Thesis Process Blog

The past few weeks I've been steadily working on my deliverables, presentation, and process book. I'm still working on the minor details, but overall my thesis is complete.  I do think there's more I can expand upon my thesis after my presentation so I'm looking forward to exploring more and putting my thesis in my portfolio.  There have been a lot of trials for me this semester, but I think everything came together towards the end.  I look forward to seeing where my thesis takes me and how my final semester will wrap up my degree next semester.

This week work was a little late since I continue to have technical difficulties. I was able to mock-up my 3D packaging deliverables and progress in my process book. I've also made changes on my video, making it more customized to 210 confeccion's branding. I plan to keep on going and make more progress this week. 

This week, I worked on a few "house keeping" things from my deliverables. This included transferring the files from my temporary laptop to my computer and organizing the files one what's needed to be mocked up. Upon seeing what was left, I realized that some of the deliverables had the wrong website and so I was going through each deliverables to make sure it's correct. Upon doing that I also found some inconsistent typography. This was like a domino effect of edits I found. I recorded myself speaking about my deliverables in the PDF presentation. This presentation will go after my Thesis video presentation. I'm thinking the structure will go something like:  1) Thesis Video 2) Thesis Presentation (app video demo within it) 3) Question/Anser section I'm not sure if this is correct, but I'm hoping to find out more in the upcoming weeks. Going through my presentation has helped me see what structure to do my presentation and how I need to get used to talking...

This week was pretty hectic, but fortunately I found out my desktop is fixed and all my files were saved. I'm hoping once I get it and have everything updated, I'll be able to have a more robust Process Book. I have started with drawing illustrations to represent the user testers, to keep with the brand's illustrative style. For this week, I worked on mocking up my packaging deliverables, the thesis video, and PDF presentation. I'm still having sizing issues with the video. I made all my frames "fit to frame," but there isn't equal negative space. Speaking of sizing, I resized my final presentation but when putting the mock-ups in there's a lot of space and some pages have mixed-match background colors so I hope to fix it for next time. Since I'll have my files back, I'll be able to edit/resize the mocks. For social media I created more gifs, and another thing I plan to accomplish next week is to figure out the best way to have gif/video mocks ...

This past week in module 8, I've been trying to get re-organized in my new set up on a PC laptop while my computer is still in the shop. Some of my files got lost, including process works from Thesis 1. I'm thinking of ways to look for those files or how to fill in the missing pieces in my process book.  Organizing my final presentation PDF, and seeing the mock-ups back to back has helped me visualize my system's components and find ways to present them with more sophistication. For example, the app mock has been something I've been struggling with this semester since most online mock-ups don't fit well with the look of 210 confeccion. So, I think I'm going to create my own mock with the iPhone being an illustrative outline. I think my social media ads are shaping up, I found an ad mock (Ad Parlor) which I've done but the animation wasn't working due to the browser I was using. I'll tinker with it some more this module. I also worked on the rough vid...

My visual system has evolved to become more detailed, which is part of my keywords. One detailed aspect are the illustration elements. With my user testing, the feedback was overall positive with the visual system and especially the illustrations on the bars packaging. I was told to spread the flavor illustrations, from the bars packaging, to the truffles and hot cocoa packaging. This made me think about how I would incorporate the flavor illustrations upon the different 3D packaging structures. My focus group has helped me see how my target market appreciate simplicity rather than overly designed applications. With CBD especially, it's important to convey the legitimacy of its ingredients without compromising the design and losing the overall message.  Another aspect of detail includes craft and having a high-level of design which includes variety in my visual system while still being consistent. Print, Social media, the app, and packaging look similar but have different applicati...

This week I worked on my social media posts, visual system in my process book, and did a rough storyboard of my thesis video. I didn't get to gather the insights from my user testing this week, but I plan to work on that over spring break as well as finalizing my deliverables into more updated mock-ups.  It's been a while since I've made social media ads, but I did realized that they don't need to have too much text on them because that's what the post is for. I'm also going to work on the copy for those as well. I don't remember the name of the ad-mocks I used to do, but adparlor.com seems promising.  Spring break is going to be me catching up on my thesis project and process book, so we'll see how it goes. 

This week was pretty hectic getting ready for my user testing sessions. I had a few different instances of user testers one in person, one virtually, and one survey. In total I have 8 responses/user testers from this past week. In module 6, I'll incorporate what I learned from their responses into my deliverables.  A couple of insights I remembered from the week is to have more of a buying incentive. For the app, this includes a coupon or deal for newcomers to buy the product. The packaging, will have more of a take-away gift, like how the bars packaging have the illustration wrapper; but instead I'll change to a perforated card. I also became aware of being more transparent in my packaging as far as the differences between each type of CBD and to make the packaging more sustainable. The CBD store owner suggested conveying the product is made of seed paper so it's biodegradable and can have a new life as a flower/plant.   I learned a lot in my user testing, but I know the...

This week, I refined my bars packaging more and took it into Adobe Dimension for mock purposes. I dabbled with the sizes a bit and found the appropriate wrapper to use for the product. I was trying to figure out a way to make the AR video I took to go into Adobe XD, but the capabilities aren't there yet. I'm going to instead include it into the video demonstration; make it seem like it's part of the app.  I'm realizing my process book needs a lot of work, especially with organization. I don't think the current timeline approach works well; especially given the context of the Visual System later on.  I also planned on the user testing dates for my focus groups and will be continuing on getting ready for it in the beginning of module 5. I created a small social media graphic, with my visual system, with all the pertinent info in regards to the date of the virtual user testing and the option to do a self-directed one. Hopefully I'll get some good results and insigh...

This week I worked on a few different things. I updated the app a bit and tried to make a rough on how the app would be demonstrated. I'm still learning video editing, and I was hoping Adobe Premier Rush would be more suitable for my skill level, but it ended up not working. The video turned out pixelate and the type formatting didn't have much options. I'll work on it more this week, but I'm considering hiring a video editor if it doesn't go well.  I decided to add more illustrative elements in my bar packaging and it to be on the paper foil. The mock looks like it's on a shiny foil, but I plan for it to be more like the paper-lined foil so the image would stand out more and be easier to peel away for keeps.  I tried out a few social media posts, and I realized that the long rectangular format of Instagram Stories fits well with the "tarot card" shape of some of the illustrations I created. So, I'm going to add a couple of Instagram stories that s...

 Unfortunately due to unforeseen events, I wasn't able to accomplish as much as I wanted. But, I think I'm getting closer with finalizing the bar packaging. I decided I wanted to make all three packaging system more distinct by adding a few details. I'm also going to try to set a date for my user testing and get more people to look at the deliverables.  I've updated a few things with my app, like the type and simplifying the design details because I feel it was too decorative before which could distract from the readability. 

This week, I did some minor edits on some of the Thesis 2 materials. I also updated the design of my Materials Matrix and DS chart to suit the brand more. Next week, in Module 2, I plan to have a user testing session with my cousin who is a CBD store owner in San Antonio. I want to get his insight on my deliverables and to make sure I have the pertinent information on the packaging. I recently learned new things about CBD from him, like the existence of "broad spectrum" CBD, which I will include as the Hot Chocolate Line.   I’m also going to work on the final deliverable designs, which are the social media ads. So far I’ve got a moodboard for those and a general idea how I want to market the products. Looking back now, I'm wondering if I should add a couple more ads for discount offers. Although my Gantt chart primarily says to "refine," I'm there's is still plenty to do and fix in all my deliverables. ----- App: https://xd.adobe.com/view/d17aca2f-63b7-...

This week is when everything is due for the semester.  According to my contract, I said I was going to complete the following:  Deliverable 4: Packaging System (4 points) 3 different types of packaging design mediums each containing many flavors Bar (candy) wrapper Boxed Candy (for truffles) Jar/tin container (for powder mix) Subscription/Mailer Box Gift Box for specialty/limited edition items. User test and complete Deliverable 3 (this is your interactive deliverable) and describe this deliverable in detail. • User test packaging system to focus group. • Visual system guidelines • Draft of the thesis process book I completed all of the above, but I am aware there are still things to edit and go into depth with. The only deliverable that is slightly different is the Gift Box. I didn't mention it before, but I was going to do a full-size pack of the bars, but ended up doing a "Mini Deck" version of the gift set of the current chocolate bar line; not limited edition. Altho...

This week I focused on my packaging design for the bars, charms, and brews. For the bars, I am showing a few at a time this week, since there isn't much information changes, but will showcase all of them in the final presentation. I tried out a lower-case type execution for the flavor names which helped make it more readable.  For the Truffles packaging, I did a few more sketches and decided on a square box design.  But, I'm realizing what may be an issue is the lack of responsiveness with my app. The app I created in Adobe XD is formatted for iPhone 11, which isn't suitable for some people who have older/newer iPhone's or an Android phone. I'm not sure what's the best solution for this aside from creating a video of the navigation on a mock phone for presentation purposes.  My app was in need of a desktop page to lead buyers to downloading the app, so I created a comp of it. Not sure if it needs to be more simplified. 

This week, I conducted my user testing for my app. Unfortunately, due to the holiday, I only managed to get two people. However, they did provide great feedback on things I didn't consider before. For example, the inclusion of product descriptors for "Charms" (chocolate truffles) and "Brews" (Hot Cocoa). When I was importing my user testing results in my process book, I realized I did have a lot of good outside feedback on my project this semester. I do think that I will conduct further user testing, via survey like how I did earlier in the semester, but during break. I also plan to get insight from my cousin who is a CBD shop own in San Antonio, TX.  I updated my app, bar packaging, and did some sketches for the other two packaging products. I'm hoping to have computer roughs next week of the remaining two products. I put a gold star by the ones I liked the most, but any feedback is appreciated.  App link is below, you might have to copy the link and paste ...

 This week I prepared for my upcoming user testing, which includes: updating app, collecting questions, and gathering testers. Since it's a holiday week, I'm having issues gathering testers. I have at least 3 people scheduled. To combat this, I plan to create an online user testing quiz via survey monkey where there will be a link to the app prototype and accompanying questions. Hopefully I'll get more hits this way.  I also updated the packaging and figured out ways to distinguish each flavor and each type of CBD chocolate available (bars, truffles, hot cocoa). I did this without making the system too colorful and wild.  For hot cocoa, they will be in packets, contained in a square tin. The truffles will be in a box; which will have lid with a window to peak into the chocolates. The truffles will be full-spectrum CBD, which means it will have a low dose of THC. Adobe XD App Prototype: https://xd.adobe.com/view/d17aca2f-63b7-4272-49cb-983d5c19d9ea-a74b/?fullscreen * ...

This week I edited my CBD edibles bar packaging and did 4 options. I chose a more appropriate color to represent each flavor and stuck with a simple color palette. I personally like the first 2 color options and I think the finishes (whether it be metallic, flow, emboss or other) will help elevate the packaging more.  I plan to do a survey on packaging this week; similar to how I did the initial one in the beginning of the semester. For my app, I plan to meet with my focus group, and hopefully a few more people to test it out. Does the user testing need to be done before Module 12 or can it be during that week? Just checking. Either way, I plan to have it done in the appropriate timeframe.  I'm a little unsure how to put together a user testing report. I put in a summary last week for the one I did for Deliverable 1/Visual system, but I don't know if that's a good format for the next round.  The most useful thing I learned this module is the importance of documentation an...

This week I did updates on my business system and packaging. Also, I did my User Testing with my focus group which comprises of 3 people who are San Antonians in my target demographic. What is helpful is that they all have had experiences with CBD and one of them is a Pagan so it was interesting getting all their insight.  Overall, the group liked my visual system and appreciate the subtle Texas/spiritual design. They said it was calming, something CBD also attributes to, which I didn't intend to do, but it was interesting to hear. There's a few imagery symbols that I designed that are unknowingly "Texas."Another aspect, which a user pointed out was the stars and how the stars not only represent a spiritual/witchy vibe, but how it represents Texas and the famous lyric from the song "Deep in the Heart of Texas" where they say "the stars at night are big and bright." I asked about the packaging, and they seemed to like the one where the logo is promi...

This week I did some updates on module 7's work. I experimented with Adobe Dimension and created the event sign in an environment. I incorporated a couple of subtle "Texas" elements which I might change around depending on feedback from this week's user testing.  I'm a bit unsure about the outdoor photo I used since I'm not sure if it's "San Antonio" enough. However, I'm not sure if there's any events happening downtown nowadays to take pictures.  I plan to have my user testing done this week with my focus group from this thesis journey. I'm going to do this via zoom; giving them the visual system ahead of time and to discuss on a given date later this week. I may also include and previews of rough packaging and app to send them . When it comes to affordances, I want to create a positive user experience with all of the deliverables. With the app, I want to create and easy and thoughtful buying experience not seen in typical CBD sites....

This week I updated my Deliverable 1(Branding), 3 (app),  4 (packaging), and tightening up the visual system. During this process, I have learned a few things such as having a general look for each of my packaging elements. For example, I really thought about how do the Chocolate bars will look compared to the Hot Cocoa. My visual system has developed well, especially compared to Thesis 1. I have more of an idea on what elements to use and how. When I was creating the front cover of the packaging, I was creating new (but similar) elements that I can incorporate into other deliverables. I still need to hone in on color and how to distribute it throughout the packaging system. I also think there's opportunity to incorporate a bit more of "Texas" into the branding. There's still exploration needed and I'm hoping I'll garner more insight when I do the user testing.  I plan to conduct my user testing during Module 9. I decided to user test my visual system design f...