14. Final Thesis Reflection

At the start of the class, this was my contract:

Contract

Laiana I. Lugo Santori

Items to be completed by the end of Module 14

I agree to complete the following thesis materials to the design standards of the School of Graphic Design and Digital Media by the end of Module 14 of this class:

• Website — The prototype website is the main feature of the project, allowing users to access information about the historical figures in an interactive and approachable way. The website will also serve as the storefront for the board game.

  • 5 screens & 10 motion graphics videos of 30-45 seconds — 4 point

• Educational Board Game — The educational board game will serve as a way to encourage learning about Puerto Rican historical figures in a way that is also entertaining. The game will focus on the historical figures that the history books often overlook and will depend on a game mechanic that will convey the story of these figures in a way that learning occurs without it necessarily feeling like learning (ex. the board game Evolution teaches ecosystems and how species relate to each other without really directly teaching it).

  • Product Design, 10 historical figure card illustrations, 60 tiles with 4 illustration categories and colors, 30 objective cards — 3 points.

    • This will include the design of the box, rule book, and all cards and game pieces.

• User test Board Game and Website

As well as these required thesis items:

• Visual System Guidelines

• Draft of the Thesis Process Book

After the 14 weeks of the class, I did complete the prototype of the website in both mobile and desktop versions and all board game components. I focused on making the website more robust and ended up creating 8 screens instead of 5. The prototyping process in mobile and desktop were both unique processes that required me to focus on the user and their interaction with two different pieces of technology: the computer and the phone. In this area, I accomplished more than I said I would but I was not able to create the videos that would go on the website.

With the game, I created all components that were proposed and began to mock them up and create user testing around them as I said I would in the contract. The only area where I did not complete what I promised was in creating the 10 historical figure illustrations. Instead, I created 6 historical figure illustrations and focused on the mechanisms of the game and designing a unique play experience around the functionality of changing history.

I did complete a draft of my thesis process book, conducted user testing for the deliverables I designed this semester, and consolidated my visual system guidelines.

Overall, I think that I maintained true to what I promised at the start of the semester, with just a few minor changes.

For the last part of my thesis journey, I will spend the holiday break finalizing the board game pieces and getting them ready for manufacturing. I will also spend time prepping to create the videos that will be the third deliverable that I will mostly focus on next semester.

Next semester, I will focus on the videos, finalizing my process book, creating a user journey map, photographing the game and conducting another round of user testing.