Reflections on Final Project

It has never been easy. But it is a wonderful experience being able to walk through the process that is ever so indefinable and different from any other subject matters. It is so taxing on the mind. Every week one has to crack the brains out trying to grasp and understand what was being taught and presented.

But lucky enough it started off pretty well. Although the start was pretty much a rough one. Times and times, ideas were being rejected, but of course with very valid reasons that the group has failed to spot. However, lucky enough, the bad ideas were rejected or the group will run into great trouble as the process develops. The most noteworthy experience in the very initial stage of project development, is the need to identify 'needs'. We have started out with the idea of the wine bottle, half the mind already deciding what has to be done for the rest of the project. Bad move i must say. Because the more thoughts given into it, the more fallible the idea became. By already deciding the end product, there is no progression or product development at all. It becomes so restrictive, and 'stuck' to be exact. And the best part is we can't answer the question: for what is there a need for such a product (i.e. collectible wine bottle with glass imprints of famous paintings)?

Following advices given, we went around asking (or begging) for 'needs' ideas, and we chance upon the good idea on news consumption (applicable to myself, I don't enjoy reading news though I know it's a must and it's important) which eventually became our main idea.

It started off being quite fun because there is never a correct answer to the idea of 'experience' but it becomes such a drag having to go through hard to grasp ideas and concepts. Nonetheless the steps were necessary for the project to progress.

Having no prior experience in such product/service development projects, it is strenuous getting even the low fidelity prototypes done. We were pretty clueless of what has to be done, but went ahead with it in the spirit of trial and error (so we will gain experience and learn from it). Lucky enough, we managed to get through and obtain very valuable options that we failed to see.

The toughest part of the project is coming up the high fidelity prototype. Not in the designing sense because we already have a clear idea of how we want the website to look and feel like. It is the technical aspect that is very taxing. Nonetheless it is great to have walk it through. Because an idea will always be an idea. It will be stuck on the paper as words, and that is the end of the story without making the extra step to realise it. Even though it is still slightly different from what was in mind due to technical knowledge impediments, the concept and the feel of the prototype has achieved what was intended. Additionally, it is such a valuable experience for having to learn how to use the programs. One has the 'rough' feel of what can or cannot be done, and not have wonderful ideas that can never be realised. Only one word can be used to describe such wonderful but non-executable ideas - useless.

Weeks after weeks of refinements, and going through all the critiques, the sense of satisfaction in completing the project is no doubt a great one (even though we don't have that nice a flash website compared to the FLASH programmers group :p haha). But I guess we did still fulfill the needs and what was intended to and that was utmost important.