After completing the first phase of the module, I feel more confident about the direction of my project than I did at the beginning. The first four weeks were largely focused on exploring broad areas of interest, reading widely, and identifying where my genuine curiosity lay. Although I initially expected my project to focus on travel or neurodiversity separately, my research has gradually led me towards the intersection of autism and independent international travel, with a growing interest in concepts such as transformation, identity, independence and neuro-inclusive tourism.
Moving into Phase 2, the focus shifts away from broad exploration and towards testing ideas. Rather than continuing to collect research indefinitely, this phase encourages me to begin questioning whether my ideas are viable, who I should be speaking to, and how I can start gathering real-world evidence to support my project.
One aspect of this phase that particularly stands out to me is the emphasis on experimentation. Instead of waiting until I have a final concept, I will begin testing small ideas, exploring different communication methods, and using feedback to shape my project's direction. I also hope to begin reaching out to autistic adults and professionals in the autism community to understand their experiences better and ensure that lived experience, rather than assumptions, informs any future design work.
Alongside this, I will continue strengthening the theoretical foundations of my project. My recent reading has highlighted several areas that I would like to explore further, particularly transformative travel, independence, belonging, and neuro-inclusive tourism. By combining these areas with primary research and practical experimentation, I will refine my project into a focused, meaningful research question.
Although there is still a great deal of uncertainty, I have moved beyond simply searching for a topic. Instead, I am beginning to understand the academic conversation that I want to contribute to. Phase 2 is the point at which those ideas can be tested, challenged, and developed into a stronger foundation for the remainder of the project.