Hi, it’s Mai, a Collaborative Design student with a passion for crafting meaningful experiences through design. I thrive on experimenting and exploring new possibilities, which has given me a diverse skill set. Thus, my approach for each project always come along with flexibility and an open mind but not without a strong foundation of design thinking.
Driven by a sense of community, I aim to create designs that genuinely improve people’s lives. I’m also energized by collaboration—even when it's challenging, working with others teaches me more about myself and strengthens my way of design.
Navigation Device: The Buzzin
The Buzzin was designed to provide visitors with visual impairments a sense of independence while navigating an indoor space such as a museum or a gallery. Using a series of different vibration patterns indicating directions, the device guides the visitors to their interested spots throughout the exhibition and back to the reception area. To keep the design simple and intuitive, an oval button and a round button were placed where the user’s fingers can reach comfortably. Moreover, it applies a similar simple working system from button on headphones. If the visitor press once they move to the next location, press twice and they can revisit the previous.
Navigation Device: The Buzzin
Besides the devices itself, to provide a seamless experience for visitors, this project’s consideration includes the incorporation of other technologies (sound beam and NFC chip similar to the Lens from ACMI) and an effective user flow. The video above demonstrates the device in use.
This design research kit aims to unpack the insights from the students while they are making and maintaining connections within university environment. We (me and my teammate, Gizelle) believe meaningful and positive connections can make huge impacts on the student’s well-being and also academic performance. Therefore, we strived to understand the student's perspectives and relationship toward university environment. With a variety of well-curated activities, the kit opens up a friendly and welcoming space for the participants to go through a journey of understanding themselves. As a result, the kit collects a number of tacit insights and patterns which are helpful for further research.
Portable Tactile Map
This project is linked to the Monash Sensory Science Exhibition. The tactile map focuses on the main area in the building where the exhibition takes place. Since the exhibition is curated specifically for blind, low-vision and diverse needs audiences, the map offers a sensory experience for visitors to explore in advance the space they will attend. Taking the peg board concept, the map also becomes a planning tool and simultaneously provide a flexibility for future updates.
In the spirit of reconciliation Monash University acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
