Curating Connections - Visual Mapping in Project Development

Abstract

This article explores the Persona Method through Visual Clues and Socio-Economic Scenarios Interference (PMVC+), a novel approach used in a higher education learning setting, on a Design of Interfaces I course. Though a descriptive case study methodology, the study demonstrates how PMVC+ enhances student learning in the early stages of design projects. PMVC+ builds upon existing persona development methods by incorporating visual clues and socio-economic scenarios. Students develop a deeper understanding of consumers by combining real-world situations (like socio-economic trends) with details about fictional characters (like their jobs and hobbies). This information can help them see how people might be affected by contexts. To guide the design process, PMVC+ promotes a “discovery map.” This map can be used as a roadmap, helping students gather information cohesively and organized. The PMVC+ offers several benefits for student designers through implicit reasoning; students learn to consider how external variables (like economic trends) can impact the lives of their personas. The PMVC+ allows consumer focus and encourages a strong focus on the needs and behaviors of real-world consumers. This article concludes that scenario fluidity emphasizes understanding how consumer behavior adapts to changing scenarios. The PMVC+ created a more engaging way to develop personas through immersive mapping, leading to well-reasoned product opportunities. While PMVC+ allowed for some creativity in the persona's setting, it encourages students to consider the complexities of real-world scenarios. This approach fostered more realistic and impactful design thinking from the beginning stages of a project.