Final Project

Assignment 2 and the Final Project (combined) are indeed tougher compared to Assignment 1. First and foremost, there is the quite heavy workload. For Assignment 1, I spent a lot of time putting all the information gathered into a single-page infographic, but for this Final Project, almost everything is time-consuming. However, I'm lucky to say that with all the help I get, I managed to complete everything in time. Although feeling exhausted, seeing the whole project work done is satisfying.

My first thought when I got to know that we needed to interview a wheelchair user to identify their needs was “???” (lots of question marks in my head). I knew that this was to train our communication skills and see whether we could efficiently get useful insights from a real-life target user, but where was I going to find a wheelchair user? Plus, as an introvert, I’m gonna cry… But then I remembered an older sister at my church who is a wheelchair user, so I nerved myself to meet her during break time and interview her regarding the issues she faces in her daily life. However, the interview didn’t go well… As a church member, what I heard from her was “have faith in God,” “pray more”… well, I was kind of speechless. Nevertheless, I still managed to grasp some of the difficulties she faced. As a stroke survivor at the age of 60+, and with her only son who doesn’t care much about her, she has to independently do her daily chores in her house. She fell down a few times when trying to stand up to reach the light switches and was admitted to the hospital. She also has difficulties getting into a car when someone is to fetch her, as she doesn’t have enough strength to support her body movements.

The other day, I had some discussions with Mr. Yusri regarding this user and her needs. Sir gave me an idea of designing an all-in-one remote control for her to control devices in her house without needing to stand up or leave her wheelchair often. I also gained a really valuable insight, which is that most elderly users would prefer a physical remote rather than a virtual app. This is a common preference as we are normally accustomed to using physical remote controls, such as for the TV and AC. For users who are not as “techy” as the younger generations and are not familiar with smartphone technologies, it would burden them even more if I were to design an app for universal control. Fortunately, I managed to set my topic for this project, which is to design an all-in-one physical smart remote to enhance home control for elderly users.

After identifying the user needs, I went on to create my user research report, while simultaneously producing a few sketches of what my system was going to be like. Everything started well at the beginning, with help from Mr. Yusri and my family members' suggestions, the conceptual idea sketches, and the system design diagram. I created two system design diagrams, one illustrating how different components of the system would interact and work together, and another one illustrating the flow of the user's interaction and the system feedback (I did the second one after creating the user manual). But then came the difficult part - developing a user manual. Wow, this almost killed me (just kidding). I tried to make my user manual as professional as possible, which took up too much of my time doing research and finding references. I also spent a lot of time designing my remote interface in Adobe Illustrator and picked the one as the final design after asking for feedback from my friends. The painful yet fun process continued on; I initially planned to create a 3D model in Blender to show different angles and views of the remote in my manual, but it was too time-consuming, so I had no choice but to start drawing. In the end, I was quite satisfied with my drawings of the contents in the product packaging. The final infographic was not that difficult after finishing the user manual.

After combining all my sketches and other deliverables, my project is finally coming to an end (I haven’t started doing my blog, oops). I’ve learned a lot throughout this project. I’ve learned that communication skills are very much important for a designer in order to know the target users well. Designing an entire embedded system from scratch is a large project and requires a lot of research, thinking, trial and error. I learned that a good design must always be user-centered and user-friendly, making identifying the target user and their needs a very crucial step. In every design to be produced, sketches are significant to conceptualize the idea, to save a lot of time during the subsequent process. When illustrating the remote, I came up with a few designs in different dimensions and colors, making it easier to decide which one was the best rather than just imagining in my mind. Time management is also very important in managing a project, especially when this project requires plenty of deliverables.

Another thought that emerged from doing this project is the realization that Malaysia has limited awareness regarding the needs of individuals with disabilities. This realization took root during the "ILS" project last semester. In my research, I discovered that there are quite a number of technologies and solutions already on the market for those facing disability challenges, but they are not commonly seen in Malaysia. The question is, why? Sir explained that it comes down to awareness. I felt both pity and misfortune witnessing this situation. In Malaysia, too many potential solutions only reach the design stage and few progress to execution. The government's insufficient focus on the needs of this demographic leads to low public awareness. But what can we do in response? 

AS DESIGNERS, WE CAN CREATE, BUT WHEN THE EXECUTORS DO NOT FOLLOW THROUGH, WHAT ACTIONS ARE WE LEFT TO TAKE? 

In conclusion, this project has been a journey of growth, not only as a designer but as an advocate for inclusivity. Despite the challenges faced and the understanding of the gaps in awareness, I am reminded that every design has the power to make a difference. It is through these small steps—each sketch, each conversation, each user manual—that we begin to bridge the divide. As designers, our creations are more than just objects; they are extensions of empathy, tools for empowerment, and instruments of change.

Looking ahead, the path is clear. We must continue to innovate, to educate, and to push for the execution of designs that serve all members of society. This project has strengthened my resolve to be part of that change, to ensure that for every need identified, a solution is not just designed but also delivered. It is a commitment that extends beyond the scope of a semester and into the fabric of my role in the world. This is not the end of a project; it's the beginning of a mission. OHOHOHOHOHOHO.