Markets, Innovation & Design - Spring 2020

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  • ASSIGNMENTS
    • Individual Assignments
      • Breaking Norms
      • Mind Map – Marketing
      • Individual Presentation – Innovation
      • Mind Map – Innovation
      • Individual Presentation – Design
      • Mind Map – Design
      • Draft Mind Map – M+I+D
      • Room Creation
      • Tea Light
      • Unstructured Inspiration
      • Directed Inspiration
    • Team Assignments
      • Marketing Strategy Analysis
      • Marketing Strategy Analysis – Client
      • Post-It Challenge
      • Constraint Map
      • Converged Concept Board
      • Converged Site Prototype
      • Final Site
      • Final Site – Client Manual
      • TEAM 1
      • TEAM 2
      • TEAM 3
      • TEAM 4
      • TEAM 5
      • TEAM 6
      • TEAM 7
      • TEAM 8
  • Design Challenge
    • Constraint Map
    • Concept Board
    • Brainstorm
    • 3 Concepts
    • Prototype
    • Test & Iterate
    • Habits Reflection

Habits Reflection

April 26, 2020 by Allie Kotowitz Leave a Comment

At the beginning of this semester I was nervous about taking MiDE 300. I would not consider myself an artist, so I was concerned that I would be lacking in the creative and artistic components of the course. I ultimately realized that the MiDE major and course(s) are not solely focused on those components. MiDE 300 , unlike any of my other academic courses, has allowed me to think about creativity, ideas, and major life events differently. 

Before taking this course, I struggled with many of the habits we discussed in MiDE 300. I think that child’s eye and hyper observation came more naturally to me relative to the other three habits. I have always been aware of my surroundings and environment, as well as people’s behaviors and actions. My natural ability to be hyper observant has shaped my academic interests and possible career options. I have always been interested in psychology and sociology, which is related to the way our society and specific individuals think, act, and behave. My observant habits have allowed me to create a deeper understanding of different people and situations. While I have practiced this habit prior to this course, after taking MiDE 300, I think my skill has further developed. I remember the activity where we walked around campus alone and in complete silence. I recognized that while this skill may come more naturally to me and be of interest to me, there are many distractions in our environment that discourage us from being hyper observant.

Also, while hyper observation may come more naturally to me, I did, and I still, struggle with the following habits: failing forward and creative confidence. In the past, I have had difficulty accepting failure, as our society puts a large amount of pressure on individuals to succeed. In many of my classes, we are taught to only put forth the correct answer, rather than to share any ideas that may be relevant. The way in which this class is taught, has allowed me to feel more comfortable sharing my ideas, as there are no correct answers. The failure resume was extremely helpful in evaluating the failures in my life and how they have influenced me today. The ability to reflect and appreciate my failures has encouraged me to become more involved on Bucknell’s campus and apply to different internships and jobs. Additionally, before taking MiDE 300, I was concerned about the creative component of this course and major. However, after taking this course, my creative confidence increased. I realized that there is no proper way to go about a certain assignment and that creativity is not necessarily defined by one’s artistic abilities. I think that creative confidence is still a habit I need to develop further, however, this course has enabled me to push myself in regards to creativity and sharing my ideas.

Test & Iterate #2

April 22, 2020 by Allie Kotowitz Leave a Comment

The initial intent of creating a “To-Do” poster was to allow me to stay organized and productive in quarantine. While it was helpful at first, I have noticed that recently, I have ignored my poster and used other ways to track my school assignments. The only aspect of the poster that I have found beneficial is the section for my 30-day workout challenge, as after each workout, I am able to cross off that specific day and see my progress. I also noticed that after creating my board, I was more focused on my fitness and school assignments. While that was part of the initial intent, I think I was so focused on those aspects of the board that I completely disregarded the self-care reminders. I want to create a more balanced routine, where I have time to complete both my assignments and self-care activities. I have decided to transform my board into a health, fitness, and self-care board, instead of a “To-Do” board. While I was interested in having a “To-Do” board that included various aspects of my daily life, I think it was distracting and I ultimately found better ways to organize and keep track of my work online. I was also inspired by some of my classmates’ projects and their focus on self-care. I decided to create a list of 30 activities that I am interested in doing over the next month. I went back to my brainstorm and started creating a list of activities and tasks I want to complete. I also decided to use pictures of each activity instead of using phrases or sentences on my board, as it is more motivating and aesthetically pleasing. This new design will allow me to cross off these activities after I complete them like my workout challenge. I think this will allow me to focus more on myself this summer and feel accomplished after completing a self-care activity. Additionally, after our last class discussion, I was inspired to create a journal and reflect on my day and productivity. While I initially wanted to journal every night, I found myself struggling to remind myself to write every single night. I also did not want to force myself to journal every night, so I decided to only write in my journal on the days or nights that I remembered or wanted to.

Test & Iterate

April 9, 2020 by Allie Kotowitz Leave a Comment

My “To-Do” poster has been extremely helpful in increasing my productivity and organization. After completing certain assignments or workouts, I cross off or erase that task. I usually keep a similar to-do list on my computer, however, I have found that the ability to cross off a completed task on paper is more rewarding. I have enjoyed my prototype, as it is a different version of a to-do list that I would normally use on either my computer or planner. The purpose of creating a poster was to ensure that I could always see the assignments I needed to complete and the assignments that I have yet to complete. My prototype has encouraged me to be more productive during the day with school assignments and it has also reminded me of the importance of self-care. With the 30-day workout challenge in the center of the board, it has been a constant reminder to stay active and to also focus on myself during quarantine. The first couple of weeks in quarantine were difficult, as I was unmotivated to do any of my work, however, my experience changed with my prototype, as it made me more accountable for my work and constantly reminded me of what needed to be completed that day or week. 

While using my prototype, I have noticed some flaws regarding my design that I want to alter in the future. First, I decided to use post-it notes to keep track of my assignments. I wanted to use the least amount of paper as possible, so I decided to reuse the original post-it notes for as long as they would stay on the board. I found this difficult, as the post-it notes would easily rip when erasing or fall off the board. I want to use a white-board material, so it is more sustainable and the writing can be easily erased. I also want to make a check-list for my self-care reminders, so it will motivate me to take the time out of my day to prioritize my favorite self-care activities. I think that my next step in my design would be to focus on sustainability, and to incorporate the self-care component more in my design, as it is an important factor that I need to prioritize during quarantine. I think I could also improve on the overall aesthetic and appearance of the board. 

I can improve on the creativity and innovation component on the Design Hierarchy of Needs. I expressed my interest in altering the physical appearance of the board and I think that the creativity component will be extremely helpful for this part of the design. I may reorganize each section by color. For example, I will use blue colors for the school work section, as blue is a more calming and intellectual color, and for the workout section on my board, I would use the color red, as it is more power evoking and energetic. I think that the use of productive and motivational colors would impact my emotions towards each task and section. 

I enjoyed using the design process to create my “To-Do” poster. It was helpful that we broke down each part of the design process, as I think many people tend to skip certain steps or do not recognize the importance of each step in the process. For me, the inspiration and identification stage was the most impactful part of the design process. I was able to think of and connect different ways COVID-19 was impacting different parts of society and the world. The third step, conceptualization, provided a more visual understanding of my ideas from the first two stages. I was also able to reflect on my current state and personal goals during quarantine. When we started this project, I was confused about the prototype that I would ultimately create and its relation to COVID-19. However, after the third stage, I started to visualize different ideas that helped create my brainstorm and three visual concepts. The next two stages, exploration and refinement, and definition and modeling, helped create a more finalized plan for my prototype. However, I had difficulty starting to conceptualize these three concepts. With limited instructions, I was confused on where to begin and how these three concepts could be translated into a prototype. I think I focused too much on the final product in this stage, rather than simply creating a visual representation of my ideas. The final two stages, communication and production, were also difficult to start, as I had three concepts to incorporate in my prototype. However, after I created my prototype I was extremely excited to share my ideas with others and see how it would impact my quarantine experience. I was unable to recognize how each step would impact my final design when completing each step of the design process. However, after completing the design process, I recognized the value of each step and the importance of taking each step seriously as it will impact the final design.

Prototype

April 2, 2020 by Allie Kotowitz Leave a Comment

I created a to-do list board to keep myself organized and motivated. I included five different sections with different tasks and reminders that play a large role in my daily life. The first section is homework where I included a post-it note for each of my classes. The second section is called “self-care” as it focuses on some activities that I would like to continue doing or do more of. The third section is dedicated to my 30 day workout challenge. I am planning on starting one of these challenges, so this will allow me to cross off or remove the post-it note for each day. The fourth section is for my applications that need to be completed. The fifth section is called “organization” and it focuses on reorganizing or cleaning certain areas in my house to ensure that I can be productive throughout the day. 

This to-do list board will be placed in a visible location in my room to motivate me to complete my work and create a new daily routine. I usually keep a planner or use the sticky notes on my computer to track my work. However, I noticed that in quarantine, I seem to ignore my tasks and pretend that they do not exist. With a physical board, I think I will be more on top of my work, as I have to reorganize my board either daily or weekly. Also, it will be more rewarding to cross off completed tasks or remove the post-it notes. 

I have decided to start using my to-do board this weekend. I wanted to provide a couple of days to add my first set of tasks and see if there were any tasks or sections that I wanted to add to my board before using this prototype. I also want to think of a way to reduce my post-it notes usage, but I also want to have the ability to cross off or remove post-its from the board once I have completed a task. I hope that this to-do board organizes my daily tasks and allows me to manage my time better.

3 Concepts

March 31, 2020 by Allie Kotowitz Leave a Comment

My first sketch represents a new routine that I will attempt to follow daily. It has been difficult for me to motivate myself to complete my work on time and be productive. I have found myself constantly on my phone or watching Netflix instead of exercising or finishing my homework. I created this new schedule and routine to organize my day and efficiently use my time. This schedule and new daily routine satisfies different levels of the pyramid. My schedule is functional as these are all activities I am able and willing to complete throughout the day. The reliability aspect is reliant on the user in this design, meaning I am responsible for using and following this schedule. Usability is present in this design, as it is easy to understand and follow. There is a high level of proficiency as it allows me, the user, to create a more active and productive lifestyle. There is a creativity present in this design in regards to the way I organized my day, however, there is a lack of creativity in regard to the activities I hope to accomplish.

My second sketch represents the different forms of communication that can be used to contact various people. The image on the left is the display of a cell phone with different apps that can be used for communication. The image on the right is a laptop computer with the application Zoom on the screen. These are electronics and apps that I have been using and plan to continue using to communicate with my friends and family. On the phone, I added both social media apps and communication apps, such as email and facetime. On the computer, I focused on Zoom because I have used that platform on my computer and it is a different way to communicate with friends, family, classmates, and professors. In regard to the designer hierarchy of needs, this sketch includes functionality, usability, and creativity. The reliability factor is based on my interest and willingness to speak and communicate with my friends and family in my free time. This did not include proficiency, as I was already using these platforms as a way to stay in contact with people beyond my immediate family. 

My third sketch represents an example or outline of a “To-Do” board that I could create to keep myself organized and on task. I split my board into five sections: homework, self-care reminders, 30-day workout challenge, applications, and organization. For each of these sections, I was interested in posting a sticky note with each subsection, so for example, I would put four sticky notes under the homework section. My only concern is that this board will not be eco-friendly if I am constantly removing and adding new sticky notes; this is a part of the design that needs to be developed. This contains multiple aspects of the designer hierarchy of needs, such as functionality, usability, proficiency, and creativity. This design will allow me to remain organized and feel accomplished after being productive. I have used other “To-Do” lists, however, I find myself ignoring them after using them for a long period of time, so I thought using a large board will be helpful in that regard.

Brainstorming

March 30, 2020 by Allie Kotowitz Leave a Comment

  1. Be active and workout everyday
  2. Create a routine (classes, homework, working out) 
  3. Read books in leisure time
  4. Maintain my routine
  5. Go on hikes and walks (enjoy the outdoors) 
  6. Drink lots of water
  7. Facetime/Zoom my friends to stay connected
  8. Make a Spotify playlist
  9. Walk and play with my dog
  10. Help cook meals
  11. Help clean the house and my room
  12. Eat healthy – related to making my own meals
  13. Sleep in less – routine
  14. Wash hands & remind others to do so as well!
  15.  Complete abroad application
  16. Go to bed earlier – routine
  17. Be nicer to my family – we are all in quarantine and no one is to blame
  18. Limit time spent on phone and social media
  19. Dress up/put on real clothes
  20. Color and draw
  21. Go on long distance runs
  22. Clean out closet and donate clothing
  23. Learn something new
  24. Netflix party with friends and family
  25. Call my grandparents and relatives more often
  26. Go on long drives
  27. Make my bed every morning
  28. Fix my resume
  29. Spend more time with family (not only watching TV)
  30. Redecorate my room
  31. Watch the news
  32. Become more involved in 2020 Election
  33. Try a 30 day workout challenge
  34. Bake with family 
  35. Bleach old clothing
  36. Fix Linkedin profile
  37. Support local businesses when possible (order food?)
  38. Find time to relax (self-care)
  39. Partake in social distancing & encourage others to do the same
  40. Reflect on my day (maybe keep a journal)
  41. Create a To-Do list
  42. Complete homework at desk or table (not my bed) 
  43. Go through old photos
  44. Delete photos on my phone 
  45. Communicate with professors
  46.  Do not nap
  47. Do a puzzle
  48. Apply to summer jobs/internships
  49. Find a way to help local community
  50. Listen to new music and podcasts

I found this activity to be extremely challenging. It may appear easy, however, it was difficult to come up with 50 ideas. The first 30 ideas were easy to come up with, as those were many of the ideas that I was already interested in doing during quarantine, or have already begun to do. I found the last 20 ideas to be more challenging, as I had to think beyond my original ideas. After this activity, I found that the majority of my ideas are related to an active and organized lifestyle. I also found that many of my ideas contradict one another. Some of my ideas focused on limiting my technology usage, while others encouraged technology for communication. I want to create a balanced lifestyle where I am able to remain in contact with friends and family, and also engage in activities that do not include technology, such as reading and hiking. 

Concept Board

March 26, 2020 by Allie Kotowitz Leave a Comment

For my concept board, I wanted to focus on activities that I have participated in while in quarantine. I reflected on the ways that I have spent my free time throughout the past few weeks. I realized that I was spending the majority of my time watching Netflix and scrolling through social media. While I still want to engage in these activities, I realized that there are more beneficial ways for me to spend my free time, such as finding new hobbies or interests that lead to a more active lifestyle. 

In my concept map, I used a variety of images that showcase different activities that I have and will continue to engage in, and activities that I am interested in doing in the future. The larger images on my concept map are activities that I am more interested in either doing or doing more of in quarantine; the smaller images are activities that I want to engage in less. I tried to use warmer tones, such as oranges and yellows, and green colors to portray a more lively, yet also tranquil environment. While I am interested in being more active and motivated, I also want to use this time for self-care and relaxation. 

This past week, I decided to start reading for leisure instead of solely reading for school. When I was younger, I loved to read, however, since high school, I found myself with little time to read outside of school. I had limited access to WiFi yesterday, so I decided to read all day and I remembered the value and enjoyment of reading. Also, it has been difficult for me to focus on my work, as now, I associate being home with summer break. I am trying to create a schedule that includes time to workout, finish my homework, and watch television or read a book. I want to find a balance between productivity and motivation, and relaxation and self-care.

Constraint Map & Reflection

March 23, 2020 by Allie Kotowitz Leave a Comment

I found this activity to be extremely helpful in understanding the constraints of COVID-19 and its impact on different parts of the world and society. I have been constantly watching the news for COVID-19 updates and people’s reactions to this pandemic on different forms of social media. I have seen both positive and negative reactions to these new lifestyle changes. Some states have enforced shelter-in-place, meaning that they advise people to stay at home, and only essential businesses, such as grocery stores and pharmacies, will remain open. With this constraint, there are limited activities for individuals to do. In my neighborhood, I have seen many people walking and running outside. I have also noticed that there are many Instagram challenges, such as the push-up challenge, that promote health and fitness. While the majority of people are not pleased with this new lifestyle, it seems that it is encouraging people of all ages to appreciate their community and to take this time to focus on one’s individual well being and health. An additional benefit to social distancing and quarantine is the positive impact it has had on the environment. Due to the decrease in carbon emissions, the canals in Italy are clear and there has been a large decrease in pollution, especially in China. 

While there are few benefits to COVID-19, there are many aspects that are hurting businesses and negatively targeting specific individuals. With the implementation of shelter-in-place, people are consuming less, negatively impacting small, local businesses. Many companies have had to lay off their employees, as they are unable to pay them. After COVID-19, there will likely be a recession and high unemployment. Additionally, COVID-19 has negatively impacted the treatment of Asians and Asian Americans. President Trump has called the virus the “China Virus” multiple times and has blamed China for this pandemic, influencing people’s perceptions of Asians and Asian Americans. Due to Trump’s inaccurate and offensive comments, there has been an increase in Asian and Asian American discrimination, racism, and xenophobia. It is clear that people are responding differently to this pandemic, however, it is important to recognize these constraints in order to redesign our new lifestyle. 

Flame Tea Light Holder

March 5, 2020 by Allie Kotowitz Leave a Comment

Inspiration – Week 4

March 1, 2020 by Allie Kotowitz Leave a Comment

At home, whenever I am stressed, I always go for a drive around my neighborhood to clear my mind. I usually only go for about ten to twenty minutes, however, it acts as a destressor and always distracts me from all of my responsibilities. This Sunday, I realized that I had a lot of homework and assignments due this upcoming week. I started to get stressed and decided that I should find a way to relax, so I decided to go on a drive around Lewisburg alone. I started playing my favorite songs on shuffle, and started driving throughout different areas of Lewisburg. I did not have a destination in mind; I was randomly making right and left turns, or continuing straight depending on where I wanted to go in the moment. I started out in downtown Lewisburg and ended up in the middle-of-nowhere with farms surrounding me. By the farms, I saw multiple buggies, which I would never see in my hometown. I ended up getting lost, so I did have to put my navigation on, however, it was fun to choose where I wanted to go and not feel any pressure to go to a certain place at a certain time. 

Instead of stressing about my assignments, I decided to focus on myself and recollect my thoughts to ensure that I could be more productive later in the day. Also, each part of the world is unique in some way and the only way to fully experience its uniqueness is to immerse oneself in that location. This gave me the ability to see where I go to college outside of Bucknell and how Lewisburg differs from the Bucknell campus and my hometown. Most Bucknellians, including myself, tend to get caught up in the Bucknell Bubble and do not experience the town outside of campus. It was also important for me to go alone, not only to clear my mind, but also to gain a sense of control. I had the ability to choose my own music, pick my own destination and direction, and choose the amount of time I needed to get away from campus.

Room Creation – Glasses

February 26, 2020 by Allie Kotowitz Leave a Comment

Inspiration – Week 3

February 26, 2020 by Allie Kotowitz Leave a Comment

 This past Sunday, I went to a high intensity interval training (HIIT) workout class at Bucknell. I enjoyed the class, so I decided to take another workout class taught by the same instructor. On Tuesday night, I went to the Glow Spin and HIIT workout class, which I have never attended before. I was anxious about the class, as while I enjoyed the class on Sunday, it was still difficult and this class on Tuesday incorporated spin as well. In the past, I have taken some workout classes at Bucknell, but I did not enjoy the instructor or type of workout. I also tend run outside or in the gym to workout, rather than taking a class. After leaving my Tuesday night class, I realized the importance of working out and also the value of taking a workout class over my own running schedule. During the class, I was invested in the workout, so I was fully distracted from any of my responsibilities that day. I realized that when I run or workout in the gym, I find myself constantly thinking and stressing about the assignments I need to complete that day.

Also, after the workout class I still had to finish my homework. While my body was physically drained, my mind was clear and energized from this workout. I am inspired to find more time to not only workout and clear my mind, but to sign up for more workout classes, as they enable me to focus on myself rather than just my responsibilities. This workout class also inspired me to support other classmates involved on campus and to take advantage of all opportunities offered at Bucknell.

Inspiration Week 2

February 18, 2020 by Allie Kotowitz Leave a Comment

This past weekend, I, along with five other Bucknell students, traveled to Chicago for a training conference for our sorority positions. We had different training sessions throughout the entire weekend, where we learned about leadership, communication, collaboration, and goal setting. On Saturday, each member was signed up for a specific training track based on their position. I am the Director of Primary Recruitment, so I attended the Recruitment track. I learned a lot about my position and ways to accomplish my goals for this year, however, I realized that while I enjoy the opportunity to be a part of a Greek organization, I was not nearly as passionate about my sorority as other members from different schools and chapters. Their passion and excitement for their position and sorority inspired me to value my position more and find ways to improve Recruitment from past years, and to also find other interests and leadership positions outside of academics and Greek life. I realized that while I may be passionate about fashion, music and traveling, I have never actually pursued these passions. This trip has inspired me to find more classes, subjects, sports, books, and other things I may enjoy, and find a way to incorporate them in my daily life, as it is important to take part in something that I value beyond my academics.

Draft Mind Map – M+I+D

February 12, 2020 by Allie Kotowitz Leave a Comment

Inspiration – Week 1

February 10, 2020 by Allie Kotowitz Leave a Comment

On Saturday, I attended the sophomore alumni brunch, which provided sophomores the opportunity to meet and talk to Bucknell alumni. We were randomly seated with different Bucknell alumni, graduating from varying years, majoring in different concentrations, and working in various industries. My two friends and I were seated at a table with two alums, one working as a financial advisor and the other as a technical writer. I was exposed to two new people that shared both similar and different experiences to myself. They provided career and academic advice, and shared their favorite experiences and academic path at Bucknell. This event not only exposed me to other individuals with different interests than myself, but it opened my eyes to the importance of networking, communication, and collaboration. While I have always known that networking is essential, especially as a student, I never fully understood and appreciated its value. Being in a more comfortable and casual setting allowed me to fully share my Bucknell experience with these alum and receive advice on my academic goals and future career path. This experience inspired me to reach out to different alumni and apply to many internships and jobs for the summer. They also mentioned the importance of remaining true to oneself and your interests, and that inspired me to take Bucknell as an opportunity to find multiple passions or fields of interests.

Predicta TV Design

February 5, 2020 by Allie Kotowitz Leave a Comment

Predicta-TelevisionDownload

Design Mind Map

February 4, 2020 by Allie Kotowitz Leave a Comment

The Microwave

January 30, 2020 by Allie Kotowitz Leave a Comment

The-Microwave-1Download

Good Ideas Mind Map

January 28, 2020 by Allie Kotowitz Leave a Comment

Marketing Mind Map

January 21, 2020 by Allie Kotowitz Leave a Comment

Fear of Participation

January 15, 2020 by Allie Kotowitz Leave a Comment

Throughout my time at Bucknell so far, I have found myself resistant to participate and answer questions in many of my classes. Most of the time, I tend to have the correct answer, however, the possible chance that my answer is incorrect holds me back from raising my hand. I have struggled to participate in my classes due to my fear of being incorrect and judged by my professor and fellow peers. It is interesting as my personality is completely different outside of the classroom. When I am in with my friends and family, I find that I am extremely outgoing and talkative. However, in a classroom setting, I find that I am more reserved due to this fear. I hope that this semester, I will be able to overcome this fear and participate more in class. As this course is based more on creativity than accuracy, I hope to become more comfortable sharing my ideas.

Project Calendar

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MIDE 300 HUMANS

Abby Harris (21), Abby Hislop (21), Alana Bortman (21), Alexander Smith (20), Allie Kotowitz (21), Amisha Chhetri (22), Caitlin Tucker (21), Carly Binday (22), Claudia Glasgow (21), Collin Smith (28), Elana Smith (21), Emily Chopoorian (22), Emily Goldman (23), Erin Mooney (21), Faith Reilly (22), Hannah Moriarty (22), Jabril Mohamed (19), Jane Meng (22), Liam Moriarty (22), Lindsey Knutzen (20), Liza Heyl (21), Lucia Singer (20), Madz Cabico (4), Matt Cervon (19), Meg Coyle (18), Natalie Notz (21), Natalie Ring (23), Nikki Bott (23), Olivia DeNicola (21), Prof. Allen (1), Renne Venico (19), Rowan Beiter (23), Tarrin Earle (20), Zack Yoelson-Angeline (14)

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