#acmwo

Progress Update #5: Lo-Fi Wireframes Pau!

Hey everyone! So glad you’re stopping by my Tumblr blog again! Read ↓below↓ for my project update details!

What has been happening over the past 2 weeks?

These past two weeks have been pretty busy as I worked on my other classes’ assignments. I went against the advice of our professor, who said, “Use the spring break to catch up,” but I instead opted to relax and decompress. I actually went outside this time, touched grass, and shopped at malls, unlike my previous breaks, when I would just stay cooped up in my house reading manga. I pretty much crammed some last-minute work before class today and the night before. At the very least, I finished my low-fidelity wireframes for the five microsites. In my last post, I only completed my low-fidelity wireframes for the main website, so I am happy to have done more. I think I forgot to mention that I reduced the scope of my website. Instead of ten designs, I narrowed it down to just five to make it more manageable for myself. If I also fail to deliver a fully functional website, I will fall back on a website prototype as a backup.

What is coming up for the next 2 weeks?

My next step is to complete my high-fidelity wireframes based on the low-fidelity ones. For this step, I will need to gather assets, such as images and text (copy) to use. After that, I will work on recreating the design on the actual website using Wix, hopefully by next week on the 30th. I want to launch the website as soon as possible to ensure there is ample time to gather data by collecting votes from my Instagram Stories polls, summarizing the results, and posting the summary on the site. So, that’s where I am heading over the next two weeks.

Hiccups/Hurdles/AHA moments

A hurdle I had to overcome was my perfectionist mindset. Because I want everything to be perfect, it was a struggle to begin tackling my five microsite wireframe designs. I did not know where to start, but once I began working, I had momentum. At this point, I realized I really just need to pass. Of course, I want to put out my best work, but I may need to take some shortcuts.

I had an AHA moment when I realized that I still had some time before I needed to launch my website. It is not a lot of time, but I remain hopeful. However, throughout this whole creative process, I have had serious self-doubt about completing this project. I had given up in high school for a STEM capstone project for STEM honors, where I dropped the class and forfeited the honors. It was definitely not my proudest moment, but I like to believe I have changed drastically from that time. Although I have self-doubt and imposter syndrome, I have accomplished a lot to get to where I am now. While I do not believe I was the person to actually achieve these things, I am trying to be more grateful and celebrate the small victories. By the end of this project, I hope to savor my triumph and success exuberantly with my friends and family. I am so close to the finish line. We all are. We got this, guys!

Any deliverable drafts to share?

At the top of this post, you will find screenshots of my low- and high-fidelity wireframes from Figma. I have finished my lo-fi wireframes and am beginning to work on my hi-fi ones. Click here to view my documentation for this project thus far. I have compiled my brand color palette, study guide, user personas, sitemap, and lo-fi wireframes into one Figma file to have everything in one place.

Where are you on your timeline?

I am kind of in the production phase, depending on how you look at it. I categorized wireframes under the production phase, but others may still consider them to be in the pre-production phase. Needless to say, I am quite behind, as I have assigned myself to launch my website this past Sunday. Now I know that the deadlines I set for myself are tentative and bound to change, so I won’t beat myself up over it too much. I am proud I have at least finished my lo-fi wireframes, which were substantially weighing on my mind due to feeling overwhelmed. Even so, I have reduced the scope of my project, which has lifted that immense burden off my shoulders.

Progress Update #2: Workback Plan Pau!

Welcome back to my Tumblr blog! Per our CM 491 class schedule, I will post progress updates biweekly or every two weeks. Expect to see posts on Mondays or Tuesdays!

What has been happening over the past 2 weeks?

To get you all caught up, I finally completed my workback plan (pau means “finished” or “done” in Hawaiian)! If you are curious about how it looks, here’s the link: Galacgac_R_WorkbackPlan. I tried my best to make it look organized and visually appealing, using colors and formatting for contrast. I like color coding, so I made each phase different: pre-production = purple, productive = blue, and post-production = pink. I also “started” on my timeline but am still working on it. So, that’s what I’ve been working on these past two weeks.

What is coming up for the next 2 weeks?

Here is what the next two weeks will look like. Once my workback plan is approved, I will begin working on my user personas and a design doc for branding. After that, my wireframe sketches will be next!

Hiccups/Hurdles/AHA moments

Although demotivation and procrastination have been my top two hurdles, I am pretty proud of the workback plan I created. I locked in and did what I set out to do.

Any deliverable drafts to share?

Unfortunately, other than the workback plan, I come empty-handed with deliverable drafts. Please forgive me! Hopefully, in the next two weeks, I have more to show.

Where are you on your timeline?

I am pretty behind on my timeline; I won’t lie. I should be starting on my pre-production phase. However, I will take this time to celebrate accomplishing a milestone, which was my workback plan. I am pretty proud of it, and I probably spent an unnecessarily long time on the stylization and making it look nice and presentable. I picked up a few spreadsheet skills from my previous office job, so I wanted to show them off here, haha. Aside from filling out the template with actual information and deadlines, I focused most of my time on data validation, formatting, and coloring.

Hi everyone! My name is Heather and welcome to my capstone blog! I am excited to *finally* be near the end of my academic journey and am looking forward to working alongside my peers as the semester progresses.

As a longtime lover of all things creepy and a fan of mythology/folklore, this project began as a passion project and has quickly evolved into something big! After conducting my research last semester, I’ve realized that folklore often serves as a "shadow history" of a place, reflecting the cultural adaptations and shared experiences that traditional historical narratives might miss.

What started as a curiosity about childhood "chicken skin" stories has transformed into a deep dive into cultural syncretism. I’m interested in how Japanese and Filipino legends didn't just survive in Hawaii—they blended with the environment and Native Hawaiian traditions to create something entirely new.

Throughout this semester, I’ll be documenting my research process, from archival deep-dives to (hopefully) some fascinating interviews. This blog isn't just a requirement for my degree; it's a space where I’ll be exploring the "why" behind the "who" in our local ghost stories.

As I began my own journey into Hawaii’s plantation history, I spent some time looking back at past senior capstones to see how others have navigated the "Local" identity. One project that immediately resonated with me was Janalene Tumaneng's Fall 2022 research on the influence of cultural artifacts from the plantation era on modern local culture.

Tumaneng’s work highlighted how the physical items laborers brought with them across the Pacific acted as anchors for identity in a new and often harsh environment. Her analysis of how these items evolved from survival tools or personal mementos into symbols of a shared "local" heritage provided a perfect framework for what I am trying to achieve. While Janalene focused on the tangible,I find myself drawn to the intangible. If her research was about the items people carried in their trunks, mine is about the stories they carried in their minds.

Thank you, to those of you, who were cheering me on. I appreciate all the support. 

This project has been one of the most challenging experiences of my school journey. Through research and interviews, I feel like I've learned a lot about myself and the people I know/ have access to. I applied what I’ve learned and in doing so, discovered a clearer sense of our identity as communal beings. The support from my professors and peers, especially Sharla, played a crucial role in keeping me focused and motivated. To future students: manage your time wisely, ask for help when needed, and stay open to the unexpected lessons the process brings. My project is a message of reassurance for anyone feeling lost or disconnected. 

Website Prototype Walkthrough

Hello again! So I know I said the final reflection would be my last post, but I forgot about the website prototype walk-through video.

Here’s the prototype link: https://www.figma.com/proto/QFgVXtu0MNs7YHqouaoLJy/Galacgac_R_ADSProject_CM491?page-id=138%3A553&node-id=138-3732&viewport=1717%2C889%2C0.18&t=NcuJEhmLKQzg1yPY-1&scaling=scale-down&content-scaling=fixed&starting-point-node-id=138%3A3732

Final Reflection

Alohaaaa! 🤙 Welcome back to my blog! Alas, this will be my last post on this blog, unfortunately. I have overcome many hurdles, and I am proud of where I am today, my project, and what has led me to this point. This journey was not easy, but it was definitely worthwhile and memorable, thanks to all the support I received. I want to personally thank everyone who has participated in my Instagram polls and my usability testing survey. Shout out to y’all!

1. What were your thoughts about your research topic going into the first week of the semester?

My thoughts during the first week of the semester about my research topic, job displacement in web design, were that AI will not replace human designers or artists as a whole because they lack empathy and the ability to form meaningful connections with humans, both interpersonally and in person. However, I didn't think I could win this battle against AI due to my inexperience. I have the skills, sure, but they are elementary at best. Prior to this project, I had some experience working with Figma and creating my first website prototype through my CM 316 (User Experience) course. I also practiced more coding in HTML and CSS in my ART 320 (Web Design & Development) class. In the end, I created a website prototype, so no coding experience was actually needed.

2. What are your thoughts now about your research topic and your project/practicum?

My current thoughts on my research topic are that AI can be used as a tool to brainstorm during the ideation step of the design process, generating ideas or inspiration for wireframes and similar tasks. However, it should not do the work entirely for you. It's the same with templates; you don't just submit it as is. You have to add your own personal touch and style, and replace the content with your own words. Regarding my project, I never thought I would beat the AI, so it was a pleasant surprise to win against it. I had many ups and downs, and at one point, I thought this project was impossible to complete and that I wouldn't graduate on time. Nevertheless, I'm so glad I reduced its scope, making it less overwhelming and daunting. Best decision I ever made. I somewhat regret not being able to complete my original deliverable of a website, but maybe I can create one in the future. Some things are just not meant for you at the moment, but they can come to you later.

3. What did you learn about yourself as a creative through this journey?

It was challenging for me to meet my own deadlines, so I kept giving myself extensions, as the project was self-directed and mostly independent. I always thought I was behind, and it really made me doubt my abilities and timeliness. However, I learned not to be as harsh on myself, even though we are our own worst critics. I once saw a quote that said, “Make it exist first, then you can make it good,” or something along those lines. That really resonated with the perfectionist in me because I am always so focused on the little details, like spacing and alignment, when I should really be focusing on the broader picture.

4. What did you learn about the creative and production process?

If you don’t already know, the creative process has three phases: pre-production, production, and post-production, also known as the three P’s. What I learned is that you just need to trust the process. There will be some bumps and hiccups along the way, but that is to be expected, as no one is perfect and is bound to make mistakes. You also have to remember that you are still a student, so you're still learning; it’s okay to make mistakes. From planning to execution, every phase of the process is vital, but the bulk of your project will be the production phase. During the production phase, it took me approximately one to three days to work on the lo-fi wireframes and five days to complete the hi-fi wireframes and prototype together. I learned to be patient with myself and the process. Locking in wasn’t easy, but once I was in the zone, nothing could stop me, not even hunger.

5. What advice would you give new senior capstone students?

My advice is to get started as soon as possible and really plan ahead. The pre-capstone is essentially your blueprint for your project, which is necessary for any project. You really need to thoroughly and thoughtfully consider what your project entails, including the specifics for each phase, or at least a general outline. Also, make sure to have backup plans in case your original plan doesn’t work out, like me. My backup plan was to create a website prototype, since I saw other classmates doing the same. Ergo, at least have a plan A and a plan B. The more plans you have, the better prepared you are, and you have more options to choose from. Also, be truly interested and passionate about your research topic. Additionally, I suggest delivering something you’re familiar with, so that you’re not just learning an entirely new skill from the beginning. It’s good to challenge yourself, but the final product may not turn out as you wanted.

6. Where to now?

After graduation, I was referred to work for the local Hawaiian government as a web designer. I still need to follow up with them if the offer still stands. Regardless, I plan to work in-house at a local or remote company, at a local or remote agency, or as a freelance web designer. I dream of working at top companies like Google, Microsoft, or Adobe. If all else fails, I could start up my own web design studio called "Webko," meaning "my web(site)" in Ilokano. I am trying to apply to as many jobs as possible, but I want to focus on graduating first.

Here’s a TL;DR (too long; didn’t read) version:

Initial Beliefs: AI won't fully replace human designers due to a lack of empathy, but I felt that I was inexperienced and wouldn’t win. In the end, I triumphed.

Current View: AI can be a brainstorming tool, but it shouldn't replace the designer's personal touch and creative vision.

Project Experience: Faced challenges but ultimately reduced project scope, which made it more manageable.

Personal Growth: Learned to be less harsh on myself and focus on completing work rather than perfecting details.

Creative Process Insights: Trust the three phases—pre-production, production, and post-production—and be patient with the process.

Advice for New Capstone Students: Start early, create detailed plans, have backup options, and focus on topics that genuinely interest you.

Future Plans: Seeking work as a web designer with hopes of joining major companies or starting a freelance studio called "Webko."

"Don't be sad it's over, be happy it happened." - Dr. Seuss

I feel like time is flying by in a blur. I'm glad we have check ins to keep me on track.

What has been happening over the past 2 weeks?

Over the past two weeks I have: posted to my Project IG page, I have finished some interviews, I have scheduled some, and I had a meeting today with our professor to sure up some of my weak spots.

What is coming up for the next 2 weeks?

Over the next two weeks I'm hoping to get on a better posting schedule for my project IG page. I have one interview scheduled for this weekend and three more in the works. I have opened up my restrictions to allow for a few more interviews to be done before the end of this semester.

Hiccups/Hurdles/AHA moments

Hiccups I encountered included human scheduling problems, technical recording issues, and file transfer/ transcribing issues.

Some hurdles I had to overcome included limited time, motivation, creativity, and not enough brain-power.

I had an AHA moment when I was thinking about my self imposed restrictions and I realized right before my meeting with our professor that I might be limiting myself and I got her approval to open up my restrictions on my interviewees.

Any deliverable drafts to share?

Above I have a post from my projects IG page and the interviewees portraits.

Where are you on your timeline?

Progress Update #7: IG Polls Pau! Survey Released!

Aloha, everyone! 🤙 Super excited to have you back on my Tumblr! Check out the thrilling updates on my project ↓below↓!

What has been happening over the past 2 weeks?

I’m ecstatic to announce that we are almost done! We are so close to the finish line. We only have two weeks left, and I believe everyone can make it! I think this is the last required update post, so my next post will most likely be the last, which will be my reflection. 

So, what have I been up to these past two weeks? Well, I just finished my Instagram campaign, and I am delighted that so many people participated! Again, a huge thank you to everyone who voted. I cannot thank you enough. You were the backbone of this project!

I also finished compiling, summarizing, and analyzing the results of my Instagram polls. I only updated it on my website prototype, not Instagram, because I wanted to push out the conclusion post as soon as possible.

What is coming up for the next 2 weeks?

For the next two weeks, I will let people respond to my usability testing survey form and integrate the feedback I receive into my website prototype. The last two steps will be creating a walkthrough video of my prototype and recording a final reflection video. I must also fill out the bio form for my personal senior capstone page. Man, I am so glad we do not need to record a final presentation. I guess that was only for the pre-capstone class. Either way, I am proud of my progress thus far!

Hiccups/Hurdles/AHA moments

I had a little hiccup with my scoring criteria. I was too late when I noticed that it said on a scale of (1-5) on my Google Sheets tables for my Instagram results, when it should have been (1-4). I made a note of this error and added it to the posts.

Some hurdles I had to overcome were procrastination and demotivation. I was motivated to work on my Instagram polls, but I had a mental block when it came to compiling, analyzing, and summarizing the results. I thought it was too much work and did not want to do or even touch it. On top of other classwork, it was a lot to do, and when I have mountains of work ahead of me, obviously, I felt overwhelmed. 

I had an AHA moment when I discovered Instagram drafts, which significantly helped speed up the process of creating polls. It was a tedious process of creating, typing the criteria, and resizing the polls, but the drafts feature helped me save time by allowing me to develop polls ahead of time so that when I needed to post them, I could instantly do so. So, I created all the polls on Monday and posted them to my stories day by day.

Any deliverable drafts to share?

I have a screenshot of my Google Forms usability testing survey at the top of this post, which can be accessed here. The updated website prototype is also linked on the survey form, but I will link it here again for easier access. Also, feel free to check out my Instagram account again for the conclusion and results! Here is a direct link to my Google Sheets data.

List

Google Forms - Usability Testing Survey Form: https://forms.gle/d6ddkkoJxZKt5VCu8

Figma - Website Prototype: https://www.figma.com/proto/QFgVXtu0MNs7YHqouaoLJy/Galacgac_R_ADSProject_CM491?page-id=138%3A553&node-id=138-3732&p=f&viewport=922%2C223%2C0.08&t=WhyiXVrRUBiCBlRc-1&scaling=scale-down&content-scaling=fixed&starting-point-node-id=138%3A3732 

Instagram - ADS Project Account (For Conclusion & Results): https://www.instagram.com/ads_project_491/ 

Google Sheets - Calculated Data Results: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZxO_BWNllhsiAwS-icTo72_HSaZdg_ev-qhATL1_BkA/edit?usp=sharing

Where are you on your timeline?

I am gleefully ahead of my timeline! I am currently in the post-production phase. I just need to fine-tune and revise my project.