Reflections on Context Research Presentation
I think my presentations have been gradually improving over the semester, but they are still very poor. However, by seeing other presentations and getting feedback on my own presentations, I at least feel like I'm getting a good sense of what I need to work towards to give great presentations.
I think my presentation contained some good ideas. Of course, when you have a lot of ideas, there's usually something good in there. Editing myself down is certainly a challenge for me. I think one reason is simply that I'm often unsure of my own judgments, and prefer to present all of my ideas so that I can get feedback. Additionally, for me the details often seem fundamental to my understanding of some concept. Meaning often seems to dissolve when divorced of all the details. It's interesting to note that I'm often frustrated when others don't edit down there presentations - I just wanna know what's important, and if I want to know more, I often prefer to work out the details on my own.
Thinking back on your presentations (Gravity Tank, IDEO), I'm so impressed by how elegantly and effectively you convey higher-level ideas with a few carefully selected details. I suppose the challenge can be summarized as (a) determining the important high-level concepts, (b) selecting details that exemplify these concepts.
What I liked about my presentation
1) I think the content of my first several slides was pretty crisp and the way I was trying to convey it visually was pretty good. For example, in one of the first slides I used multiple images of fridges to convey that size was one of the only major differentiating features.
2) Many of my insights and design criteria seemed valuable. For example, space in the room is an issue, particularly that there is a lack of work space and storage space that is well organized. The mini-fridge can help solve this problem.
3) I think some of my design concepts were pretty good. For example, the idea of having a mini-kitchen that takes advantage of the outer structure of the fridge to create work and storage space. The visuals of this concept made it pretty easy grasp.
What I didn't like about my presentation
1) There was simply more stuff (words and graphics) than I needed to make the points I had. For example, the 3 slides with examples of how there is not enough space for cooking and eating could have been made with 1 picture and a quick example.
2) The stories and graphics could have been crafted better in order to better convey and support my insights, criteria and design concepts. For example, the concept that fridge organization is a common problem could have been supported by telling how Matt said it felt like his life revolved around the fridge because he was constantly reorganizing and digging through his small fridge. A single picture of a mini-fridge packed with food also could have helped convey this point, rather than highlighting all the different problems with organization.
3) Even though I feel I made some good points in my presentation, they can still be improved a great deal. In other words, I know my judgments as to what are good insights for design, what are good design criteria and what are good designs are still very underdeveloped.
What I would do differently
Instead of listing out things I'd do differently, I very quickly went through and edited the slides from my context research presentation to demonstrate some of the important aspects I'd change. I just used the images and info I had at hand (which should explain some discrepancies you may notice within some of the slides). After each slide, I've written a few sentences summarizing the main points of the slide.
Size is the major differentiating feature of compact fridges.
Compact fridges are just scaled down full-size fridges with less features. Yet, the compact is used differently than the full-size, and there is a need for unique compact features (as we'll see).
Most of the brands making compact fridge are lesser-known brands. The compacts made by name brands are the very similar in design and price as those made by these lesser-known brands. So Best Buy has a good opportunity to compete in this market.
In order to maintain busy and irregular schedules, college students make a lot of small and convenient meals. The mini-fridge is crucial in supporting mini-meals.
Food and drink are important to many of the social aspects of college life, from studying to partying. The mini-fridge places an important role in supporting these social activities.
Dorm rooms are small and space is always an issue. Many students are challenged by the lack of organized work space and storage space.
For many students, organizing lots of food items inside a small fridge is a constant challenge.
Many students maintain both private and shared kitchen resources. Transporting items between the room and a shared community kitchen is a common problem.
Mini-Kitchen - creates well connected work and storage space for a mini-kitchen area
Organized Fridge- easy to use, flexible and efficient organization
Eating, Drinking and Socializing Fridge - could be used as a mini-bar at a party, or as a dining table for entertaining friends
I think my presentation contained some good ideas. Of course, when you have a lot of ideas, there's usually something good in there. Editing myself down is certainly a challenge for me. I think one reason is simply that I'm often unsure of my own judgments, and prefer to present all of my ideas so that I can get feedback. Additionally, for me the details often seem fundamental to my understanding of some concept. Meaning often seems to dissolve when divorced of all the details. It's interesting to note that I'm often frustrated when others don't edit down there presentations - I just wanna know what's important, and if I want to know more, I often prefer to work out the details on my own.
Thinking back on your presentations (Gravity Tank, IDEO), I'm so impressed by how elegantly and effectively you convey higher-level ideas with a few carefully selected details. I suppose the challenge can be summarized as (a) determining the important high-level concepts, (b) selecting details that exemplify these concepts.
What I liked about my presentation
1) I think the content of my first several slides was pretty crisp and the way I was trying to convey it visually was pretty good. For example, in one of the first slides I used multiple images of fridges to convey that size was one of the only major differentiating features.
2) Many of my insights and design criteria seemed valuable. For example, space in the room is an issue, particularly that there is a lack of work space and storage space that is well organized. The mini-fridge can help solve this problem.
3) I think some of my design concepts were pretty good. For example, the idea of having a mini-kitchen that takes advantage of the outer structure of the fridge to create work and storage space. The visuals of this concept made it pretty easy grasp.
What I didn't like about my presentation
1) There was simply more stuff (words and graphics) than I needed to make the points I had. For example, the 3 slides with examples of how there is not enough space for cooking and eating could have been made with 1 picture and a quick example.
2) The stories and graphics could have been crafted better in order to better convey and support my insights, criteria and design concepts. For example, the concept that fridge organization is a common problem could have been supported by telling how Matt said it felt like his life revolved around the fridge because he was constantly reorganizing and digging through his small fridge. A single picture of a mini-fridge packed with food also could have helped convey this point, rather than highlighting all the different problems with organization.
3) Even though I feel I made some good points in my presentation, they can still be improved a great deal. In other words, I know my judgments as to what are good insights for design, what are good design criteria and what are good designs are still very underdeveloped.
What I would do differently
Instead of listing out things I'd do differently, I very quickly went through and edited the slides from my context research presentation to demonstrate some of the important aspects I'd change. I just used the images and info I had at hand (which should explain some discrepancies you may notice within some of the slides). After each slide, I've written a few sentences summarizing the main points of the slide.
Size is the major differentiating feature of compact fridges.
Compact fridges are just scaled down full-size fridges with less features. Yet, the compact is used differently than the full-size, and there is a need for unique compact features (as we'll see).
Most of the brands making compact fridge are lesser-known brands. The compacts made by name brands are the very similar in design and price as those made by these lesser-known brands. So Best Buy has a good opportunity to compete in this market.
In order to maintain busy and irregular schedules, college students make a lot of small and convenient meals. The mini-fridge is crucial in supporting mini-meals.
Food and drink are important to many of the social aspects of college life, from studying to partying. The mini-fridge places an important role in supporting these social activities.
Dorm rooms are small and space is always an issue. Many students are challenged by the lack of organized work space and storage space.
For many students, organizing lots of food items inside a small fridge is a constant challenge.
Many students maintain both private and shared kitchen resources. Transporting items between the room and a shared community kitchen is a common problem.
Mini-Kitchen - creates well connected work and storage space for a mini-kitchen area
Organized Fridge- easy to use, flexible and efficient organization
Eating, Drinking and Socializing Fridge - could be used as a mini-bar at a party, or as a dining table for entertaining friends
posted by jamesjpierce at 11:01 PM
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