MOMent: Helping Mothers Feel Seen Through Design Research
MOMent is a digital reflection tool designed for first-time mothers to process emotions shaped by social media. Grounded in qualitative research and emotional design, the prototype transforms design research methods into simple, low-effort prompts that foster self-awareness and reduce mom guilt.
Perfect Timing: Designing Visual Time Cues for Children’s Emotional Transitions
Many children, especially those who have not yet learned to read a clock, struggle with understanding the concept of time. This lack of comprehension can lead to anxiety and difficulty transitioning between activities. The Perfect Timing project aims to create a visual and interactive solution to help children anticipate transitions and develop a structured sense of time.
Designing for Disruption: Optimizing Student Study Experiences During Library Renovation
Fondren Library is a key study space for SMU students, but upcoming construction threatened to disrupt familiar study areas. The research team aimed to understand how students interact with study spaces and identify ways to minimize disruption while maintaining an optimal learning environment.
Designing for Community Connection: A UX Approach at the AT&T Discovery District
The AT&T Discovery District in Downtown Dallas is a vibrant entertainment hub, but it struggles to engage local residents, who primarily see it as a tourist attraction rather than a community space. The research team aimed to uncover the reasons behind this perception and develop strategies to increase local participation and engagement.
Collaborative Onboarding Design through Creative Expression
Big Thought, an organization focused on empowering youth through creativity, faced challenges in fostering cross-departmental collaboration. The Art Allies initiative was designed to address this gap by incorporating artistic bonding sessions into the onboarding process. The goal was to create an engaging environment where new and existing employees could connect through creative activities such as painting and poetry.