Action: Practice Technical Design Skills

December 4, 2021 admin Action

This planned action highlights my identified need to become more technically competent as a designer. Many of these skills are ones that I have been exposed to before, however, I struggle to integrate them into my skill set by not regularly practicing them enough. Some of these skills are:

• Basic programming (particularly Processing, for its utility in physical prototyping)
• Physical prototyping (particularly electronics and 3D modeling)
• Augmented / Mixed / Virtual Reality interface design (new tools being developed in the Perceptual Artifacts Lab show significant potential to improve this skill, so long as I practice using them)
• Data representation design (I am relatively new to both the practical and theoretical part of this domain, and it is vitally relevant to my MRP topic)

What will I do to achieve this?

• Leverage my network, particularly my peers from the Inclusive Design cohort and Perceptual Artifacts Lab who have more experience with these technical skills and look for recommendations for how to put them into practice, as well as opportunities to collaborate that would see me take on a more technical role.
• Conduct searches online for resources such as skill development courses and / or tutorials
• Engage with the material in courses that provide me with opportunities to produce a technical design outcome: the agenda of the Lab 2: Prototyping course is a prime example that I intend to work with on this need.

Which goals/related actions will this action help me accomplish?

• Develop new skills
• Participate in and contribute to Perceptual Artifacts Lab

What resource(s) will I need to be successful?

• Network of peers and advisors
• Online courses / tutorials
• Physical components and software with which to use to deliver technical design outcomes, such as an Arduino and / or Makey Makey kit, basic electronic components, 3D / data representation software, such as Rhino and Tableau, etc…