Week 7 - Capstone

What Wows? - D4G Methodology

Week’s Focus: Planning, Feedback, and Starting Website Design

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Description:

In the first class back from the break, I planned to approach Diana to get feedback on my proposed outcome and my presentation slides, in preparation for the upcoming presentation to our partners. Diana approved of my outcome, which was initially:

Outcome: Interactive Panel with Open-Mic Segment: Faith Exchange

• The event starts with a panel discussion on religious diversity, followed by an open-mic segment where employees share personal experiences. This format creates a safe space for open dialogue, fostering understanding, empathy, and engagement within the workplace.

However, Diana raised the question, "What will they do after the panel?" We then discussed possible platforms to ensure the impact of the event continued beyond the panel. I settled on creating a website and updated my outcome to:

Faith Exchange Hub

• An interactive platform promoting religious inclusivity in the workplace. It features panel recordings, an open-mic segment, a resource hub with educational materials, an anonymous Q&A forum, and a blog for reflections. The site serves as a central hub for learning, dialogue, and ongoing engagement in building a more inclusive work environment.

Although I didn’t officially show her my slides, she glanced at them and didn’t offer any negative feedback, so I assumed they were alright. However, she did remind me not to use a template in the future.

After presenting to our partners, I was glad to hear they appreciated my problem statement and the background and statistics I provided. However, they didn’t comment much on the outcome, which left me feeling uncertain about their thoughts on it.

Following the classes, I began my individual work, focusing on the website design. I created a website design checklist with the following categories:

• Research & Planning: Establishing objectives, finding precedents, and mocking up a structure wireframe (without website navigation).

• Contents & Visuals: Defining the structure, logo & branding, and color & typography.

• Website Development: Developing wireframes on Figma (including website navigation) and prototyping with the chosen brand.

• Panel Showcase: Deciding how to display panel recordings on the website.

• Anonymity Aspects: Incorporating features to allow users to remain anonymous.

I’ve completed the first two categories and am currently working on the third, which will likely continue into next week.

[Figure 1: Website Design Checklist. My Miro]

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Feelings:

I felt a mix of relief and uncertainty this week. I was happy that Diana approved of my revised outcome and that the partners appreciated the depth of my problem statement. However, the lack of feedback on the outcome itself left me feeling unsure about whether they truly supported my approach. Additionally, receiving reminders about avoiding templates made me a bit self-conscious, but I also saw it as constructive feedback to improve my work.

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Evaluation:

The discussions with Diana were helpful, as they pushed me to think beyond the initial panel idea and consider a more sustainable platform for ongoing engagement. Deciding to build a website was a step in the right direction. What worked well was how the conversation with Diana guided me toward a more comprehensive and lasting outcome. However, the lack of feedback from the partners on the new outcome left me uncertain about its effectiveness, which is an area I need to address moving forward.

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Analysis:

Reflecting on this week, I realise that Diana’s question about “what happens after the panel” was crucial. It highlighted a gap in my original outcome, pushing me to think about how to ensure continued engagement. The conversation led to the idea of the "Faith Exchange Hub," which aligns more with my goals for fostering inclusivity. The lack of partner feedback on the updated outcome signals that I might need to clarify and present my ideas more effectively to garner specific responses in the future.

Additionally, creating a website design checklist provided a structured approach to this part of the project, ensuring I consider all necessary aspects before diving into development. This experience has taught me that feedback, whether verbalized or implied through silence, is a valuable tool for refining my work.

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Conclusion:

I learned the importance of considering long-term engagement when designing solutions, and how discussions with peers and mentors can expose gaps in my thinking. Moving forward, I need to actively seek detailed feedback on my outcome to confirm its direction. Additionally, I must ensure my website design is comprehensive, user-friendly, and aligns with the project's goals.

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Action Plan:

Next week, I will continue developing the website wireframes on Figma and finalize the checklist items. I also plan to present my updated outcome to peers and gather more targeted feedback to ensure its effectiveness. I’ll focus on explaining the website’s features in detail to avoid any ambiguity. Moreover, I will avoid using templates and aim to create a more customised presentation for future showcases.

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[Figure 2: Operation & Objectives of Faith Exchange. My Miro