Design Practice: December 2011

Self Evaluation

What problem did you identify?

How to preserve your shirt

What evidence did you find to support your decisions?

To start with we had the problem of deciding how to present our information. We were originally going to create a swing tag label. But after a crit we came to the conclusion a booklet that hooks over the pocket would be a much more interesting way of delivering our info. From here we created a survey finding out how much people knew already about preserving their clothing and also to work out roughly how much wear people get from theri clothes. Once we had enough information from primary and secondary research we each made some info graphics and with the help of another crit we decided on the order of the final booklet.

What methods did you use to gather your evidence and what forms did it take?

Primary Quantitative : We created a survey from this we converted our results into info graphics for the booklet.
We also photographed and measured pocket sizes to work out how big the booklet needed to be.
Secondary Quantitative: Using the internet we found shirt life span expectancies, Ironing temperatures, washing instructions for various fabrics and so on. This came in the form of figures and facts from various sites.

What methods of research did you find useful and why?

I came across a chart online with a list of all the fabrics and the perfect ironing temperatures that corresponded. From this information I was able to create some good info graphics. We used the book ‘Data Flow’ which was very helpful as it gave us a starting point as to where to go from offering many inspiring existing info graph pieces. The survey we sent out which was also useful too, from this we worked out the average cost per wear of a shirt.

How did these inform your response to your problem?

The information I found online enabled me to create a piece of info graphics on shirt ironing temperatures, this offered one aspect of information on how to preserve your shirt. The Data Flow book gave me ideas for different colour schemes but in the end we went with Natalie's colour scheme which has worked out really well.

What methods did you encounter as problematic?

One of the struggles we came across was finding existing information on the subject, it took allot of sifting through the internet to try and find facts and figures on shirt care. But eventually we managed to find various figures from fabric companies amongst others. Also staying organized as a group was somewhat difficult as not everyone was always in or contactable, But after the 2nd week we were allot more organized. When we printed the booklet we noticed that the type size was too small so we decided to make the booklet slightly bigger to make it more legible for the consumer.

How did you overcome this?

We managed to find certain information online after allot of looking but we also carried out a survey to get some primary research ourselves. And in terms of our group organization we all worked together a bit better in the 2nd week after a crit. We also redesigned the booklet after we had noticed it was too small.

What research could you have carried out that would have proved more useful?

There was quite allot of extra research we had planned to do as we didn't really address the problem fully I do not feel. Our booklet was really aimed at young professionals, It would of been nice to do another survey but in town so we could of got a broader range of results also more young professionals. We also planned to take the booklet to a clothing shop to see what they thought of the idea and to maybe take some photos. We were going to go to a dry cleaners too, to see how often a shirt was brought in and to ask their opinion on dry cleaning shirts. This would of been interesting as we found information that dry cleaning is worse for a shirt than washing.

5 things I have leant about the design process over the last 2 weeks:

Working in groups is quite tough as not everyone always agrees, it can be difficult to create something everyone likes.
Surveys are a good way of collecting primary research which always the potential for great info graphics.
Make the most of the crits and take on board every idea.
Continue the research process throughout as the outcome is constantly changing.
Don't just use the internet, use the library

5 things I would do differently next time:

Organise our time better and collaborate more rather than everyone doing their own thing.
More primary research was needed I feel as we only did one survey.
More design sheets and ideas as we kinda just went with a quick collaboration due to time restrictions.
Take on board other ideas better.
Book print slots!

Here is our final pocket booklet on how to preserve your shirt. I am extremely happy with the outcome. I think the colour scheme works really well and runs all the way through the booklet. I think we have done well in following the brief, we aimed the booklet at young proffesionals and I think we have succeeded in producing something appealing to a young buisness man or shirt buyer. The booklet is informative and also factual, the info graphics inside explain our facts clearly and also in a playful and fun manor.

If we were to have more time we wanted to print each page on trace, but unfortunately we couldn't get booked in to the print room. This would of been a nice touch I feel. Instead we printed on newsprint which has given it a really nice quality and texture too it. I think we have presented the information well with a professional and neat delivery