Minor Project

 Minor Project

23/09/2025 - 02/01/2026 (Week1 - Week14)

Hu Yao Ping / 0376768

Minor Project | Bachelors of Design (Honour) in Creative Media | Taylor's University

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[Table of contents]

1.Instruction

2.process

3.Feedback

4.Reflection

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[Instruction]

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[process]

Week 1

This session marked the first class of the semester and was conducted by Mr. Sylvain, as Dr. Wong was unavailable due to training commitments. During the class, Mr. Sylvain provided an overview of the module structure and shared examples of projects completed by senior students to help us better understand the course expectations. Following this introduction, we were instructed to form project groups, with the requirement that each group include at least two members from the same specialization. Consequently, Jycee, Gaby, Jiayue, Lilin, Jennifer, Zhou Yi, and I formed a team. To facilitate efficient communication and coordination, we also set up a WhatsApp group for ongoing discussion and updates.

Week 2

In Week 2, on 29 September, we were given the opportunity to select a project topic that best aligned with our interests and values. During an online session led by Dr. Wong, she introduced and explained the general scope and learning objectives of each proposed topic, which helped us better understand the direction and expectations of the EPIL project. After thoughtful discussion within our group, we collectively decided to focus on Period Poverty as our main theme. This topic stood out to us because it highlights an important yet often overlooked social issue, while also strongly supporting the educational and social awareness goals of the course.

Following our decision, we began organizing our workflow and assigning roles to ensure effective collaboration. Jycee was appointed as the group leader to coordinate tasks and manage progress. To support our brainstorming and idea development, we also set up a FigJam workspace, which became our primary platform for sharing ideas, structuring research, and mapping out the initial direction of the project. This marked the official starting point of our EPIL project and laid a solid foundation for our future work.

Fig. 1.1

Week 3

In the third week, our group met with our client, Dr. Chong, which helped clarify the overall direction of the project. Later that evening at 9 PM, we held an online group meeting to discuss potential topics and plan Task 1. The group leader created a task breakdown, allowing members to choose roles based on their individual availability.

We discussed several sub-topics related to period poverty, including menstruation across different cultures, different age groups, and menstrual stigma among youth. After further discussion and a vote conducted in our WhatsApp group, we decided to focus on menstrual stigma among youth, as it is both relevant and impactful.

Once the topic was finalized, we began preparing our presentation slides and assigned specific sections to each member. We also briefly discussed the interview questions, focusing on ensuring they were clear, appropriate, and aligned with the goals of the project.

Fig.2.1

Week 4

We first prepared a draft version of the interview questions. During class, Dr. Wong provided feedback and suggested that some of the terms used were too academic or unfamiliar for interview participants. For instance, she recommended replacing words such as “stigma” with “shame” and “menstruation” with “period”, as simpler and more commonly used language would make the questions easier to understand.

After the class, our group held another discussion to revise the questions based on her feedback. We redistributed the interview-related tasks and adjusted the overall workload accordingly. The revised interview questions were then sent back to Dr. Wong for a second round of review. She pointed out that the age ranges of our interviewees overlapped slightly and noted that Question 7 needed to be revised because it repeated ideas already covered in Question 6.

After making the necessary adjustments, we finalized the interview questions and proceeded to conduct the interviews.

Fig.3.1

According to the group task distribution, Jiayue and I were in charge of summarizing the interview findings. We reviewed the interview recordings and integrated content from other group members to develop the conclusion, highlighting young people’s attitudes toward menstruation, the persistence of menstrual stigma, and the importance of education and open discussion in reducing these taboos.

Fig.3.2

Week 5 

I was responsible for conducting the interviews and ensured they were completed within the scheduled period. The interview recordings, transcripts, and consent forms were then organized and uploaded to Google Drive. In addition, I shared transcript screenshots on FigJam and summarized the key points from the interviews for the group to review.

Fig.4.1

This Thursday, our group held an online meeting during which we developed an Affinity Diagram in FigJam using the interview data we had collected. Each member first highlighted key insights from their own interviews. We then worked together to compare these findings and identify shared patterns and recurring themes across the group.

Fig.4.2

Week 6

We reviewed and refined our interview questions to identify which ones were the most effective and which could be removed. We also finalized the format of the interview transcripts and proceeded with conducting the interviews. After completing my interview videos, I continued to support the team by further refining the Figma file. In addition, I completed my Key Findings section by summarizing and organizing the information gathered from my interview participants.

Fig.5.1

Week 7

Prior to the class, Dr. Wong reminded us to prepare a clear problem statement. In response, I assisted in drafting the problem statement and shared several examples to help guide the group. During the class, we carried out a Crazy 8 ideation activity, where all members’ ideas were collected and organized in FigJam. After reviewing and synthesizing these ideas, we noticed that many concepts overlapped, such as designing an informational webpage or creating visual signage related to menstruation.

At the same time, a few more distinctive ideas also emerged, including developing period-awareness packaging, creating a menstruation-themed board game, and producing a short comic. In addition to the ideation process, this week we also began preparing materials for our upcoming midterm presentation.

Fig.6.1

Week 8

Following this, we allocated the presentation responsibilities and started preparing our respective sections. On Thursday, our group held a meeting to review the FigJam content, as some members needed further clarification on the user journey map. During the discussion, we revisited our Crazy 8 ideas and analyzed each concept to determine which approaches were most effective for communicating our topic.

We also planned ahead for the presentation scheduled on 17 November, assigning each slide to a specific presenter. After consolidating all proposed ideas, we carried out a group vote to prioritize our concepts. The three highest-ranked ideas were a menstrual education website, a board game centered on menstruation awareness, and period-awareness packaging design.

Fig.7.1

Fig.7.2

Week 9

In Week 9, our group selected the top three concepts to present to Dr. Wong and our client, Dr. Chong, following group discussions and voting. Before the presentation, I helped organize a meeting to further refine the ideas and continued updating our Canva materials and FigJam board.

During Monday’s class, we presented our concepts to both Dr. Chong and Dr. Wong. Dr. Chong responded especially positively to the board game idea, which led us to move forward with developing a menstruation-related game prototype.

That Friday, we held an online meeting to assign responsibilities for the prototype development, dividing the team into a digital game group and a physical game group.

Fig.8.1

Week 10

With all team members present, we collaboratively created a low-fidelity (lo-fi) prototype of the board game. Using paper and hand-drawn elements, we produced a basic version of the game board to visualize the overall gameplay. On Wednesday, we carried out lo-fi testing with male participants and collected their feedback to evaluate clarity and engagement.

For my contribution, I was mainly responsible for designing the visual patterns used on the game cards. I focused on creating simple and approachable illustrations that subtly represent menstruation-related items, ensuring the imagery was sensitive, clear, and comfortable for players to understand.

Fig.9.1

Fig.9.2

This Thursday, our group held an in-person session to assemble a rough but complete version of the board game and carry out a pilot test with male participants. During this process, I assisted in drafting the initial content for the question cards. All group members then handwrote the question cards as well as the myths-and-facts cards to prepare the game for testing.

Week 11

This week, everyone was extremely busy preparing for the next stage of the board game development. Through several meetings and discussions, we divided the tasks among group members, including card design, question development, and material purchasing. Jiayue and I were mainly responsible for the character design, which represents the players in the board game. We divided the characters by gender, with Jiayue designing the male characters and I focusing on the female character designs.

Fig.10.1

Fig.10.2

Fig.10.3

Fig.10.4

Week 12

We finished designing all the materials required for our board game and moved on to printing them. We also coordinated everyone’s schedules to decide who would manage the booth and at which times.

On Saturday, we held another in-person meeting to work on the cutouts and other hands-on preparations. During this session, we also purchased the prizes for the booth.

Week 13

We began preparing for our booth for the final prototype testing by creating a pre- and post-game survey. We also designed a digital poster for promotion on Instagram and printed a physical version to display at the booth.

On the first day, our booth attracted a large number of visitors, with 25 participants joining the activities. Some friends also stopped by to try out the game. The event provided valuable feedback on the usability and engagement of our prototype, allowing us to observe how participants interacted with the game and identify areas for improvement.

On the second day, our booth was visited by Dr. Wong and Dr. Noor from the EPIL lab. The day ran smoothly, and we completed all planned activities, gathering more feedback to help evaluate our project.

On the third day, we closed the booth earlier than scheduled, having already achieved the targets we set for the event. Personally, I found the three-day experience enjoyable, though tiring. It was a valuable opportunity to meet many people, raise awareness about our topic, and engage participants in a fun and interactive way while testing our project.

Fig.11.1

Fig.11.2

Fig.11.3

Fig.11.4

Week 14

At this stage of the project, we consolidated all previously completed work into a comprehensive PowerPoint presentation. Based on the structure and content of the slides, we refined our presentation scripts to ensure a clear and coherent flow.

In terms of task allocation, Jiayue and I were responsible for organizing and refining the User Journey Map. We began by analyzing the data and insights within the map to identify key user behaviors, touchpoints, and changes in the user experience.

Next, we transformed this information into a structured table using Canva, which improved clarity and readability. After creating the table, we summarized the content and adjusted the typography—including font styles and sizes—to maintain visual consistency and establish a clear hierarchy.

Finally, we reviewed and reorganized the table to ensure it effectively supported both the presentation and the overall project narrative.

Fig.12.1

Fig.12.2

Week 15

we held our final meeting to prepare for the project’s concluding presentation. Thanks to this careful preparation, the presentation went smoothly and was delivered successfully. Overall, we were able to execute the EPIL program project effectively. Despite facing several challenges throughout the process, our team managed to complete the project and achieve the intended goals.

Final Submission    

Presentation Link

Figjam Link

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[Feedback]

Interview Questions:

Based on Dr. Wong’s feedback, we made several adjustments to the interview design. The age ranges of the participants were refined to prevent any overlap, ensuring a clearer segmentation of responses. Additionally, Question 7 was revised because it was closely related to Question 6, helping to avoid redundancy and improve the clarity of the interview. Once these revisions were implemented, we proceeded to conduct the interviews.

Presentation Slides:

When preparing the presentation slides, we focused on keeping the content concise, highlighting only the key points rather than lengthy explanations. Attention was also given to the font size and overall readability to ensure that all project team members and audience participants could easily follow the presentation. Visual hierarchy and slide layout were carefully considered to make the information clear and engaging.

Data Analysis:

To present the survey results effectively, we chose different formats for different types of data, allowing each result to be communicated in the most understandable way. This approach made it easier to compare responses, draw insights, and visually display the findings. By tailoring the presentation of data, we ensured that the analysis was not only accurate but also clear and accessible to the audience.

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[Reflection]

Experience：

Throughout the EPIL project, I was actively involved in multiple stages, including topic selection, interview design, prototype development, and final presentation preparation. I collaborated closely with my group members, dividing tasks efficiently according to our strengths. My main contributions included summarizing interview findings, designing visual elements for the board game (such as female player characters and card illustrations), refining the User Journey Map with Jiayue, and assisting in preparing presentation slides. The process was intensive but rewarding, as it allowed me to engage with both qualitative and quantitative research methods, apply creative design skills, and observe how ideas evolve from concept to prototype.

Observation：

During the project, several patterns became clear. From the interviews, I noticed that while many young women understand menstruation as a natural process, cultural and social stigma still causes embarrassment and reluctance to discuss it openly. Male participants generally acknowledged menstruation as normal, yet their knowledge was limited and some felt uncomfortable discussing it. In terms of teamwork, I observed that dividing responsibilities and maintaining regular communication, including online meetings and collaborative tools like FigJam and Canva, significantly improved efficiency. Additionally, testing the board game prototype with participants revealed how user engagement varies depending on clarity, design, and interactivity.

Findings：

From these experiences, it became evident that effective project work requires a balance of clear communication, thoughtful planning, and iterative testing. The interviews highlighted the ongoing presence of menstrual stigma among youth, while also showing that education and open discussion can gradually improve understanding. The board game prototype allowed us to engage participants in a fun, interactive way, making the learning experience memorable and effective. Overall, the project demonstrated the importance of combining research insights with creative design solutions to address social issues, and it reinforced the value of teamwork, adaptability, and user-centered design in achieving project goals.

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Thank You