Welcome to my interactive and visual design honours project, which was completed at the end of 2020! This project is called “Drought Devastation”, and it aimed to raise awareness for the Australian drought by designing for social sustainability, using data visualisation, and visual storytelling. In particular, I wanted to find a way to change peoples’ opinions and behaviours in relation to this sustainability issue/problem. Overall, getting people to understand what was happening in these outback communities, and convincing them to help these people, whether through charity, or by supporting outback businesses in person, was the main goal.
The process of designing the artefact that supports the aims and objectives I had for this project, has been split up into 3 sections. The first section details the work which was done in the first semester of this project, which the second section shows the work which was done in the second semester. The third and final section shows the final design artefact, and the supporting materials that went along with making it.
While this project was extremely time-consuming, and at times, way too stressful, I believe that this project is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. I am very proud of the work I have done, and the contribution I have made to an issue that I am very passionate about. So, to anyone who reads this, thank you for taking the time to look at my project, it is much appreciated.
The process for this project started all the way back in March of 2020, where, at this point, the global pandemic that would affect everyone’s studies had not reached Australia yet.
Throughout the second semester, I mainly worked on developing the design concept I had presented at the end of semester 1, and iterate on it so that I could be able to present a final design at the end of the semester that would reflect the aims and objectives I had for this project.
This artefact is the final device made in fulfillment of the aims I had for this project, titled “Drought Devastation”.