Communication Model: Final Statement and Artifact

My initial concept in this project was to create a design artifact that would be fun and educational with packaging that would want to be kept. I came up with the idea of "Communication kit to go!", which is essentially food for thought that is easily digestible but tasty :). This project increased my process skills by forcing me to develop my ideas efficiently over the period of time given. I realized that taking moments only to think instead of make/create really benefited the overall form, concept, and development.

The final product contains many different attributes (pamphlet, postcards, message cards, etc...) that all help to educate the user. Another goal of mine is for the user to keep one component of the product (like the stickers) simply because they like them. They will still be subconsciously referencing the communication model as long as they keep one part of the product.

The idea of user control and interaction is something that I stressed in my process. What can the user do that will be personal and meaningful? Something that can be personalized will allow for more resonance in the the mind of user about the product.

some process that led to the final concept:

Communication Model process: new form, same content

I decided over break that it would be interesting to have my kit in "to go" form. The concept is that this kit would be easily digestable for anyone and could be learned quickly. It would come in a to go box, which still keeps with my theme of interesting packaging. I played around with some of the labels for the box. The three phrases I chose are typically seen on to go boxes or cups.
"caution contents may be hot!"
"Ready in 30 minutes or less!"
"Finger lick'n good!"
I have a lot more, but these seemed to be the fan favorites. I am inserting other words such as "educational" and "learned" in these phrases to make them work (look below). These are digital labels that I would print out and adhere to the take out box. All of the kit contents would be inside, and I have kept all of those the same.


This is the cover for the message recorder, which is a journal that the user will be able to write and record messages in. The spread underneath is what the inside pages will look like.
these are some new improvements to the faces of my message cards that are more cohesive with the aesthetic of the kit.

Communication Model process

So here is the new list of things that are going in the kit...

message cards
cards that the veiwer will be able to write on. They can exchange between a buddy.
buttons
two buttons, one will be the "A sender" and the other will be "B sender". The user can pin the "B" button on a friend and have a conversation while they wear the "A" button. They can also use the message cards.
message recorder (like a moleskine)
the user will be able to record messages (essentially they can eavesdrop!) that they hear on a daily basis. I am looking to wire-o binding this guy, it will essentially just be a small journal with lined pages.
stickers
These stickers will the six similar attributes in the communication model. The user can label anything! from people to there recordings in their message recorder.
push pins
These are just for the user to pin up their findings and analyze them. (they could use the stickers to annotate all of their findings as well)
postcards
which are below. These are some initial digital sketches.
these postcards are for the user to show how much they have learned and to spread awareness of the communication model to their favorite people.







I have edited the copy in the pamphlet as well as added new icons and instructions on the last flap. The color palette is going to be this "poppy" green and red, or at least something similar. I tried to talk more to my viewer when I was editing my content.

Communication Model: in-class process

Communication Model process: color & elements

NEW EDITION! message cards. The kit will let the user send a message to a buddy via these cards, and they can get feedback as well! The user will also have two buttons that they can put on their buddy (B, receiver) and themselves (A, sender). I am thinking about ordering custom buttons since I am making the box myself and I don't know of any small button makers around here.
I did a little user testing with Ian, and he was so sweet with his feedback.
...and this is in the middle of box making 101. The final covered box is above in the first image also, and this could be the final box that the kit will come in. Not sure yet, but i do know that I like it and so do others around studio. I decided to go with the simple box design because it will lie flat which makes sense with the paper. The carry around box seems like it would hold everything but a pamphlet so...not such a good option i think.
I am hoping that when the user opens the kit up the first thing that they will see is "hello!". It will transition them nicely into the box.
new color palette attempts...I am going with the turquoise and black color palette or the bright green and red palette. They aren't necessarily something that I would go to, but I like it. These are a page selection from my pamphlet.


now, my kit needs a third element. Things work best in threes! I am thinking that journal would be interesting where the user would be able to record messages and feedback. The journal would be called "message recorder". The other idea is a set of greeting cards that can be sent, and maybe the interactive space. I am also thinking about a set of flash cards.

Set of flash cards
+ educational / easily held / specific to diagram
- boring / strenuous to read / typical educational item

Journal to record learning process
+personal / multiple uses / intimate / like a moleskin
- similar to message cards / will they actually use it to record learning process and messages or other personal things?

Greeting cards
+ personal / easy to use / customizable / spread communication kit awareness to others
- only can go one way / going out of style / I've already made greeting cards

link to an interactive space on-line
+ take the user to a new space / would add more variety / engaging in a different way
- don't have much time to develop quality interface / not as important because it isn't tangible / would the user actually leave the kit to get on a computer and participate in the interactive space? not as fun as tangible buttons :(

Communication Model No. 2 and process

I realized that my model is very linear and it is hard to understand. I put channel and message together in the same shape, simply because I just felt that they looked good together. I decided to take "message" and put it on the actual path that it would reside on. The path then goes through the "channel". I changed the arrows, because they add more contrast and look more "considered".



I started to create the pamphlet for my communication model and here is the first swing at it. The poster will reside in the back, and I am still thinking about the interactive piece.

I am starting to notice that it feels right for me to speak to the viewer through short captions such as: Hey! or Who is this? or hm...what's this? I am incorporating these throughout my pamphlet, and I guess its my way of giving my design more energy and excitement.