7. Learning Summary

Research & Communication, this course would be one of the most beneficial and challenging courses that I have ever taken. I learned several things throughout the class exercises with the case studied. Also, we were required to write a reflective essay for each lesson, which gave me the opportunity to review myself comprehensively through summarising the learning of each topic. After completing the whole module, these consolidated design thinking concepts could help me in developing any practical design solution, not only on my final project but also in my career path and my lifetime.

Research,Research,Research

In lesson 1, we have learned if we can reduce the noises in between the communication process, which could actually help to increase productivity. In the last lesson 8, I have understood how could brand audit, survey, target segmentation, and positioning can help to brand our design in a systematic way as a part of the strategic brand management process.

Through applying the research methods in design thinking perception, including research design (survey), data analysis (brand audit, persona/ value proposition canvas, etc), translating all the theories into the execution(targeting and positioning, brand strategies).

Maybe not everyone loves mathematic, but most of us do believe in mathematic.

The above fundamental theories are just like the formulas of mathematic, which made me realize that: Branding, is not a popped-up idea with no methods to follow, but a scientific process throughout a list of the research base and data analysis. Moreover, if I can manage the design process well, it would also mean I can manage my business, brand and sustain it well. All I have to do is to plan and execute the “formula”, examine the plan with “theories” and adjust the direction cautiously.

Everything is a learning experience

Reviewing my past design process as being an interior designer, I recognize most of the works are based on my solid experience from the jobs, seldom from the theoretical side. Therefore, after I started reviewing each lesson and writing the journals, I noticed that there were always statistical factors behind every successful project, such as:

1) 2-ways Communication = effective communication with all stakeholders

2) Research & Design =submitting the mood boards to collect the data (our client's preferences)

3) Brand Audit = background check of the stakeholders to see in what extend of design style they would accept based on their budget, sense, class, gender, age, etc.

However, I have to admit that I had no concept of Social Mining and Text Analytics before I started this module. Since the interior industry is more likely to be a custom made design process, so the whole process does not require researching from the social networks and doing text mining/ analytics. We are only responsible for creating the most suitable atmosphere for the end-users.Thus, after taking lesson 5 and doing the case study on IKEA, which has stimulated my “old” mind and implanted a brand new method of how to adopt social platforms to collect the actual reactions from the users, as to help the business through researching the key comments/ feedbacks for any further insights.

Last but not least, I’m thankful to have Ms.Chan with us for this Research & Communication module, as being the specialist and the lecturer for the whole module. She shared a lot of her personal experiences by giving actual examples and demonstrations. I would consider all of the sharing as extra bonus/ lessons. Since I love to learn from other’s experience, the knowledge from their process are precious, as I know I might not have the chances to experience all by myself.

And I believe, even though each of the experiences might not be able to copy, but the knowledge inside could definitely be learned.