Visual Research is one of the first tasks that I complete in a design project. I design Mood Boards to use as inspiration in initial concept generation. These are based on qualities such as form, material or human-factors, and are produced in the Affinity Design Suite.
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Mood Boards
Empathy Studies/Storyboards
I use Empathy Studies to experience situations or interactions that may be unfamiliar to me. As a designer this is important because it ensures that products that I design are appropriate and suitable for the given target market. An example, shown below, is using tape to restrict movement in my fingers, simulating the effect of arthritis. This enabled me to design cutlery that appropriate for the needs of this user group. I can also produce scenario based storyboards to aid idea generation and perceived problems with current designs.