Week 5 - Capstone

What Is? - D4G Methodology

Engaging with Peers and Gathering Insights

This week, I focused on working through the worksheets and talking with my peers to gather insights for establishing my design criteria. Since this was the week following our presentations, I needed to map out my next steps carefully. During our studio session on Thursday, Diana gave us time to discuss our topics with a peer whose project differed from ours. These discussions were meant to provide simple introductions to each other's topics and offer a fresh perspective.

My partner for this activity asked some really good questions about my topic, and I’m happy to say I could answer most of them. However, there were still a few questions he raised that led to new insights, which were valuable to my ongoing research. I really enjoyed this activity because it not only provided a fresh pair of eyes on my project but also allowed me to offer valuable feedback to my partner. It was a nice change to think about something other than my own research for a moment.

Guest Lecture Reflections

After the peer discussions, Diana invited a guest lecturer who was a healthcare professional. Although their topic wasn’t directly related to my research, I listened intently in case something significant came up. They mentioned briefly how both healthcare professionals and patients often consider outward expressions, such as someone wearing a hijab, when interacting with others. This caught my attention because it’s related to how people perceive religious symbols, which is a part of my research.

I would have liked to ask the guest speaker to elaborate on this point, but unfortunately, we ran out of time. Reflecting on it later, I realized that I had touched on this insight before but hadn’t explored it deeply. Now, I’m thinking it might be worth looking further into how perceptions of religious symbols could be justified and incorporated into my plan for my project’s outcome.

Moving Forward

This week’s activities helped me see the value of seeking input from different perspectives and keeping an open mind. Moving forward, I plan to continue engaging with peers and experts from various fields to broaden my understanding. By doing so, I can ensure my project remains relevant and grounded in diverse viewpoints.