To be honest at first I dreaded the idea of working in a team - so many things can go wrong, and so many things had gone wrong in past group projects. And while we did have minor hiccups (time management, stress, pressure and whatnot), I can definitely say that we could not have done it without any one of us, and I am super proud of my team. Georgia did the website and app, Devanga took care of the dossier and flyers, while I did the illustrations and presentation slides. But the roles weren't firmly decided, we filled in the gaps and took care of each other when needed. We listened to each other, we built on each other's ideas, we complimented one another. We rock! And I honestly think our project rocks!
As of Exchange sessions, I don't think they help much, if at all. It was cool meeting with people from other disciplines and get to know what they're doing with "well-being" as the common theme, and it was cool presenting our projects to them, but they give just as much advice and feedback as any VCD student. The only good thing that came out of these sessions to me were getting new friends.
The professors were super helpful for this course. Gray and Lee gave great feedback and suggestions that really took our project to the next level!
The second half of the course was much more enjoyable than the first half (where we had to write a dossier for ourselves), mainly because we actually get to make things. I do think it was necessary for us to get through the first half though, as otherwise we would not have had a clear idea on the dossier before making things.
The only thing that I struggle a lot with in this course was the reflective diary. I couldn't find time to update it and/or to write it, or I forgot what happened during the week. I tried to use my works as landmarks to remind myself of what happened, but it was hard what's with Enterprise and my job everything got jumbled together in my mind. I will need to sort this out better for fourth year.
Overall, I really enjoy the course, and it was a nice project to end my third year on. Onwards to fourth year!
Friday, 21 October 2016
Final presentation script/Main touchpoints
For our project we responded to the ‘Square Eyes Sally’ brief which outlined a demographic of office workers who work in high-stress jobs and don't know how to take time for themselves in their lunch break. Not taking the opportunity to pause often results in lower productivity and higher anxiety levels, detrimental to well being.
Our solution, Bark in the Park, gives office workers the chance to refresh and de-stress by walking an SPCA dog in their lunch break.
Through our research it became evident that in order for employees to properly re-energize, during their lunch break, they need to move away from their desk and out of their work environment.
We found that physical activity is a proven method for improving wellbeing as it releases endorphin and creates a feel good factor, as well as supporting both mental and physical health. Based on this, we wanted to form a concept where physical exercise was involved but not in an intimidating form that may turn people away from participating.
Studies have shown that domestic animals alleviate stress and anxiety in humans . There are many instances of dogs being used as therapy animals in rest homes, hospitals and for ptsd sufferers. We even found that some workplaces bring animals in to help minimize stress in their employees. We chose to focus on dogs specifically because of their need for exercise and activity, and thought they would be a great way to get people moving.
Bark in the Park combines physical activity (dog walking) and the stress alleviating nature of dogs to decrease stress levels, improving the wellbeing of office workers in Wellington.
So you’ve heard of bark in the park through us but how would our target audience find out about it?
Imagine you’re a stressed office worker - luckily for you , your employer’s been sent an email about Bark in the Park and seen the fliers too! They’ve now registered with Bark in the Park!
You’ve been sent an email letting you know that you can now sign up as a bark in the park dog walker. You’ll also see some posters popping around your workplace!
They prompt you to visit the website, so you do. You learn more about the initiative and the benefits of it. You see there’s a booking app which you can download later. You sign up for an account. After you sign up, you’re ready to learn more about dog walking by reading our safety guide. Once you’re feeling confident you take the quiz - and get all the questions correct. Now you’re ready to make your dog walk booking on the app or website!
You download the app to make things easier, you can pick your preferred dog size incase you’re not sure about big dogs, the date you want to walk and the time slot. You can only book your dog walk for the current week, walks are available tuesdays to thursdays from 12 to 2pm. After you’ve made your booking you’re able to refresh your knowledge by revisiting the dog tips. Now all you have to do is show up for your dog walk!
Ways to Wellbeing
Bark in the Park does not only benefit employees but also the dogs, as they receive attention, exercise, and more exposure to potential adopters.
Bark in the Park connects to all 5 ways of wellbeing.
Connect - Dog walking can be a social activity and participants. Employees can connect with colleagues and new people. In one study, employees who brought their dogs to work found it easier to talk to new people as the dogs acted as an icebreaker.
Be Active- Employees are getting out of the office and exercising by walking the dogs
Take notice - Our research has shown that it has been proven that being outdoors and around nature is a method of encouraging people to pause and reflect. Bark in the Park offers the opportunity for walkers to engage not only with other people, but also take notice of their well being.
Keep Learning - Our safety guide and quiz provides the resources for people, experienced or inexperienced, to check in with their dog knowledge and learn more about dogs. For the complete novice, these resources are crucial to feeling safe around dogs and confident enough to try a Bark in the Park walk.
Give - Employees are giving their time to walk the dogs. Because Bark in the Park is a free initiative they are volunteering their time to walk dogs from the SPCA (a registered charity).
Thursday, 20 October 2016
Presentation slides prep
A bit of editing and taking out unnecessary stuff before presentation last night
Tuesday, 18 October 2016
sick dog dilemma
needed a sick dog (for the "don't feed the dogs they're on a special diet" slide), so scared doggy became sick doggy
but in this one it's not clear what he's doing? and the gradient is inconsistent with the rest of the illustrations, so Georgia suggested I did a really fat dog instead
I like fat dogs, but I can't do a cute one since that won't get the point across, so I had to do an ugly one
like this
I don't like it and Dev doesn't either, but just because the dog is ugly itself - the illustration does give the right point we want so it's good haha oh well
happy dogs 101
we needed a happy dog, so I tried one laying with his belly up:
but Dev said it looks dead o_O ok so just a happy smiling dog
!! so cute I'm proud of myself. But Georgia pointed out the SPCA probably don't have pure bred huskies, so I shifted the colors a bit so it looks more hybrid
(a bit less cute in my opinion, but still cute!)
I also did a sitting dog cause I thought we might need one in the future?! also he looks happy and cute so why not :)
Drawing fixings again
Gray had a look at our stuff on week 11 and apparently you're not meant to pet a dog from above its eyes like in this drawing! I never knew that and I've always petted them that way... The more you learn.
So that changed into this
there, no more potential unhappy dog! (the hand was white at first and I changed the color too so no more potential unhappy people!)
stylize-wise it was different to the rest so I curved out the paths and boosted the contrast on the colour
Much better!!
More drawings and fixing
I made more drawings of people walking dogs in alternative perspective, since we thought having only side on view was boring?
then we realized that there were only white people in our illustrations so I went back and changed some of them to be colored (brown, black, Asian, ginger etc)
Sunday, 2 October 2016
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