Weekly Learning(Week1-9)

 Weekly Learning

Week 1: Insights from the Semester's First Spatial Design Video

I watched the semester's inaugural video intently. It revealed that spatial design is an integral part of daily life, showing up in retail settings, public areas, and home interiors. The bond between people and design is unbreakable.

It emphasized that good design draws inspiration from people. In the design realm, three key aspects stand out: differentiating space from place, interactive design, and user - centered design. Mid - video, it provided vivid examples, like the New York rail line, to illustrate these concepts.

Week 2: Unraveling Spatial Design

This week, I learned that spatial design encompasses architecture, landscape, interior, and service design. Central to it is the interaction between people and space.

Designers need key skills: an understanding of human behavior, mental space design acumen, and a focus on activity - tech integration. They must be acutely aware of environment, color, and emotion, and communicate effectively.

Elements like “point, line, plane, volume, and form” are fundamental. As seen in Zaha Hadid's work, flowing lines can evoke powerful feelings.

Week 3: Decoding Spatial Perception

In this week's class, the focus was on decoding spatial perception. The teacher thoroughly explained the process and introduced Gestalt analysis theories.

For instance, the Closure principle shows how our brain fills in gaps, making incomplete shapes seem whole, like a building. The Similarity and Symmetry principles highlight our preference for like - elements and balance, bringing harmony to spaces. Order, too, helps designers create well - layered, organized spaces that are pleasing to the eye.

Week 4: Decoding Spatial Perception

In this week's class, we delved into Compositional Principles, a game - changer for my future design work. The key elements introduced were eye - opening.

Contrast, by playing with color, shape, or material differences, makes designs stand out. Scale, through object - size ratios, sets up a clear space hierarchy. Repetition unifies visuals, while Rhythm injects energy. Balance is the linchpin for harmonious spaces, and Hierarchy directs the viewer's focus, making sure important details don't go unnoticed.

Week 5: Diving into Horizontal Elements

Week 5's class was jam - packed, demanding time for digestion. It centered on Horizontal Elements, exploring how to mold space atmosphere and user experience horizontally. I jotted down a tricky sentence about the volume surrounding us.

The base plane is key, defining space via color, tone, texture, materials, and boundaries. Think of using different floor materials to split functional zones. An elevated base plane adds hierarchy with height changes, whether single - step or multi - layered, boosting the space's dynamism.

Week 9: Grasping Spatial Relationships

This week's lesson on Spatial Relationship explored how spaces interact and are designed. We learned four distinct relationships.

For "Space within a Space", a smaller space sits inside a larger one, highlighting its uniqueness while staying connected. "Interlocking Spaces" occur when two spaces overlap. This blurs boundaries, like in an open - concept living room - kitchen combo, creating a more interactive and unified feel.

Week 10: Form Transformation Insights

This week's lecture centered on the Transformation of Form. The course introduced two primary forms of morphological change.

Additive transformation enhances an existing structure or space by incorporating new elements. These additions can take on various forms - symmetrical, connected, or otherwise distinct - enriching the design both in layers and functionality. Conversely, Subtractive transformation reshapes the space by eliminating parts of the original form.

SEMESTER 1 

Li YuHan(0379857)

Bechelor of Interactive Spatial Design (hounors)

3D Modeling 1

Week 1  Subject outline & expectations

Week 2  Primitive 3D Modeling

Week 3  Cylindrical Modeling

Week 4  Box Modeling

Week 5  Boolean Modeling

Week 6  Look Development

Week 7  UV Unwrap and Texturing

Week 8  Self study

Week 9  Light

Week10-Week13 Final Project Consultation

Week14 Final Project Submission

Week 1: At the very beginning of this week's course, the teacher gave us a detailed introduction to the syllabus framework of the course, including the various contents and focuses to be learned subsequently, and also explained what was expected of us in terms of knowledge acquisition, skill enhancement, and outcome of our work. This gave me a clear understanding of the entire course and prepared me mentally for what was to come.

 Week 2: We finally started learning 3D modeling! This week was mainly about primitive 3D modeling, I was exposed to the basic modeling tools and methods of operation, and through the construction of simple geometric shapes, I got a preliminary understanding of the process and principles of 3D modeling, and felt that my spatial perception and modeling ability had been honed.

 Week 3: This week, I learned more about modeling cylindrical shapes. I learned how to accurately create, edit and optimize cylindrical objects, and mastered its unique parameter settings and deformation techniques to create more complex and realistic 3D models based on cylinders, which made me feel that my modeling skills have been enriched a bit more.

 Week 4: The focus of the course was on box modeling, where I learned to use box structures for creative combinations and detailing. The process of building models from simple cubes to complex polyhedra is very interesting, and through various manipulations of the box, I can make different styles of models and become more skillful in manipulating basic shapes.

 Week 5: Started learning Boolean modeling, which is a really powerful technique! I learned how to use Boolean operations to combine and edit multiple basic shapes to create complex and unique models, which greatly improved my modeling efficiency and flexibility, and made me realize that models can be designed in this way.

 Week 6: This week I focused on developing the appearance of the model, and learned how to select and mix materials and how to express surface texture. I tried to adjust the material properties to make the model more realistic and artistic from simple geometrical shapes, and it was very satisfying to see the visual effect of the model improved.

 Week 7: I learned about UV spreading and texturing. I learned how to unfold the surface of a 3D model in a reasonable plane, and then draw or lay texture patterns on it, and also mastered the adjustment of texture coordinates and the application of different types of textures, which made the model more vivid and detailed.

Week8:I made a simple hut for my practice.

 

 Week 9: This week I started to learn about lighting. I learned about the role and effects of different types of lighting in 3D scenes, and I learned how to set up various parameters of lighting to create different atmospheres and light and shadow effects, which made the models and scenes look more realistic and attractive.

 Week 10 - Week 13: Entering the final project stage, the teacher counseled us on the problems we encountered in the project. I got help from the teacher in determining the theme of the project, planning the process and applying the techniques, etc. I slowly improved the project plan, overcame a lot of technical difficulties, and became more confident in completing the final project.

 Week 14: After such a long time of learning and practicing, it was finally time to submit the final project. I used all the knowledge and skills I learned before to make a complete 3D work, hoping to reflect my learning and creativity in this class, looking forward to the teacher's evaluation and feedback, and feeling sad and proud for the end of this class.

SPATIAL DESIGN 3

Spatial Design 1 / Project 3: UX-Focused Campus Spatial Design Final Project

Week 12: Design Progress and Reflection

During today's class, the teacher went over the reference images we'd picked. I was eager to share my vision, so I scoured the web for fitting pictures and clearly marked the parts I planned to draw from. This made it easy for the teacher to understand my design goals and offer spot - on feedback. It was great for clarifying my creative path and getting ahead of any potential problems.

I'm confident I'll break through this block. Maybe it'll be a fresh idea that strikes me, or perhaps the teacher's feedback will reignite my creativity. I'm determined to keep pushing after class and catch up with my classmates. I'm excited to see this project come to life.

Week 13: Sketch Presentation and Growth

In today's class, the teacher asked us to showcase our sketches, which are key to visualizing my design journey. I was excited to present, as it let me walk everyone through how my design for the facilities took shape, from the initial concepts to the current form.

It was a great chance for feedback. After looking at my sketches, the teacher offered valuable suggestions. He pointed out that I could be more adventurous with the shape design, especially regarding the "duck's foot" shape I'd been exploring. His advice to think outside the box and consider more form variations was spot - on.

Week 14: Final Project 

As the final class of the semester arrived, I was brimming with excitement to showcase my final project's progress. I'd already completed my model with pride, and presenting it to the teacher was a moment of validation.

Week 15: Final Project 

The class then took an exciting turn as we delved into Photoshop for poster design. I was eager to learn how to transform my design into an eye - catching poster. The teacher's example was inspiring, clearly showing how to blend aesthetics with concept communication. I grasped the tools and techniques quickly, confident I could create a poster that would stand out.

Click to whatch my PRESENTATION

SPATIAL DESIGN 2

Spatial Design 1 / Project 1: Precedent Study and Analysis

Week  5- Assignment 1 presentation

This week's class focused on Assignment 1 presentations. I was eager to present. I'd prepared well, rehearsing my lines and PPT. When it was my turn, I took the stage with confidence, engaging the class as I spoke.

After my presentation, the teacher gave useful feedback on enhancing my PPT's visuals.

Listening to classmates was inspiring. Their diverse ideas and engaging storytelling taught me a lot. This experience boosted my confidence and motivated me to improve my skills. I can't wait to apply what I've learned to future work.

Week  6- Assignment 1 presentation

This week, I tuned in to my classmates' Assignment 1 presentations. One student really caught my attention.

She spoke flawlessly, using her PPT not as a script, but as a way to share fresh ideas. Her ability to engage the audience was inspiring.

I jotted down her techniques. I've decided to cut down on script - reliance and instead, truly understand my content. This way, I can interact better with the audience.

I'm stoked to put these learnings into practice. With more practice, I'm sure I'll ace my future presentations and spotlight my best work.

Week  7- Assignment 2 partA presentation

Before this class, I was excited to present my Assignment 2 Part A PPT. I'd carefully chosen a lakeside pavilion design that combines duck - feeding and relaxation.

During the presentation, I explained my location choice and environmental analysis with confidence. It went smoothly, and the audience was engaged.

Yet, I realized I relied too much on the PPT. Next time, I'll be more spontaneous, using the slides just as aids. I'm happy with my progress and can't wait to improve in future tasks.

Week 10- Concept Development and process

At the start of this spatial design class, we delved into the concept of a user journey map and its role in Assignment 2. Learning that we had to submit the assignment, complete with questionnaire analysis, interview summaries, user personas, a journey map, and a debriefing video by the following Friday was daunting at first.

Initially, the user journey map was a mystery. However, after the teacher's clear explanation, I was eager to take it on. I dived right in after class. While I faced moments where the words seemed scarce, I pushed through.

I'm proud to say I completed the task. I'm looking forward to having the teacher review my work next week, confident that my efforts have paid off. I'm ready to tackle whatever comes next in this design journey.

Click HERE to see my PROJECT1

SPATIAL DESIGN 1

Spatial Design 1 / Project 1: Precedent Study and Analysis

Week 1: Introduction to Spatial Design

In the first class, the teacher introduced himself, then had each of us share our reasons for choosing the spatial design major. This activity not only helped us get to know one another but also livened up the classroom atmosphere.

Week 2: Spatial Design - Conceptual Elements

This week, our spatial design class delved into the five fundamental design elements, with a focus on points and lines.

A point can be an end of a line, an intersection, or a corner. Connecting two points creates a line, which conveys direction and movement. These elements are all around us. For example, dress buttons are points, while staircase handrails are lines.

We had an engaging classroom activity. We went around campus to photograph five instances each of points and lines. During this exploration, we were also tasked with observing areas that could be improved in terms of design. This hands - on task made the concepts more relatable and enhanced our spatial awareness.

Week 3: Design Fundamentals & Principles

This week, we picked up from where we left off last time. First, we dissected Project 1 Part A. The instructor clearly pointed out areas for improvement. For instance, we need to identify the location and function of building screenshots in our PPTs. This made me aware of what to enhance, correct, and what met the standards in my work.

Subsequently, we got the details for Part B. We're required to find a space - design - related exhibition, conduct a thorough analysis, and present our findings in a PPT. This task has us considering aspects like the project's meaning, design elements, spatial layout, materials, and interactive technologies. It's an exciting assignment that gives clear direction for exploration.

Week 4: Space Planning Basics - My Experience

This week's class had two great parts. First, we refined our PowerPoints. Peer and teacher feedback helped me improve mine.

Then, we learned Gestalt and compositional principles. Seeing these in everyday photos was eye - opening. Using 3D software to build with these principles was tough but fun. It made me think creatively. I can't wait to use these skills later.

Application Design /Project 1: Mobile Application Proposal

Week 1- Week 4

Week 1  Introduction to Module: Application Design 1

Week 2  Understanding User Interface and User Experience, User-Centered Design

Week 3 Understanding User Interface and User Experience, User-Centered Design

Week 4The first week was a general introduction to the module, laying the groundwork for subsequent study and giving me an initial understanding of the general framework and direction of the topic of Application Design 1.

   Weeks two and three focused on understanding the user interface and user experience as well as user-centered design concepts. In these two weeks, I explored how to design interfaces and experiences that are more user-friendly, efficient, and satisfy users' needs from the users' perspective, including research and analysis of users' behaviors and psychology, and learned many design principles and methods, such as the application of simplicity, consistency, accessibility, etc., in interface design, as well as how to optimize the design through user research.

In the fourth week, there was a presentation session, which was a presentation of the learning results of the previous weeks. Through the presentation, I was able to integrate and sort out what I had learned and practice my expression and presentation skills, and at the same time, I also gained new inspirations and ideas from other people's presentations, which further deepened my understanding and mastery of the knowledge related to application design 1, and accumulated valuable experience for the subsequent more in-depth study and practicehttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1SsAT_CM7tTJEcOjF6insRKLwPcYtCqqG/view?usp=sharing

Application Design /Project 3: Lo-Fi App Design Prototype

Week 11- Week 14:

Week 11/ Wireframe & UI kit
WEEK 11-12/ UI Kit & Wireframe
Week 13/ User Testing

Week 11: Focus on the study of Wireframe and UI kit, understand the principles and methods of wireframe construction, familiarize yourself with the application of various components in UI kit, lay the foundation for subsequent interface design, and master the basic design framework and tools.

 Week 12: Continue to deepen the study of UI Kit and Wireframe, which may involve the application of more complex cases and scenarios, to further optimize the use of wireframes and UI components, to improve the standardization and professionalism of design, to consolidate the knowledge learned in the previous week, and to expand the scope of its application.

Week 13: Focus on User Testing, learn how to design effective user testing scheme, collect and analyze user feedback data, adjust and optimize the existing design according to the test results, in order to improve the user experience of the product, and realize the key link from design to actual user requirements verification.

Interview Summary:

 (User 1) ChunXiao

 She said she couldn't view the more detailed categories, and that she could add a product breakdown to the category page.

 (User2) JiaQi

 She said the homepage design is too monotonous and suggested me to add some product categorization buttons on the homepage as well.

 (User 3) Huier

 She said I could add another feature to view logistics progress after placing an order.

                                                          Low-Fi Vedio

Lo-Fi App Design in Figma

Application Design /Project 2: UI/UX Design Document 

Week 5- Week 10:

Week 5/ Card sorting
Week 6/ User Experience research
Week 7/ UI/UX Design document
Week 8/ Create User Personas
Week 9/ User Journey Map & Digital Card Sorting
Week 10/ Site Map & User Flow

   In this phase of study, we have gradually explored the key areas of UI/UX design, accumulated knowledge and skills, and realized a steady improvement from theoretical knowledge to practical application. 

   Starting from "Card sorting" in week 5, we learned how to reasonably group and categorize information through card sorting, so as to sort out a clear and easy-to-understand information structure, which built a solid structural foundation for subsequent design work, and made us understand the importance of effective organization of information for user experience. This builds a solid structural foundation for subsequent design work and makes us understand the importance of effective organization of information for user experience. 

   In the 6th week of "User Experience research", we have mastered a variety of methods and tools to study users, and through in-depth understanding of user needs, behavior patterns and expectations, we can accurately explore the pain points and needs of users in the process of using products or services, and these valuable research results provide a basis for subsequent design decisions. These valuable research results provide solid data support and direction guidance for subsequent design decisions, making our designs more in line with the actual situation of users.

Quesionaries for BRANDY MELLIVE

   In the seventh week of "UI/UX Design document", we learned to systematically and comprehensively organize and record our previous design ideas, user research results, interface element specifications, etc., to form a set of complete and detailed design documents. This not only helps team members to communicate and collaborate with each other, but also ensures the consistency and standardization of the design work, and provides a clear blueprint for the implementation of the design. 

   In the "Create User Personas" session in week 8, we carefully constructed representative user profiles based on previous user research data, and assigned specific characteristics, goals, motivations and behavioral patterns to the users. Through these vivid user profiles, we can always put ourselves in the users' shoes during the design process, ensuring that the design solutions can accurately meet the personalized needs of different types of users, and make the design more targeted and attractive.

 

    In Week 9's "User Journey Map & Digital Card Sorting", we further optimize the path planning of user experience by drawing a user journey map, which clearly shows the stages and emotional changes of users in the process of interacting with a product or service. targeted optimization of key nodes to improve the overall experience. At the same time, the learning of digital card classification makes us more comfortable in optimizing the information architecture, which further improves the accessibility and ease of use of information.

   Finally, the "Site Map & User Flow" study in week 10 enabled us to improve the product architecture design from both macro and micro levels. The drawing of the site map allows us to clarify the hierarchical relationship and connection between various pages, ensuring that users can easily find the information they need when browsing the website. The design of the user flow details the steps and interaction paths for users to complete specific tasks. By simplifying and optimizing the flow, we improve the efficiency and satisfaction of users in completing their tasks, and build a solid foundation for creating high-quality UI/UX results.

   Through this stage of systematic and comprehensive learning, we have deeply understood and mastered the core points of UI/UX design from different dimensions, and comprehensively improved our design thinking and practical skills, so that we can more systematically and accurately carry out product design and optimization, to effectively meet the needs of the users and effectively improve the user experience, and lay a solid foundation for the future in-depth development of the field of UI/UX.