Student-Driven Campus Design
Project Refection & Description:
In a group of five students we were given the opportunity to create different prototypes through our own ideas as well as applying the users of Animas High School's feedback. The very first thing we did was find out as individuals our strengths and how we can incorporate them into our group work to become successful. We then discovered empathy interviews so that we were able to gather feedback from many different people and school users. We formed questions as a group, then individually interviewed the different users. That was just the beginning, this project was a long process and took a lot of time and effort. We then developed a final idea that the group all agreed with. We shared our prototype with the board and the teachers and our peers.
I learned many valuable things throughout this project, one of my strongest takeaways was how I learned about the human-centered design process. The forms of feedback and the group ideas that formed. Human-centered meaning forming our design based upon the users thoughts. I found that you need to know what sorts of people you are designing for and what would be the most efficient way to incorporate their ideas into a design. Our design needed to suit all of the users needs. To create a prototype you have to be able to generate different ideas that you gather. I learned that yes, we can generate our very own ideas, but we need to get feedback on that design to make sure if it can work out or not.
I enjoyed working in the group that I was assigned to. At the start of the project I did not know how I felt about the group as well as the entire project but the group helped it to go a lot smoother. Every group member was very calm and finished each task that they had decided to take on. Of course there were some difficult parts throughout the project in our group but nothing major. If I were to change the way that I worked within the group I would have challenged myself to do more on sketch-up and learn how to use it for the future. Two of the group members already had that skill and used it to their ability, I just wish I communicated more to my group members to let them know.
This project was difficult but very impactful. I think that it is important for students to have a strong voice in what their facilities and schools look like. The students are part of the school they are one of the main users. It is important that the students feel comfortable in the area where they think and create. While I was helping to design a school during this project I felt powerful and I think that I should not have had to feel that way because we always should have a say in where we work and what that may look like. If I m in a classroom that has only one window, I will not feel as comfortable and as focused as I would in a room with a tom of windows. Being outdoors and being comfortable is what I value and I would like to have those incorporated into a school that I go to.