Design Alternatives

The key goal of the project is to use the knowledge gained to develop a set (3+) of design alternatives for my problem. This is the stage of "informed brainstorming". These multiple design alternatives should explore the potential design space and user experience for the problem. In this part of the project, I will develop mock-ups, storyboards, and sketches of at least three designs and user experiences. That is, I would provide pencil-and-paper or electronic images of the interface at various stages; I do not need to build a working prototype. My design sketches should be sufficiently detailed for a potential user to provide useful feedback about the design, however. Along with my design mock-ups, I would provide a brief narrative walk-through of how the system will work. Perhaps most importantly, I would also include my justifications for why design decisions were made, and what I consider to be the relative strengths and weaknesses of my different designs. The design process I follow here is important. Don't do the following: The group splits up and everyone creates one design, then these are all my alternatives to be turned in. This is not how a good, creative design process should work. It should be more like a brainstorming session with all team members present. I would seek to create some fundamentally different design ideas on different technology platforms, concepts all over the potential design space for the problem I have chosen. The key is to push the boundaries of the space of design possibilities. My project report should include all the explanatory material mentioned above as well as all the design sketches, drafts, storyboards, etc., that I generated. If some of my sketches are on paper, either scan or photograph the material and convert it to an appropriate electronic format. I will make sure that my report adequately reflects the design process that my group undertook. The key in this part of the project is to come up with many different design ideas, not just a small set of wiggles from some basic design. I would plan on turning in at least three different designs. We will utilize one full class day as a poster session near the end of this part of the project. Each group will post their design ideas on a poster in class. Everyone will then circulate and interact with the designers.