Reflection - Visualization

Challenge  As a 17 year old student who has never had a paying job, the challenges that are available for  me to solve aren’t easily comparable to the examples given. Working with what I have, what I  chose to tackle is efficiency of systems in place at my local public library where I’ve volunteered  for many years. Growing up in a time where technology advances very quickly, I’ve seen shifts  made in many different systems I interact with, like computers/testing in school or the  implementation of computerized systems at the library. Being the guinea pig as a student as  administration is executing trial runs of new technology, I have seen what works and what is  very much broken. I’ve learned that it’s not a question of whether something functions 100%  correctly all the time in all scenarios, but rather if it functions the majority of the time, and if it  doesn’t, how easy is it to document and fix somewhere down the line. I’ve interacted with a  variety of systems that are examples of opposite sides of a basic “functioning” spectrum. My  goal as someone with a youth’s perspective on the matter was to guide and provide insight to  the older librarians. Some systems were out of our control as to how they functioned, however, I  helped provide a valuable perspective to what we as staff/volunteers could change.       Selection  I make use of visualization as a tool in helping individuals of different age groups/generations  come to a similar understanding of how what systems we were given to work with could best  suit us as well as patrons. Storytelling also works to serve this purpose, however visualization is  often best suited for the tasks at hand.       Application  Not every system whose efficiency was called into question by myself and others requires the  use of / is operated using technology. Some applications of visualization were “how best to  organize a display of new children’s books”, easily solved by drafting ideas on a whiteboard.  Others were more complicated. As my time with the library progressed, the interests and  inclinations of a younger audience became my specialty. For example, in drafting posters or  emails meant to appeal to young adult patrons of the library, I help with wording as well as  layout of visuals.     One specific instance in which I was able to use visualization to my advantage was when I was  asked to help re-evaluate how the influx of new material donated to the library is sorted. As  someone who has spent many, many hours “donation diving” in the very large bin where  everything was haphazardly tossed into, I was overjoyed to finally have a change to streamline  the process. Through trial and error involving many rough sketches and notes, gathering  information from patrons and staff alike, we were able to come to a consensus about which  elements of the process could be changed and how. We now have more space set aside for  donation bins, which have also been separated into some general categories of items. For

example, there is now a smaller bin designated for CD/AV donations so they are less likely to be  crushed or snap inside the bin with heavier objects. It only takes a few seconds for patrons to  determine which bin their donation belongs in, and it saves staff and volunteers a whole lot  longer in sorting time.    Insight  My ability to clearly and concisely show my supervisors what I mean using visualization has  become a strong asset of mine. Just as Angela Meyer said in the course video on visualization,  the more you practice and make use of the skill, the easier it becomes. I’ve encountered  younger volunteers and staff members alike who don’t think they are able to use visualization  because of their poor drawing skills. They initially lack the perspective to see how the tool is  more than just drawn pictures. With a bit of guidance, I can teach others how to turn something  they don’t quite understand / are afraid of exploring into a tool they too can use to their  advantage.    Approach  People will always have differing views and thought processes. Visualization can act as an  equalizer for those involved in an idea, and while it is by no means perfect, it greatly aids in  helping participants see as close to eye to eye as they can. Looking back over the years I can  remember many times where keeping this in mind would have helped tremendously. The fact  that others don’t share your vision / their minds work differently than yours and what makes  sense to you won’t necessarily click for someone else is an important lesson to learn, and even  more important to factor that in to how you present information. If I were given the chance to do  some things differently in that regard, I would have combined other design tools such as  storytelling with visualization in order to get my point across better.


Reflection - Visualization Challenge As a 17 year old student who has never had a paying job , the challenges that are available for me to solve are n’t easily comparable to the examples given . Working with what I have , what I chose to tackle is efficiency of systems in place at my local public library where I ’ve volunteered for many years . Growing up in a time where technology advances very quickly , I ’ve seen shifts made in many different systems I interact with , like computers / testing in school or the implementation of computerized systems at the library . Being the guinea pig as a student as administration is executing trial runs of new technology , I have seen what works and what is very much broken . I ’ve learned that it ’s not a question of whether something functions 100 % correctly all the time in all scenarios , but rather if it functions the majority of the time , and if it does n’t , how easy is it to document and fix somewhere down the line . I ’ve interacted with a variety of systems that are examples of opposite sides of a basic “ functioning ” spectrum . My goal as someone with a youth ’s perspective on the matter was to guide and provide insight to the older librarians . Some systems were out of our control as to how they functioned , however , I helped provide a valuable perspective to what we as staff / volunteers could change . Selection I make use of visualization as a tool in helping individuals of different age groups / generations come to a similar understanding of how what systems we were given to work with could best suit us as well as patrons . Storytelling also works to serve this purpose , however visualization is often best suited for the tasks at hand . Application Not every system whose efficiency was called into question by myself and others requires the use of / is operated using technology . Some applications of visualization were “ how best to organize a display of new children ’s books ” , easily solved by drafting ideas on a whiteboard . Others were more complicated . As my time with the library progressed , the interests and inclinations of a younger audience became my specialty . For example , in drafting posters or emails meant to appeal to young adult patrons of the library , I help with wording as well as layout of visuals . One specific instance in which I was able to use visualization to my advantage was when I was asked to help re - evaluate how the influx of new material donated to the library is sorted . As someone who has spent many , many hours “ donation diving ” in the very large bin where everything was haphazardly tossed into , I was overjoyed to finally have a change to streamline the process . Through trial and error involving many rough sketches and notes , gathering information from patrons and staff alike , we were able to come to a consensus about which elements of the process could be changed and how . We now have more space set aside for donation bins , which have also been separated into some general categories of items . For example , there is now a smaller bin designated for CD / AV donations so they are less likely to be crushed or snap inside the bin with heavier objects . It only takes a few seconds for patrons to determine which bin their donation belongs in , and it saves staff and volunteers a whole lot longer in sorting time . Insight My ability to clearly and concisely show my supervisors what I mean using visualization has become a strong asset of mine . Just as Angela Meyer said in the course video on visualization , the more you practice and make use of the skill , the easier it becomes . I ’ve encountered younger volunteers and staff members alike who do n’t think they are able to use visualization because of their poor drawing skills . They initially lack the perspective to see how the tool is more than just drawn pictures . With a bit of guidance , I can teach others how to turn something they do n’t quite understand / are afraid of exploring into a tool they too can use to their advantage . Approach People will always have differing views and thought processes . Visualization can act as an equalizer for those involved in an idea , and while it is by no means perfect , it greatly aids in helping participants see as close to eye to eye as they can . Looking back over the years I can remember many times where keeping this in mind would have helped tremendously . The fact that others do n’t share your vision / their minds work differently than yours and what makes sense to you wo n’t necessarily click for someone else is an important lesson to learn , and even more important to factor that in to how you present information . If I were given the chance to do some things differently in that regard , I would have combined other design tools such as storytelling with visualization in order to get my point across better .