Week 5
Week 3
Week 3 - Imposter Syndrome
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Week 5 - Design Activities
Category: Prototyping Phase
Blog post 8: Thinking outside the box
Since the end of the mid semester break I have been trying to solve a big issue about my project. This issue is trying to use Unreal Engine.
What?
I initially planned to create my project using Unreal engine, but I encountered difficulties finding the resources and tutorials needed to set up my project. Specifically there were no tutorials on how to set up the hand held AR project on IOS devices. Most of the resources were on androids and windows users. To be able to use a hand held AR i have to connect it to my phone, but I could not figure it out. I came across one tutorial and documentation for IOS however, it stated that I needed to get a developers certificate which would cost me $100 dollars. Oftentimes, these softwares are more catered towards windows which is difficult for a mac user.
This week has been tough because after the mid semester break it is hard to switch back to uni mode. However, with only a couple of weeks left of uni I better start refining my project!
Yuka Ochiai | Friday 13th September | 3 min Read
Note. A 3D image of an orange room
Figure 1. 3D room
So what?
This situation taught me that being flexible and open to alternative solutions is crucial, especially when I am faced with limited resources. My initial frustration with not finding IOS tutorials revealed that my approach was too rigid. I was too focused on Unreal as this was what everyone in my stream was using. However I learned that I am allowed to use different tools and I can be different from others. This experience also highlighted a gap in my problem solving approach. This is because I was trying to force a solution when the real issue was the lack of accessible resources for my original plan.
I felt frustrated and doubted my project at first. I questioned if I could even complete my project which led to me feeling overwhelmed by the technical challenges. However, as I continued to do research I began to realise that sticking to one approach wasn’t the best solution.
This situation aligns with the concept of adaptability in design thinking (Scheibe, 2023). It encourages flexibility and willingness to iterate based on obstacles encountered during the processes. I could have applied a more iterative mindset earlier on, which would have led me to recognize that being able to build the project on Unreal is not the goal, but the prototype is. If I had considered alternative platforms sooner, I might have saved myself some frustration and time. My new understanding of the situation is that it is okay to move things around when things don’t go as expected. This experience has shown me that sometimes I tend to focus too much on specific tools and details rather than the overall goal, and I need to be more adaptable in my work.
Moving on
Next week I want to focus on refining my AR interface as at the moment it looks a bit sad.
Now what?
In the future, I need to be more efficient in exploring different options at the beginning of the project. Instead of committing to a single platform or tool, I will make a habit of conducting a broader exploration of different tools available. For instance I will create a list of pros and cons of each tool that I have found. This will prevent me from becoming too attached to a particular approach and will help me avoid getting stuck.
The consequences of this new action is that I will spend less time feeling stuck and more time making progress on my projects. It will also give me more confidence in knowing that I’ve explored multiple options and chosen the best one for my project.
To make sure this plan for my future projects is successful, instead of sticking to one tool just because everyone else is using it, I will explore more ideas on my own. But also I need to remind myself that seeking advice from others, especially experts, is a strength and not a weakness.
For my next project I will definitely write out a pros and cons list for each tool that could possibly be used to scope out what is viable or not.
References
Scheibe, M. (2023, September 20). The Design Process And Creative Adaptability in Design. Mimi Scheibe. https://mimischeibe.com/the-design-process-and-creative-adaptability/
Note: A screen capture of the AR prototype preview
Figure 3. ZAPworks AR prototype
I was trying to figure out other ways to mitigate this problem but it didn't work. This made me feel frustrated and unsure about my next steps. I took a step back and thought outside of the box which then thought of using a web based hand help AR software which will be linked to my figma prototype. The web based AR is called ZAPworks studio. ZAPworks allowed me to create an AR prototype which then I was able to access on my mobile device.
In this situation, I took on the role of a problem solver, trying to figure out how to overcome technical barriers. This situation made me feel confused and frustrated, but also a sense of determination to find a solution. The main consequence for me was that I had to pivot to another platform, but this ultimately led to progress with my project. I had also felt that if I were to be able to access Unreal engine on my phone, I would also have to find tutorials on how to build the AR aspect of it which I do not think I have enough time for.
The experience had both positive and negative aspects. On one hand, it was challenging to feel stuck and unsure on how to proceed. But it also pushed me to think outside of the box and figure out an alternative solution which led to discovering a tool that worked better for my needs.
Note: A screen capture of all of the youtube videos I watched to figure out the problem
Figure 2. Youtube videos I watched
