Jiaxin Li

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Audience

Context & Research

What I want to know most right this stage of research is:” If people have to choose, what is the only thing they will do to mourn their ancestor or dead loved ones?” I have this question because I want my product can be about something that people shares, instead of only limited to a group of people. I only talked about this project with a few people and those perspectives are far less than what I should have for making what I want.

I am planning to do a questionnaire, ask about some questions about mourning. However, specific questions are not clear yet. What for sure is the question mentioned above will be included.

Also, interviewing sounds quite efficient for my case. I am thinking of interviewing people from a physical graveyard, someone who don’t want to attend any virtual mourning related stuff, someone who considered their own death, etc.

I want to answer one of my design questions, which is “How can I help people, relieve their lovesickness and bring them power?” I tried to make a daily memo for mourning, but I don’t know are they effective or not.

Setting Goals (temporary)

What needs get done this week for thesis:

1/ think of one possibility of my topic

2/ go through 2 online UI lessons

3/ design an visual prototype for this possibility

Mindmap

Mindmap

Here is a mindmap representing my core area of interest (virtual cemetries) and its subset topics.

Update

I tend to choose the virtual graveyard topic as my thesis topic. I can feel the inner connection between me and this topic is stronger than any others.

new prototype

Prototypes help to explore and make tangible ideas or concepts.

Prototypes help to share the idea and make it accessible to others.

commemoration-day

The key is let users have solemn communication with their ancestors. A period of time and/or space to feel their own emotions for this ancestor.

I want this process could be not that serious but effortless and enjoyable.

For this prototype, I decide to use “Ri Qian” as the format. It seems not such a thing in Western culture, but I am not sure. It’s basically a daily calendar shows you the date, festivals, and always a quote. I found a sample and post here.

By browsing the dead’s digital information, conclude some regular pattern to use here

The little action for users to do to get the feeling of inner connection with the dead

motivation

I am studying how to build a digital cemetery because I want to find out how could a digital solemn cemetery be an alternative way of a real one.

In order to help people, relieve their lovesickness and bring them power.

in order to understand  what can loved one’s leave brings to people. If the thing is not positive, how can I turn it into positive power to help people live better, feel more sense of control.

My goal is to make  an app & web  so that people can have a new lifestyle  which helpful to them. 

Initial Literature Review

This is the first week of Thesis studio. Before first online class begin, I rethink what happened in my life recently and tried to find out some good ideas for Thesis Studio to explore.

After brainstorm and organize, I got three ideas:

1/3

An online service of everything about sencond-hand car which designed especially for women. I found the first question as a feminist. One day when I want to buy a second-hand car and viewed several websites, I found it almost an impossible task for me to make a decision for several reasons (pain point for users as well):

The research problem will be: I am studying how to design a second- hand car trade website especially for women who don’t familiar with this market. Because I want to find how to help this type of people to get cars that they are satisfied without being teased or overwhelmed. In order to help everyone could buy cars in a fair condition. And that might be helpful to eliminate the inequality between people.

2/3

  1. A virtual cemetery, that could help people could not memorial their dead loved ones because of multiple reasons (for example, long distance or time conflict and so on…)to relieve their lovesickness.

As an international student, every time when Qingming festival comes (a festival for people to offer libation for dead relatives), I cannot visit the graves and sweep the tomb for my grandma because of distance, which made me feel sad. So, I am thinking, today digital life already a part of us, why don’t we introduce death into digital world as well?

I am thinking of making a digital Cemetery, where people could sweep tomb, leave message and so on.

The practical problem for the second idea would be:

• Condition: many people miss their dead family members or friends but cannot memorial them because of distance

• Cost: people cannot feel the warm brings by visiting loved one’s tomb, and solve the lovesickness

The research problem would be: I am studying how to build a digital cemetery. Because I want to find could a digital solemn cemetery be an alternative way of a real one. In order to help people, relieve their lovesickness and bring them power. What’s more is I want to see that could this be a new lifestyle for people in the future.

Prototype

Because what I intend to do with this one is a website with/or an mobile app. So I interviewed some friends and made two persona which represent my target audience. persona 1 persona 2

3/3

  1. A moonscreen for Vampires. Because moonlight is comes from sunlight, so I think moonlights should be harmful for vampires to some extent, they just not as lethal as sunlights for vampires. So I am thinking of doing this moonscreen product for Vampires. However, I know it’s not a good topic for Thesis. I will save this one for future.

Mindmap

TOOLS, TOPICS, AUDIENCES, and TAKEAWAYS

Main Idea

Along with the digging in to the topic, I have determined some main idea that my project must follow, here attached is the list. (there are lots research questions, I wish my project can fulfill them as many as possible in the addition of achieve the purpose.) List of main ideas

Midterm Reflection

Strength: I think my project idea is not bad.

Weaknesses: Speaking not fluent enough (lots of “and” “emmm”in the presentation. I didn’t realize it until I review the recording). Always doubting myself.

Could improve: Bolden some keywords, let viewers get the gist easier.

self-assessment grade: Concepting:3, research:2, Prototyping: 3

5 in 5

Describe briefly the concept, intention, form, and challenge of each prototype. Which one yielded the most “creative tension” or engagement, despite a limited scope or technical challenges? Which one yielded the least, and why? How will you move forward in building your high-fidelity prototype for the final? Describe what it is doing well, if it is successfully made. What will it not do?

day 1

Inspiration: Skeleton box/ Diorama

Skeleton boxes are used in Mexico to decorate alters which are constructed to honour the souls of dead friends and relatives. They are painstakingly carved, painted and decorated resulting in unique, intricate works of art.

Concept: Instead of the description above, I think the box itself is a kind of alter. In my mind, everything that could remind living people about the dead could be named alter. Also, I don’t want skeleton figure but a normal-looking figure in my box. The key is this box shows miniature scenes of the deead doing daily activities, as if she/he is still there for you, giving you supports that you need.

Image of Diorama prototype

Intention: I want this Diorama can help user still feel the power from the original relationship (between the dead and the user). From my personal experience, campring with staying alone, I prefer to have something remind me of my lost love one so that I can feel reassuring and secure.

Next step: If keep explore this one, I would try to make the figure in the box moving within the box.

Audience

Context & Research

What I want to know most right this stage of research is:” If people have to choose, what is the only thing they will do to mourn their ancestor or dead loved ones?” I have this question because I want my product can be about something that people shares, instead of only limited to a group of people. I only talked about this project with a few people and those perspectives are far less than what I should have for making what I want.

I am planning to do a questionnaire, ask about some questions about mourning. However, specific questions are not clear yet. What for sure is the question mentioned above will be included.

Also, interviewing sounds quite efficient for my case. I am thinking of interviewing people from a physical graveyard, someone who don’t want to attend any virtual mourning related stuff, someone who considered their own death, etc.

I want to answer one of my design questions, which is “How can I help people, relieve their lovesickness and bring them power?” I tried to make a daily memo for mourning, but I don’t know are they effective or not.

Setting Goals (temporary)

What needs get done this week for thesis:

1/ think of one possibility of my topic

2/ go through 2 online UI lessons

3/ design an visual prototype for this possibility

Mindmap

Mindmap

Here is a mindmap representing my core area of interest (virtual cemetries) and its subset topics.

Update

I tend to choose the virtual graveyard topic as my thesis topic. I can feel the inner connection between me and this topic is stronger than any others.

new prototype

Prototypes help to explore and make tangible ideas or concepts.

Prototypes help to share the idea and make it accessible to others.

commemoration-day

The key is let users have solemn communication with their ancestors. A period of time and/or space to feel their own emotions for this ancestor.

I want this process could be not that serious but effortless and enjoyable.

For this prototype, I decide to use “Ri Qian” as the format. It seems not such a thing in Western culture, but I am not sure. It’s basically a daily calendar shows you the date, festivals, and always a quote. I found a sample and post here.

By browsing the dead’s digital information, conclude some regular pattern to use here

The little action for users to do to get the feeling of inner connection with the dead

motivation

I am studying how to build a digital cemetery because I want to find out how could a digital solemn cemetery be an alternative way of a real one.

In order to help people, relieve their lovesickness and bring them power.

in order to understand  what can loved one’s leave brings to people. If the thing is not positive, how can I turn it into positive power to help people live better, feel more sense of control.

My goal is to make  an app & web  so that people can have a new lifestyle  which helpful to them. 

Initial Literature Review

This is the first week of Thesis studio. Before first online class begin, I rethink what happened in my life recently and tried to find out some good ideas for Thesis Studio to explore.

After brainstorm and organize, I got three ideas:

1/3

An online service of everything about sencond-hand car which designed especially for women. I found the first question as a feminist. One day when I want to buy a second-hand car and viewed several websites, I found it almost an impossible task for me to make a decision for several reasons (pain point for users as well):

The research problem will be: I am studying how to design a second- hand car trade website especially for women who don’t familiar with this market. Because I want to find how to help this type of people to get cars that they are satisfied without being teased or overwhelmed. In order to help everyone could buy cars in a fair condition. And that might be helpful to eliminate the inequality between people.

2/3

  1. A virtual cemetery, that could help people could not memorial their dead loved ones because of multiple reasons (for example, long distance or time conflict and so on…)to relieve their lovesickness.

As an international student, every time when Qingming festival comes (a festival for people to offer libation for dead relatives), I cannot visit the graves and sweep the tomb for my grandma because of distance, which made me feel sad. So, I am thinking, today digital life already a part of us, why don’t we introduce death into digital world as well?

I am thinking of making a digital Cemetery, where people could sweep tomb, leave message and so on.

The practical problem for the second idea would be:

• Condition: many people miss their dead family members or friends but cannot memorial them because of distance

• Cost: people cannot feel the warm brings by visiting loved one’s tomb, and solve the lovesickness

The research problem would be: I am studying how to build a digital cemetery. Because I want to find could a digital solemn cemetery be an alternative way of a real one. In order to help people, relieve their lovesickness and bring them power. What’s more is I want to see that could this be a new lifestyle for people in the future.

Prototype

Because what I intend to do with this one is a website with/or an mobile app. So I interviewed some friends and made two persona which represent my target audience. persona 1 persona 2

3/3

  1. A moonscreen for Vampires. Because moonlight is comes from sunlight, so I think moonlights should be harmful for vampires to some extent, they just not as lethal as sunlights for vampires. So I am thinking of doing this moonscreen product for Vampires. However, I know it’s not a good topic for Thesis. I will save this one for future.

Mindmap

TOOLS, TOPICS, AUDIENCES, and TAKEAWAYS

Main Idea

Along with the digging in to the topic, I have determined some main idea that my project must follow, here attached is the list. (there are lots research questions, I wish my project can fulfill them as many as possible in the addition of achieve the purpose.) List of main ideas

Midterm Reflection

Strength: I think my project idea is not bad.

Weaknesses: Speaking not fluent enough (lots of “and” “emmm”in the presentation. I didn’t realize it until I review the recording). Always doubting myself.

Could improve: Bolden some keywords, let viewers get the gist easier.

self-assessment grade: Concepting:3, research:2, Prototyping: 3

5 in 5

day 1

Inspiration: Skeleton box/ Diorama

Image of Skeleton Box

Skeleton boxes are used in Mexico to decorate alters which are constructed to honour the souls of dead friends and relatives. They are painstakingly carved, painted and decorated resulting in unique, intricate works of art.

Concept: Instead of the description above, I think the box itself is a kind of alter. In my mind, everything that could remind living people about the dead could be named alter. Also, I don’t want skeleton figure but a normal-looking figure in my box. The key is this box shows miniature scenes of the deead doing daily activities, as if she/he is still there for you, giving you supports that you need.

Image of Diorama prototype

Intention: I want this Diorama can help user still feel the power from the original relationship (between the dead and the user). From my personal experience, campring with staying alone, I prefer to have something remind me of my lost love one so that I can feel reassuring and secure.

Next step: If keep explore this one, I would try to make the figure in the box moving within the box. Still doing everyday routines, just like a the dead living in another world but still company the user.

day 2

Inspiration: Previous Mourning Journal

I have done a prototype called mourning journal. Basically it’s to write down something related with my lost love one, whatever it is. I tried a lot of form, such as:

Concept: This time, the mourning diary is similar with a little difference. Like an ordinary diary which you can record your daily thoughts and activities…everything by writing or sometimes drawing. However, you must make sure you think of the dead when you writing this diary. By doing this, the content of the diary would be different with ordinary one.

Mourning Diary prototype

Intention: Diary is something we do with regular practice. By using mourning diary, user don’t need to form a new habit to mourning but just add “ think of the dead” process to the regular practice. Deepen the relationship with the dead.

day 3

Inspiration: One day, I saw a little girl walking with a rope tied a little car, she looks very caring that car. I think it would be rather happy to bring something I think is important with me everywhere like that little girl.

boneash inspiration1

Another inspiration is memorial card. People can bring that card as a representative of their lost love one everywhere.It’s a company in another form, isn’t it?

boneash inspiration2

Concept: Using bone ashes, make something you can take with you everyday, everywhere. For this prototype, I have chosen to 3D print a snowfalke pendant, because my lost love one loves snow day.

snowflake1

snowflake2

Intention: I hope this thing could bring users a sense of being companied, supported.

day 4

Concept:

lifetime movie poster

Intention: Want to have something to document the dead. Forgetten is another death for people, lifetime movie could be an evidence of their existence in this world. Also, it is an easier way for people to exchange their thoughts/ their perspective about the dead, users can find out new “versions” of the dead, then have a deeper understanding towards the dead.

day 5

Concept: -like prototype 3, having something portable with you to go everywhere could be a form of company. Make boneashe into a plant would be easy to carry as well.

flower prototype

Reflection on Crit 3

Strength: The music helpes viwer be more immersed into the video. Colors matche the theme. Placement of elements in screen. According to feedback, people’s favourite prototype is the last one.

Weaknesses: Introduction and description of prototypes are not enough for viewers to understand. Details haven’t been clarified. Sometimes too many words for viewers to read. (Louisa can help me with that in final crtic)

Proof-of-Concept Prototype

My prootype’s temporary name is Custom Calendar, Custom Calendar helps users still develop relationships with the dead even when they cannot meet their lost love one physically or talk to them (concept). Except the concept, I also want to achieve three little goals through this prototype. The first one is to add somre humor. Because I realise that when people talk abut death, they have to be serious, seems like being serious when talking about death is the only way to express their respect. If they don’t do so, they are kind of against our social context. But I don’t think so, I believe humour doea not conflict with death. I hope I can bring happiness to people through my project.The second goal, is I want people to hug with the future. Accepting lose and death is just an experience of our lives. It’s more important to tring new things, meeting new people, rather than being sorrow for the past. The last goal is kind of change people’s viewpoint about death. Have you ever found something appeared on you that was belongs to your lost love one? your way of stiring an egg? Your casual small movements? all of them , could come from your lost love one. They brought you so many influences, as much as a part of them already becomes you. Why isn’t it another form of their lives? All humanbeings are a part of their lost love one, and vice versa. I want to deliver this concept to my target audience, that living better is good for both themselves and their lost love one.

prototype documentation

My final prototype is a custom calendar. Why I chose to make calendar? Because according to my research, in order to deepen a relationship, whatever that relationship is people to people, people to animal or people to whatever, you must keep a regular practice. In this case, it means you must always think about the dead, and do something for this relationship.

The calendar could be attached to the wall, thus it can functions like an altar. By just looking at it everyday, users could think of their lost love one. Plus proper amount of regular practice that provided inside of the calendar, it will help my users get a deeper relationship with their lost love one.

How the custom process work? I could be a virtual representative of the custome calendar company. People could ask us to custom a calendar by providing the dead’s digital legacy, social media coounts that the dead used, and fill a form of some basic information of the dead. Then we can use AI to catch some quotes, to summarise the dead’s habits, style, something like it. Then we can combine all these stuff with the calendar. Plus randomly place in our designed practices.

Also, as the calendar already contain the dead’s style, personalities and so on, it can almost being looked as a soul container. If we just use it as a normal calendar, just rip off a page everyday and throw it away seems cruel and unrespectful. So I designed some paper folding instruction on the back of each calendar paper, after rip off a page, users could follow the instructio and fold it into a little flower, place them whereever in their house as decoration as they can continue to function like altars. The folding steps are easy to learn and the folding process also a good chance for remembering the dead.

Calendar Cover Calendar Content Paper Folding Calendar

user testing documentation

User Test

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/19ndwi-BNiGLPuK9FBxZHWXLfOfU2THzeQufi-To-q-E/edit?usp=sharing

written reflection/self-assessment (required)

Strength：

  1. Completed my concept and all three little goals
  2. No waste, recycable
  3. Altar’s modern form

Weakness：

  1. Some users may want to control which day the practice appears, but that is not available in this version
  2. Target audience not very specific (but it hard to locate specific target audience as I am looking for people have deeper relationship with their lost love one and it can not be defined by gender, age or anything like that)

self-assessment grade {24 points (Concepting 6 + Research 6 + Prototyping 12)}: