users and getting to know their needs and motivations we can gather crucial information to inform our solutions. As time moves forward, insights will absolutely remain as a core factor of effective problem-driven products.

Webgrafia:

https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/how-design-thinking-improves-creative-process

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Regarding the topics elaborated in the theory class number 4, I chose to talk about the topic of “Brand Visual Identity”, in which I will be discussing how the visual aspects of a brand, for example, the symbols, colors and typography, can work together to portray the brand’s values and vision. I will also explore, from my point of view, how these aspects contribute to the brand’s customers loyalty and connection while also giving the short term and medium term benefits accordingly.

In today’s modern marketplace, brand identity has become a lot more than just the tangible elements of a logotype. The way these elements work together should showcase the values and vision of their brand. As mentioned in the lesson number 4 of this class, “A company’s brand identity is how that entity wants to be perceived by its audiences.”, which shows that the tangible components of the brand, such as name, logo and typography should be created to emphasize and reflect the value of the company to its ideal customers.

For brands to gain credibility and trust amongst customers, they should have a consistent visual identity. Forbes makes this very clear: "The same emotions should be invoked when a prospect looks at your logo, scrolls through your website, reads an ad or stumbles upon a piece of content" (Forbes, 2024). This will make the company’s brand seem more reliable and trustworthy to its customers.

Personally, I believe that, in the short term, brands can stand out in the crowded and competitive marketplace with a well studied visual identity. "Many leads will not be nearly ready to engage with your brand or may not be the right fit for your product or service" (Forbes, 2024). On the other hand, in the medium term, I think that companies can gather insights to further improve flaws in their visual brand identity designs, as I have discussed in a previous essay.

To summarize, the brand visual identity does play a huge role in today’s modern society and marketplace, not only from a social point of view, but also from a marketing perspective. We have discussed how it can be important for building trust within a company’s audience while also emphasizing the impact it can have in the ever-changing competitive marketplace. A brand’s visual identity, when performed mindfully, becomes the face of a brand with values and a mission, leading to success in the short and medium term.

Webgrafia:

https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesagencycouncil/2020/03/09/the-funnel-above-the-funnel-the-importance-of-a-distinctive-brand-vision/

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Regarding the topics of the theoretical class number 5, I chose to discuss the significance of an effective elevator pitch. An “elevator pitch” is a short, powerful speech that plunges the heart of your project or idea and catches whoever may hear it. In the ever-shortening world of attention spans, having an awesome elevator pitch can have a huge impact on the entrepreneur, positively or negatively. In this essay, I will be discussing the benefits in the short and medium term that a good elevator pitch can have, from a personal point of view.

A carefully prepared elevator pitch is great at defining the issue that’s on the table. It is important to find the problem worth solving, or as the article attached to this essay highlights: “the most important thing is to identify a problem that is worth solving.” (Parsons, 2024). Entrepreneurs should grab this “problem” that was identified and use them in their pitch, which can catch the investor’s attention — it is a problem which may resonate well. It's a bond that creates relevance and value & makes the pitch attach to the listener’s ears.

In my opinion, in the short term, a good elevator pitch will get us more partnership opportunities. It can be seen as a secret weapon for entrepreneurs to draw investors and create excitement about what they are planning on doing. As stated in the article, “a clear problem statement will help you focus your solution on solving that one problem” which is essencial on a pitch. In the short term, the better and more appealing the pitch is, the more likely the investors are going to fund because then they have a better expectation of how much return the investment will bring.

In the medium term, from my point of view, a strong elevator pitch can help entrepreneurs build trust and credibility with investors. This credibility can also extend to key influencers, which is very important for getting support and resources that will be used to achieve future business goals.

In conclusion, developing a strong pitch is not only about presenting a narrative that catches people’s attention. It can be a tool for businesses to open doors and create meaningful connections essencial to their growth. Besides that, creating a good pitch is a skill that should be learned and become a priority for any entrepreneurs aiming to ace in today’s modern competitive market. By investing some time and effort on making their elevator pitch better, they can position themselves ahead of other companies that are not yet at that level.

Webgrafia:

https://www.bplans.com/business-funding/pitching/elevator-pitch/key-components/

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Devil 1 - "Trends in Design and Technology"

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Devil 1 - "Trends in Design and Technology"

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In regards to the topics of the class number 6, I chose to discuss more about the importance of high-fidelity prototyping in the process of designing a product. These kind of prototypes are close to resembling the final product in appearance and also functionality. They serve as the ‘bridge’ that connects the early stages of a prototype to the user experience of the final product. In this essay, I will be introducing this topic that I chose to talk about while giving my personal view on the benefits that it can have in the short and medium term.

As stated in the article attached to this essay, prototypes serve as “drafts of a product” (Gathani, 2024) that allow designers to continuously change and adapt their designs as much as they need. This process makes sure that the final design of the product is aligned to the user’s needs and expectations as much as possible.

In my point of view, prototyping has many benefits in the short term. One of them is that the moment I show the prototypes and allow users to test it, I receive immediate feedback, which allows me to avoid mistakes that could have happened if otherwise. By designing a high-fidelity prototype, I can already catch design flaws before the release of the final product that I would probably spend more time fixing later. In the article, it’s stated that prototypes enable “faster consensus” (Gathani, 2024) by showing actual tangible ideas that are easier for design teams to understand. Personally, this gives me confidence that my final designs are as accurate and effective towards the user’s needs and expectations.

From a medium term perspective, high-fidelity prototyping also has lasting benefits. I believe that prototyping allows me to learn more about what resonates with users by consistently test and adapt the design. The phrase, “(…) designers learn more about the experiences they want to implement (…)”, shows that it’s not only about what the user will see but more about what the user will experience while using the product. This can contribute to developing a product that is conducted to gaining trust and satisfaction from the user.

In conclusion, high-fidelity prototypes are essencial to my design. Not only they can be used as a way to refine a product but also to learn more about the user. In the short term, prototyping influences me to make more informed design choices, while in the medium term, it solidifies my connection to the users by learning more about their preferences.

Webgrafia:

https://adobe.design/stories/design-for-scale/the-unique-value-prototyping-brings-to-the-design-process

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Regarding the topics taught in the last theory class, I chose to talk about the Affordance Principle.

Introduced by James Gibson, the “Affordance Principle” explains the relashionship between objects (or elements) and the users, through visual and functional cues. This plays a crucial role in the user experience, since it helps users understand how to interact with objects or interfaces with intuition. This principle can be applicable in both physical and digital realms. In this essay I will be showing the short and medium term benefits this topic can have on me from a personal point of view.

In the short term, successfully applying the Affordance Principle can enhance the intuitiveness of my UX projects. According to the article attached to this essay: "(…) when users can easily understand how to interact with an object based on its visual cues, they are more likely to successfully complete tasks and achieve their desired outcomes.". This can directly be aplied to my projects, where using clear visual elements do, in fact, guide the users towards interactions that are meant to happen. For example, using raised buttons or contrasting colors for elements that are clickable can ensure that the users quickly identify those elements and interact with them.

In the medium term, the Affordance Principle can have a significant impact on my UX design career. The article mentioned, emphasizes that "(…) affordance directly impacts the usability of a product,(…)", which leads to a better customer service and user satisfaction. By continuesly improving the user’s experience and gaining trust from them, my projects would become more reliable, improving my overall performance in the modern competitive market.

To summerize, the Affordance Principle is quite essencial for projects especially those who rely so much on user interaction. Not only it improves the intuitiveness and functionality of my designs from a short term perspective, but also positions me into a better location in the market in a broader.

Webgrafia:

https://helio.app/ux-research/laws-of-ux/affordance-principle/

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The Impact Of Microinteractions On User Experience

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The Impact Of Microinteractions On User Experience

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Regarding the topics elaborated in the last theory class, I chose to talk about the topic of “Microinteractions” as I personally have gained some interest in it. I will be briefly introducing the topic and further present the short and medium term benefits it can have on me from a personal point of view.

These small moments where the user interacts with the design are unnoticed for the most part, however, they can make a significant impact on the user experience. These small elements may include, for example, a progress bar, a “Like” button or an on/off audio icon.

In the short term, microinteractions can obviously impact my designs in a way that provides the user seemless elements that it can interact with and create great influence on the experience. According to the article mentioned at the end of the essay, “successful microinteractions... should be small and simple” and “they give feedback.” (Fanguy, 2018). When interacting with an app or a website, having clear and immediate feedback can prevent further confusion, making the experience smooth and simple. For instance, showing if a specific action was successful or not, helps avoid frustration from the user and builds trust in the interface.

In the medium term, I believe that microinteractions can contribute to building great habits. The article notes that “microinteractions help form habits,” (Fanguy, 2018) and by providing small but delightful experiences with consistency, it can encourage users to keep returning to the product, creating a useful habit from their part. For example, a small feedback when completing a task or achieving a goal creates a sense of accomplishment which will ultimately make the user satisfied. As time moves forward, these interactions help the interface seem intuitive and the product more reliable as a whole which will make the users come back more frequently.

In conclusion, microinteractions play a very important role in both short and medium term. They offer quick feedback and enhance medium term user engagement by forming the habits mentioned previously.

Webgrafia:

https://www.invisionapp.com/inside-design/use-microinteractions-improve-ux-design/

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Devil 2 - "Importance of Insights in Design Thinking"

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Devil 2 - "Importance of Insights in Design Thinking"

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Devil 3 - "How Data Visualization Improves Comprehension and Retention"

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Devil 3 - "How Data Visualization Improves Comprehension and Retention"

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“How Data Visualization Improves Comprehension and Retention”

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“How Data Visualization Improves Comprehension and Retention”

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For the last critical analysis of this subject, I chose to talk about data visualization as it was, in my opinion, the most interesting topic to discuss. Data visualization helps to simplify complex data which makes it possible for the person to engage with it in a practical sense. It is vital in learning as it objectively clarifies the raw data into a clear and understandable format. These formats can be such as charts, graphs or diagrams. In this essay I will be discussing how data visualization can improve comprehension and retention and it’s benefits for me in the short and medium term.

In the short term, using data visualization improves my immediate understanding of complex concepts. When we gather large volumes of information, we often struggle to decipher all the data. For instance, a chart or diagram can help me quickly understand how different concepts interconnect between each other, which will reduce the chances of becoming overwhelmed by all the data. As mentioned in the article attached to this essay: “charts, graphs, and diagrams can help learners to see the relationships between different pieces of information, making it easier to understand and remember.” (Bakriev, 2024).

In the medium term, I believe that the use of data visualization helps enhance memory retention by training the human brain with associations. By looking at the data in a visual format, I can connect new information with prior knowledge better, which makes the information ultimately easier to remember. For example, I can associate the process of gathering the data with a flowchart of that same data and reinforce my understanding, leading to better retention. Furthermore, the article notes that "visuals can trigger emotions that can aid in memory recall," which can further enhance my ability to remember the material over time.

In conclusion, data visualization is a very important tool for improving analysis and retention. In the short term it allows me to break down complex information while in the medium term it provides a bridge that connects new information to existing knowledge.

Webgrafia: https://www.panomio.com/blog/how-visual-learning-improves-comprehension-and-retention