Hi Readers,

Exploration A was truly an unorthodox means of design execution for me. It has truly been a roller-coaster ride. By that I mean interesting and exciting, with the occasional freak-outs. I have truly learned a lot from this experience, and as posted earlier I will certainly be utilizing this method of design thinking again. Throughout this process, my peers and professor were extremely helpful. I never really thought about what it meant to work in teams in an online program, but I must say it was quite successful and beneficial. I received a tremendous amount of positive and constructive feedback, and I can honestly say that I have utilized all, if not most of the critiques throughout the process.

I would really be misleading you by only giving you the positives.  There were times when the process got extremely frustrating, but it was definitely well worth it. Here is my step by step process:

1. I chose three random words for three random lists: iPhone, Trojan Horse, and Force.
2. I added 20-30 new words to each list.
3. I handed my list to a partner, and she added 10 more words to each list.
4. I was returned the list. Then I added three more words, an image and a color swatch.
5. I then collaborated with my partner over a series of phone conversations, to further expand the list of words, images and color swatches.
6. I took the existing information and drafted a mind map, color palette and mood board, drawing connections between all three lists.
7. From the mind map, color palette and mood board, I was able to develop a design concept:
   • What you want to say:  Describe the design opportunity revealed through your creative play and collaboration: My creative play and collaboration revealed an opportunity to create a book, that would be placed in waiting rooms in different environments, about bettering communication skills.
   • Who you want to say it to:   Everyone who can hear, speak and read English.
   • Why you want to say it:  When expanding my concepts and drawing connections between the three lists, I made a list of words that connected all three words together. One theme that resonated with me, after connecting all the lists was Bettering Communication. I decided to take a less literal approach. First, the iPhone represents communication. Next, the catalyst to the destruction of the City of Troy was that they did not listen. The Trojans were warned by the gods not to accept any gifts from the Greeks, but their greed kept them from heeding the warning. Not listening lead to their destruction. Finally, force power to influence, affect or control. As it relates to communication, force could equate not listening, bigotry, arguing and forcing one’s point-of-view on to another person. All three factors contributed to the idea that people in the world need to better their communication skills. If we listened more, talked less, and respected the opinions and beliefs of others, there would be less to fight about.
   • How you will say it: I plan to create a booklet made out of die-cuts with one phrase. The words are not readable when all of the pages of the book are placed directly on top of each other, but once each page is read separately with a solid sheet behind it, the phrase becomes readable. The phrase will be, “No one hears if everyone speaks at the same time.”
8. I then conducted type studies.
9. I conducted a survey, exploring Bad Communication Experiences among 20 people of varying age ranges, genders and ethnicities. I asked the questions:
   Have you ever been a victim of or contributed to bad communication (i.e. arguing, not listening, interrupting?
   How does it make you feel? Do you dislike it? If so, what do you dislike about it?
   What should change?
   How has bad communication negatively affected you?
10. I drafted digital sketches of potential covers and inside book layouts.
11. I held more collaborations with my partner and utilized feedback from my peers and instructor to further develop the ideas.
12.  Finally, I designed what I thought was a final project. However, after a great deal of feedback from my instructor, I felt it best to rework my design solution by heeding to the critiques I received.
13. FINALLY, 3 days after the “almost final”, I was able to complete a final design that I am much more proud of, thanks to the push and encouragement of my professor and peers. Here’s a quick snip-it of what I came up with: RPerryman_ExplorationASnip-it .This was not an easy process, but it was well-worth the experience and end result. As always, thanks for reading!