Field Trip 3 + Interview #3

Standard

A. Field Trip

Location: Vivo City

Movie time: 21 Oct 16 9:30 PM; Interview time: 22 Oct 16 2 PM

Movie: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

B. Interview #3

All interview is available @

Participant: Male, 24. Software Engineer.

  1. When is your most recently watched movie? Which movie?
    Miss Peregrine, yesterday at VIVO Golden Village.
  2. Do you have any cinema preference and why?
    No. As long as it is nearby to my previous activity, it’s OK.
  3. What are the factors that you think are important for a cinema?
    Regarding the ticketing, those movies that can be booked online is better, but it depends on the price. If it is cheaper, then I will book online. If it is easier and cheaper to book on site, then I will book on site.
    Regarding the size of the cinema, I prefer the huge one because if you pick the seat at the centre, it will be not too close to the screen. Because small cinema, sometimes the impression is, the screen is too big.
  4. What do you usually do after watching a movie?
    Stand up, walk to the exit, and go toilet, and go home or do next activities.
  5. Do you stay back for after credits?
    For some, yes. Depends. If the credits is interesting, then I will stay back for a while, but most of the time, no.
    How do you define interesting?
    Those movies that have end credits which have animation inside and is not just black and white text on the screen. Some movies that I know have post credit movie, I will stay back.
  6. How do you feel (emotionally and physically) after watching a movie?

Emotional: Depends on the movie. If the movie is good, I will be emotionally happy. If the movie is bad, I will criticize the movie.
Physical (do you feel tired or cold?): Depends on the cinema itself. Depends on the seats. For the temperature, I am usually ready to bring a jacket in case it’s too cold.

7. How do you feel about the exit hall post movie?
Some cinemas have movie posters, some cinemas have nothing, just a hallway, and there is no special things there. For the lighting, some of the cinemas, which is good, they have warm lighting. But some other cinemas have normal plain lighting.
Is it disturbing to exit to a bright lighted place from a dark room?
The brightness of the exit way is OK because after watching the movie, they will put the lights on again in the theatre itself, so your eyes will adjust.
Do you feel that movie posters are visually pleasing for you in the exit hall?
Not really interesting because in the entrance, you are also looking at the same thing.

8. Have you ever gotten into a situation that you have to catch last public transport after a movie? How did you feel about it?
Yes. I chose the movie timing and I surely know roughly what time it ended, so I already know the consequence.

9. If you can change something about the exit hall, what would you like to change?
If I can change something, the exit door is only one door so I can immediately go back to the mall or the entrance of the cinema. So I don’t need to walk quite far because currently the practice is that they put the long hallway circling around the theatre or just to go to a different point of exit at the mall. They design it like that. So if I can change something, one exit door, you open the door, and immediately is the entrance of the theatre or within the theatre itself.
Why do you think exiting at the theatre is good?
In case you have another movie to catch. Some people do movie marathon. If the exit is very far, then they need to literally marathon physically to the cinema.

10What do you usually do in the exit hall?
Walking. Sometimes I will check my message. If I have friends to go along with, I will talk to them about the movie.
What do you think of the signage in the exit hall? Is it sufficient? How do you usually find your way to go out of the exit hall?
There is only one way. First, normally, I will just follow the crowd. Secondly, the signage is very clear. Jus exit that way, and there is only one way.

11. How do you feel about the following ideas to improve the exit hall?

a. Navigation to be displayed on walls
For that idea, I don’t agree because basically, like I said before, the better exit way is you don’t need to walk very far and just go back to the lobby of the movie theatre.

b. After credits / new movie trailers screened on walls
I will surely not look at it because normally people will exit the theatre after the movie ends, and normally although the credits is displayed inside the movie theatre, we could just not look at it, and just walk. If you put it in the exit way, it will have the same effect. People will just ignore it.

c. Simple rating system for viewers to express their feeling about the movie
That will be good. Because sometimes, now the only way you can rate the movie is you go to a website, log in to your account, and you rate the movie, put comment on the movie, and we don’ t know about the credibility of the comment. If the person watched the movie before or they did not, but they just put the stupid comment there. But if we put at the exit it will be good so immediately after people watch the movie , if they want to comment or rate the movie, they can do it immediately.
What if after you rate a movie, there is a visuals projected on the wall following your input?
I think that is only something extra, the point is just the rating system, right? If you want to put it, it’s OK, but if no, it’s OK. So basically, the rating system is good. For the extra visuals that you display afterwards, normally people will not care about it because that’s not the main point.

 

The Best of You Exhibition

Standard

The Best of You

The Best of You movement is about finding quiet moments in our busy lives to take stock of our accomplishments and appreciate our lives. In asking this question, we want to inspire you to celebrate the accomplishments, life experiences and the people that have brought out the best in you.

Started in 2014, this movement is powered by these tributes to one’s life accomplishments and experiences. Coming from all walks of life, these are tributes that speak of courage, regret, community, love, encouragement, redemption and, most of all, empowerment.

I came across this Exhibition on 7th October at Buona Vista. I participated in the initiative by writing my story on a postcard and having it illustrated by Sharlene Leong.

Final Project: After Credit (Group 2)

Standard

Problems

Problem (1): Currently, many cinemas in Singapore simply use existing fire exit lo lead movie goers back to the shopping mall. These exit usually are long and monotonous corridor with no indication of destination. This leads to some degree of anxiety and frustration when movie goers end up at a destination much further than they would like to.

Problem (2): After watching a movie, sometimes we still have a feeling that we are still in the fiction world. For example, after watching a dance movie, I feel like I want to dance afterwards. The end seems to be abrupt when movie goers suddenly enters a boring corridor to exit the cinema. How could we ease this transition as the movie watchers get out of the movie hall (fiction) to the shopping mall (real world)?

Solution

AFTER CREDITS

The project aims to improve the final part of a movie watching experience that is usually overlooked: the exit. Improvements are made in 2 ways: (1) provide an aid for way finding and (2) creates a smoother transition from the movie to the real world.

Existing Visual Solution: Invisible Voices

Standard

Invisible Voices on DR-NTU by Liu Longhao

This project is to bring audiences on a journey to know about the lives of migrant construction workers in Singapore. There are a total of 322,700 of them here and the number is counting on. We see them around us and acknowledge their existence but how much do we know about them? Many try and draw sympathy to this group of minority beings but few take the effort to truly empathize them. Thus, my team and I made this documentary, which shows the lives and voices of these people who walk among us but are generally treated as unseen. We do not aim to educate audiences on the right and wrong, but we hope they can bear a more open mind when they see or hear about migrant workers after watching this documentary.

 

https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/max_1200/31556828108751.5636fc173143f.jpg

https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/max_1200/31556828108751.5636fc173143f.jpg

Thoughts for FYP

In his FYP report, this statement struck me the most:

I had a long conversation with the founder of Healthserve, Doctor Goh Wei Leong on the migrant workers’ community. When I told him that I wanted to do a documentary about the migrant workers and Healthserve, he told not to do one which emphasized only the sadness of workers as it would not bring out a good message, that I inevitably agreed on. I believe what is crucial is to bring out inspiration despite the inevitable negative stories of this group of people.

My project should be a platform where it is inspirational for people who sees it. My goal is to be a channel of migrant workers to have a stage to be inspirational for others..

Existing solution: MWAW Lunch Tag and ICOON

Standard

• MWAW 2016 • Lunch Tag #1 & #2

Have you ever wondered how a genuine conversation with people who helped built the infrastructure of your home will go? Do you want a chance to meet people you would otherwise pass by, and actually interact with them?

The two Lunch Tags allow two people who would have never otherwise met to sit down and connect over a simple lunch. RSVP here: http://tinyurl.com/rsvpmwaw !

Lunch Tag #1
31st Jan, 9am – 1pm, at Yale-NUS College Elm Dining Hall
This will kick-start with a friendly lohei decoration competition involving both participants and migrant workers. After which, everyone will be paired up to have lunch together at the Yale-NUS College Elm Dining Hall.

Lunch Tag #2
3rd Feb, 11.30am – 3pm, at Botanic Gardens
In the style of a picnic, this Lunch Tag will take place out in the nature at Botanic Gardens. There will also be games where participants will interact with foreign domestic workers from the HOME Shelter in a different setting than what we usually do.

https://scontent-sin6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/12622326_1110041615702747_8802435550716071044_o.jpg

https://scontent-sin6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/12622326_1110041615702747_8802435550716071044_o.jpg

Through a meal, people could have a more personal conversation to know each other. How would my FYP be different from this existing event is that:

  • It would not be a big event. For a meet up, there will only be 3 locals and 3 migrant workers.
  • I will document each session in the form of either photography, audio, or video, to be later be compiled for my installation.
  • I will design a set of conversation starters, accompanied by English and Tamil or Bengali translation. If needed, I will also design pictograms to help the conversation flow seamlessly.
http://www.icoon.eu/images/frontimages/editions_communicator/icoon-bildwoerterbuch-communicator.png

http://www.icoon.eu/images/frontimages/editions_communicator/icoon-bildwoerterbuch-communicator.png

Personal encounter with migrant workers

Standard

I am thankful to be involved in Human Library as a volunteer as I got the chance to meet friendly migrant workers and interview them. Without this conversation, I would not know about their lives other than working as construction workers. They are a group of poets who meet on daily basis to discuss about poetry. Through this community, they get to know people, foreigners and locals, who share the love of poetry.
whatsapp-image-2016-09-30-at-10-56-17-am

Zakir Hossain, third from the left, won Migrant Poetry Competition in 2014 and 2015. As reported by The Middle Ground, Mr Hossain said that he felt many Singaporeans had harboured negative feelings against migrant workers after the 2013 Little India riots, which involved about 400 people. He was pleasantly startled at how “this competition has opened the door for many people to change their negative views about migrant workers” and wishes for more of such competitions to be held.

This morning, Zakir Hossain sent me the link to his TedX Talk he delivered last year in NTU. Enjoy 🙂

Thoughts for FYP:
I definitely want to hold a similar small gathering like this for the public to get to know the migrant workers on a more personal level. In return, the migrant workers will also get to know the participants.

Assignment 7+8 Part 2+3 (WIP)

Standard

Part 2: Start to work on final project proposals – prepare three ideas for a screen-based experience that you’d like to create (it can be speculative). Prepare a slide show to illustrate your ideas. The ideas can be based on any of the field trips done so far or can be something completely new.

Presentation slide here

  1. Order macs through mobile phone to avoid queueing. Pay with cash or nets at the counter. The queue number will be sent to their phones. Perhaps this will be effective if used only during peak hours.

    https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/sLzRfg1-Cdgzi5g1VKrNhSXptApA2kMKtvDEV9bSIukWxG0IHAt4Cq4lBdWrhq54eKM=h900

    https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/sLzRfg1-Cdgzi5g1VKrNhSXptApA2kMKtvDEV9bSIukWxG0IHAt4Cq4lBdWrhq54eKM=h900

  2. A screen at the bus showing where is the next bus stop; an interactive map at MRT stations and bus stops showing the shortest route to go somewhere and the fare. It should be as simple as possible, so even for the senior citizens who are not tech-savvy could use it.

    http://uiobservatory.com/media/2013/BusProgressBar_Arrival.jpg

    http://uiobservatory.com/media/2013/BusProgressBar_Arrival.jpg

  3. Real time food waste counter at food courts + the data of how many people can be fed from the waste? This is to discourage people from wasting food.

    https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/225/502155430_ca46611dde.jpg

    https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/225/502155430_ca46611dde.jpg

  4. An online platform that sells everything with no brand. e.g. rice, cooking oil, tomato. This idea is to challenge the visual noise we have today.

    http://beachpackagingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/No-Name-DietSoda-BakingSoda-package-design.jpg

    http://beachpackagingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/No-Name-DietSoda-BakingSoda-package-design.jpg

Part 3: Find 3 examples of a product/project that you think are good examples of thoughtfully designed user experience. Be prepared to support your choices.

  1. Google Translate
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-80X1LKaBFLI/VLXQYFGAR6I/AAAAAAAAPsQ/4R74bu0PbYQ/s1600/Google%2BWord%2BLens%2BiPhone%2BGIF.gif

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/14/google-translate-update_n_6466488.html

2. Pilot: Smart Earpiece Language Translator

3. MRI that is redesigned for kids

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_eye/2013/10/18/creative_confidence_a_new_book_from_ideo_s_tom_and_david_kelley.html

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_eye/2013/10/18/creative_confidence_a_new_book_from_ideo_s_tom_and_david_kelley.html

4. Defender 24/7

http://www.getthedefender.com/

 

Assignment 7+8 Part 4: Designing for The Digital Age

Standard

Part 4, Reading:CH01_Digital_Age_Goodwin.pdf

Book title: Designing for The Digital Age: How to Create Human-Centered Products and Services

Author: Kim Goodwin

Chapter01: Goal-Directed Product and Service Design

Goodwin attempted to define design as “the craft of visualizing concrete solutions that serve human needs and goals within certain constraints.”

  • Visualizing concrete solutions: the ability to imagine an end product and express it in a tangible way for the builder to accomplish the end result.
  • Craft: neither science nor art.
  • Serve human needs and goals: Good design helps humans accomplish something in an efficient, effective, safe, and enjoyable way.
  • Within certain constraints: constrained by time and cost, etc.

Goal-Directed Design assumes the best way to design a successful product is to focus on achieving goals. This approach was developed by the Cooper’s founder, Alan Cooper.

untitledGoal-Directed Design is a method that will help skilled designers ensure thoroughness, timely execution, and consistently high quality of output. Throughout the design process, the designer will always be in contact with the stakeholders and engineers. This transparency allows the team involved in the project to refine the product through team work until it is finished.

Question 1

How to encourage companies to apply this method to ensure that their product development will run more smoothly using Goal-Directed Design method?

Question 2

Would sticking to this method hinder a designer to work in a very short period of time? As I figure that the framework contains a lot of procedure.

Assignment 7+8 Part 1: “Future World”

Standard

Part 1: Write a response to the exhibition “Future World”. Keep in mind the following questions – What is experience design and what are the possibilities of responsive environments? How might this change the way we think about the world around us and the ways that we communicate with each other?

The visit with UX class to Future World exhibition at Marina Bay Sands was not my first time visiting. I had been there a month before. The experience was different as for the second visit, we had a representative from Team Lab give us a tour.

Comparing the two experiences, I definitely became more aware of the possibilities of the exhibition after hearing from the Team Lab rep.

For example, I did not know that I can control the crystal universe star colours using my mobile phone on my first visit. What my friends and I cared about was taking photo of the beautiful scene.

However, my lack of knowledge that I could control the colour animation did not make my experience less enjoyable. I love the sensation of being in the outer space. This installation intrigued my senses: hearing the ambience music, touching the LED strings, seeing the movement of the stars.

Indeed, after knowing that I could participate in customizing the experience from my phone excited me even more. It’s amazing what science and technology can do to create an artistic experience. We do not get to experience these in daily life.

So, what is experience design? Marc Hassenzahl, in his book Experience design: technology for all the right reasons, explains that

Experience Design asserts design not to be about products anymore but about the experiences they deliver. This requires a broadened perspective, with the fulfillment of psychological needs (values), which in turn creates meaning and emotion, as the prime design objective.

Since experience design concerns about how the audience will experience, this Crystal Universe, which is an example of designed experience is very different from conventional artwork, Mona Lisa.

https://whyaminotthere.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/mona-lisa.jpg

https://whyaminotthere.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/mona-lisa.jpg

🙂

My take is, experience design is immersive and is considerate towards the audiences’ experience. In contrast, a painting is a restricted only for the audience to view. Certainly, Da Vinci did not design how the art viewer should enjoy his artwork.

For now and in the future, we will see more companies changing their approach of reaching their customers by elevating their customer experience. Read more here.