Student Project Ask

A four-month demonstration project for Hong Kong PolyU’s Masters of Interaction Design. Students were asked to select a topic of their liking, highlighting a possible problem where interaction in a particular sector of society could be enhanced and improvised. The chosen topic also needed to follow an academic paper ' Should DO, Can Do, Can Know' published by the esteemed professors of the course for a detailed analysis. At the end of the project, each student had to present their problem and vision statement, in-depth research, analysis and design solution followed by a thesis.

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Inspiration

During this course, I developed a keen interest in the field of Inclusive and wanted to pursue it as an umbrella for my project. The chosen topic was not far from home, i.e. to gain an in-depth understanding of the challenges faced by ethical minority students & their parents to cope with Hong Kong’s local education system and the communication and language barriers. To be precise, the vision statement was to 'Enhance the Sense of Belonging of ethnic minority students in Hong Kong & with other local students  - Giving meaning to their dual identity.' 
 
An in-depth study, research and detailed interviews of students, teachers, school staff and ethnic minority social worker, concluded in pinning down three design criteria:
1.    Non-Verbal
2.    Diversity/ Variety
3.    Empathy

This lead to the final solution: 'An all-in-one gaming/touring/social module platform for school students in Hong Kong, that allows building metaphorical (communication) and physical bridges (inspired by the city) by connecting like-minded students with one another.'

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The Solution

Within a school, onboarding a student on Bridges includes creating a simple avatar. Based on their hobbies and interests, they are further allotted groups with masked identities. The gaming component adds a bonding element to reinforce social bonds and enhance social support. A series of mini ice-breaking games fosters synchronicity and connection within the group, giving everyone a chance to avoid the pressure of making a first impression face to face. 
 
Each bridge represents one group of students with similar interests. The bridges will keep getting built as the students keep progressing on their game levels. In order for them to finish building a bridge, they would be required to sign-up for an academic event, workshop, or extra-curricular proposed on the app via school teachers. 

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The teacher’s portal, on the other hand, allows them access to view the formed groups with the student’s identities. They also have control over the kind of events students can see on the app.
Upon signing up, the group would finally meet each other in person to be briefed by the teachers. The app will provide them with a map to get to the place of the event, assigning them group tasks along the way. This would help them build friendships while they encounter local culture, street food, special local shops or some very local phenomenon. Most importantly, it would build confidence in the way they exchange and communicate with each other, talk about their topics of interest and things they come across on this journey. The app would help them develop a whole sense of belonging in multiple dimensions, student to student as well as student to city, culture, and heritage. 

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My Roles & Responsibility

• In-depth reading and research about inclusive design and its areas

• Explore interaction loopholes and gaps for inclusivity in society and around me

• Explore different opportunities

• Define and refining problem statement, leading to a design vision statement

• Conduct surveys and interviews for data

• Field research in local multi-ethnic schools

• Use design methods to analyse data for fleshing out design criteria

• Ideation of concepts around the criteria and insights around research for two users: (1) Students and (2)Teachers

• Develop the final idea, creating a user experience for the app and a visual language

• Organise user testing and making low-fi visuals for further improvement and future prospects 

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Key Deliverables

Detailed Research / Existing Theories Supporting Chosen Topic / Problem Statement / Project Timeline / Vision Statement / Data Analysis / Raw Research Data / Conceptualisation & Ideation / User Experience Design / Building Visual Identity / User Testing / Future Prospects

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All material produced in an Interaction Design Masters Programme at Hong Kong Polytechnic University.