Challenge B : Substantive Post 2

Working on these projects has made me realize how central the design process is for creating effective learning material.
The cycle of Understand , Plan, Try, Reflect gives structure to creative work and being able to shift between divergent thinking (generating many ideas) and convergent thinking (refining them into solutions) is essential.

In Challenge A: Comics, I saw this process clearly. During the Understand phase, I recognized that dispersion is often explained only with diagrams, which can feel abstract. In Plan, I brainstormed multiple approaches, from textbook-style diagrams to a character-driven story, and chose the latter for its relatability. The Try phase was where I built panels, tested ideas, and navigated challenges with image generation. Finally, in Reflect, peer feedback helped me strengthen my work by adding more dramatic elements and increasing engagement, for example by splitting the reveal of colors across multiple panels.

If I were to refine Challenge A further, I would apply Backward Design more deliberately starting with the learning goals (helping readers understand how dispersion creates rainbows) and then ensuring each panel supports that outcome.

In Challenge B: Videos, I’m using the design process again, this time with my group. We’ve been applying divergent thinking to explore different tones and brand examples, and convergent thinking to refine these into three short videos. We’re currently in the Plan and Try phases, testing scripts, aligning visuals with narration, and iterating based on feedback.

Reflecting across both challenges, I also see the value of the Double Diamond framework: the first diamond helped me clarify the problem (how to explain dispersion or color psychology), while the second focused on testing and refining solutions. This reinforces that design is not linear each iteration strengthens the final product.

Andy Budd. (2023). https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2023/08/improving-double-diamond-design-process/