Design Development
Moving into Phase 3 feels like an important shift in the project. The focus is now moving away from broad discovery and towards development, refinement and making. This phase runs across four weeks and is designed to help move the project from research into a clearer studio direction.
The biggest thing I am taking from this phase is that my research and studio practice now need to develop together.
Up until this point, much of my work has been focused on understanding autism, travel barriers, airport accessibility and existing design approaches. Phase 3 is where I need to start turning those findings into actual design development, while continuing to question and refine the direction.
I also need to avoid treating the Critical Report as something to complete alongside the studio project, explaining the research, decisions and critical thinking that are shaping the final outcome.
The first part of the phase focuses on reviewing the work completed so far.
For me, this means:
This feels particularly relevant because my project has moved through several possible directions. Rather than seeing this as a problem, I now need to use the evidence I have collected to decide which ideas genuinely deserve further development.
The second half of the phase focuses more heavily on iteration and concept refinement.
This means I should begin producing and testing ideas rather than waiting until I feel that all of the research is complete.
The university encourages ambition and risk within this stage, which feels important for my project. I want to allow myself to explore ideas that may initially feel difficult or ambitious, particularly around digital experiences, airport technology, rehearsal tools and emerging technologies.