Royal College Of Art Portfolio
Learning the Design & Research Process.
Intro
In 2020, I pursued my passion for design at the Royal College of Art's Graduate Diploma of Art and Design. During this time, I learned three important lessons:
Firstly, I adopted a disciplined approach to design, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive design research, engaging with design theory and history, and consistent documentation. This framework enabled me to explore diverse arts and design fields, fostering creativity and deepening my design understanding.
Secondly, I learned to look beyond design's surface, dissecting elements to gain inspiration and insights from places that I never thought to see. I honed my ability to give and receive constructive design feedback, enhancing my collaborative efforts with people from different backgrounds.
Lastly, it taught me the importance of highlighting the 'Why' in design. This allowed me to think critically and to deeply explore how people interact with products, ensuring that my designs were not just aesthetically pleasing but also functional and user-centric.
My Role
Design Student
Project Type
School Projects
Timeline
2020 - 2021
Team
Responsibilities
Limited Access to Resources
Due to the pandemic, our cohort was under constant lockdown throughout the course, resulting in limited access to physical resources like the RCA's design studio, libraries, and specialized equipment. This restriction significantly constrained the opportunity to work on specific projects and access reference materials. Additionally, we faced limitations in observational research for our design projects. While observing users and environments is crucial, it became challenging due to restricted physical presence, making on-site user behavior observations nearly impossible.
Restiction Turns to Innovation
However, this situation also sparked innovation as I had to adapt and make the most of limited resources at home, fostering a unique perspective. I sought collaborative ways to overcome these challenges. For instance, before testing a physical product, I learned to provide highly detailed instructions to interviewees who couldn't be physically present, much like creating a Lego instruction manual. Ensuring that the product could be easily assembled by individuals outside my physical reach gradually became an integral part of the overall interaction experience.
My Royal College of Art design portfolio offers a glimpse into my design and research process, which represents various aspects of my journey at the Royal College of Art. It showcases how I generate ideas, craft speculative designs, and explore innovative concepts. These are accessible as linked PDF files.
For a more detailed look into my messy process and reflections throughout the graduate diploma, please visit my blog at: https://mougraddipblog.wordpress.com/.
Next Project
Wu-Bao Chun Service Design Project
Revitalizing an Artisanal Bakery Experience
Wu Pao-Chun, a renowned bakery chef from Taiwan, gained international acclaim by winning the 2010 'Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie' bread competition in Paris. However, the store encountered a bottleneck in its expansion due to new competition from emerging bakery brands. This project aims to revitalize the customer experience by introducing a Scenario-Based Experience Proof-of-Concept event. This shift focuses on customer-centric experiences rather than just products, differentiating the bakery from younger, emerging competitors, and reconnecting with its artisanal bakery roots.
