Use research as a creative method to create a zine. The zine should combine text and images to reflect your research topic and methods.
Week 1: Topic exploration and selection
Week 2: Library research
Week 3+4: Research and digital planning
Week 5: Printing
Week 6: Design
To start my brainstorming process, I listed potential topics that interested me. For each topic, I listed why I was intrigued and developed possible research questions. This approach helped me focus my ideas and set a clear direction for the project.
After brainstorming several initial topics, I decided to narrow my focus to User Experience (UX) design. I then generated a new set of questions specifically about UX. This helped me refine my research scope and identify key areas of interest for deeper investigation.
Now that I had chosen my topic, I created a mind map to begin the research process. I jotted down every word and concept I associated with User Experience, covering aspects like research methods, design principles, tools, and industry trends.
My next step was to gather sources to begin organizing my content. I started by focusing on three primary sources to begin the research process. I then explored additional sources to further understand specific UX topics that I intended to include in my zine.
Read my annotated bibliography here
Read more about my planning process here here
While brand identity shapes customer expectations, user experience fulfills them. A strong identity sets the stage for the UX, creating a framework within which users interact with a brand's offerings.
-Anna Wood
User Experience and Brand Identity
(Startups Magazine)
Constructing a brand identity is an opportunity to personify a brand, bring it to life, and establish strong emotional connections with its audience.
-Marion Andrivet
The Power of a Strong Brand Identity: Definition, Importance, and Key Elements
(The Branding Journal)
The UX design process can be divided into five key phases: user research, analysis, validation, and implementation. While the UX design process steps typically take place in that order, it is an iterative workflow.
-The UX Design Process: Making the Most of User Experience
(Baymard Institute)
I moved on to the design phase by drawing sketches of how I wanted my zine to look. I focused on ensuring that the layout would be visually appealing and easy to navigate. Each page was planned to combine text, symbols, and images in a way that effectively communicated the main points of my research.
This step allowed me to visualize the final product and refine the design before moving to the digital creation stage.
