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Design Research Dissertation / Draft Dissertation, Visual Design, Final Article Publication

3.4.2023 - 3.7.2023 (Week 1 - Week 14)
Takuto Hozumi / 0354047 / Bachelor Of Design (Hons) In Creative Media
Design Research Dissertation
  1. Research Implementation - Draft Dissertation
  2. Visual Design Publication, Final Dissertation and TURNITIN submission
  3. Final Assessment - Research for Article Publication
*In this module, the content is consolidated in this one post because the individual tasks are not independent, but rather ongoing projects.

INSTRUCTION

Project Outline

This module "Design Research Dissertation" is a continuation of "Design Research Methodology". The final submission will be a substantial written piece on a topic selected by the student and guided by tutorial supervision. The continuous topic that was researched earlier is best for the extension of the studies.


This implies the need to collect further data, assimilate, select, and present information in a structured written argument, which shows awareness of authoritative critical opinions on the topic chosen. The culmination of the research writing project investigates an important creative multimedia design-related issue.

Students will complete as a complete dissertation about the research, up to the stage of publishing the article.

Week 1

Task to Do
  1. Understand the module overview
  2. Create a folder in google drive and share it with the lecturer
  3. Add sub-headers to the subsequent page in the cover page document (as a skeleton for the entire writing, refer to MIB page 10)
  4. Create Literature Matrix for 5 research papers we reviewed
Progress of the Task
    Module Overview:
In the General Channel, provided an overview of the module, including the module concept, the 14-week schedule, and the submissions. Basically, we students summarize in the dissertation what they have studied in the previous module. The first assignment is to complete the Dissertation draft by Week 7, completing the schedule on a weekly basis. Assignment progress should be shared in drive and submitted through Google Classroom.

From W7 to W11, the second assignment is to create a visual design. The content should be the same, based on research completed in the previous module, rather than entirely new research.

The third assignment is linked to the visual design; in the Final Dissertation, we will create a simpler, more focused article. Present original research as a research paper. Adapt their dissertation into a concise paper suitable for publication, adhering to KREATE journal's requirements.

Fig.1: Dissertation Structure

In MIB (page 10) shows how to structure a research dissertation. dissertation should be at least 7000 words (not including title, index or references). Keep in mind that the design and font should be easy to read. A sample cover page should be used for the draft. Citations and references are important. (Must follow APA7 format).

If any problems arise, contact the Lecturer. If there are health or mental health, etc. issues, students can talk to the support department. Weekly tasks will be shown in Google classrooms.

    Writing Progression:
This week, I wrote Literature Matrix with reference to Critical Review in the previous module.

Fig.2: Literature Matrix Draft

Fig.3: Literature Matrix (Whole Sheet)

Feedback
General Feedback:
This module continues from the previous module and deals with the same research topics. Therefore, it is not necessary to compose all sentences from scratch, and it is possible to divert content in some paragraphs, although some editing will be necessary.

Tracking assignments in sequence, separated as weekly tasks, facilitates scheduling until its submission.

Specific Feedback:
No specific individual feedback has been received yet.

Week 2

Task to Do
  1. Complete Literature Review by W3
Progress of the Task
    Writing Progression:
In W1, from the analyzed Literature Matrix, I created subheadings for the Literature Review to determine what should be written there roughly. On W2, received feedback on its sub-headings, which indicated more clearly what contents to write.

Fig.4: Literature Review Draft

Sub-headings after Feedback;
Title: A Study of Corporate Website Design in Consumer Electronics Brands
(2.0…numbering*)
1. Introduction

2. User Experience in Website
        2-1. Contents optimization
        2-2. Usability interface
        2-3. The importance of evaluation

3. Gestalt Principles in Website Design
        3-1. Gestalt theory applied in Visual Screen Design
        3-2. Gestalt Principle relation in UI design

4. Conclusion
(Modified 10/4/2023)

Feedback
General Feedback:
The components of a literature review include understanding the basic requirements of writing a literature review (Literature Matrix), choosing the best approach for researching and writing the literature review, understanding how a literature review is different from other papers and academic assignments, and knowing how to write the introduction, find discussion, and conclusion. (From the additional information given in google classroom)

Specific Feedback:
Consumer behavior is such a big topic that it is a study in itself and not the main point in the paper, so it should be omitted this time.

To make the words used in headlines more simplified and easier to understand.

Evaluations-related items should be merged with UX items and become one of the subheadings.

Some consolidation and deletion of items, etc.

Week 3

Task to Do
  1. Revise Literature Review based on W2 feedback
  2. Complete Research Methodology section by W4
Progress of the Task
    Writing Progression:
The LR completed in W2 was reviewed by the instructor and several points were noted. One point that I felt was particularly important was the explanation of terminology. Technical terms such as HCD process and fuzzy entropy appear frequently in the text. They need to be explained the first time they appear. The overall structure of Section 2 has also been cleaned up to make it easier to understand as below.

Fig.5: Draft Dissertation / Draft 1

2.0 Introduction of Literature Review

2.1 User Experience in Website
        2.1-1 Contents optimization
        2.1-2 Usability interface
        2.1-3 Website Design Evolution

2.3 Gestalt Principles in Website Design
        2.3-1 Gestalt theory applied in Visual Screen Design
        2.3-2 Gestalt Principle relation in UI design

2.4 Summary of Literature Review
(Modified 17/4/2023)

Feedback
General Feedback:
W4 class will be postponed due to holiday. Students are expected to follow their own weekly deadlines for writing, using the materials provided in Google Classroom.

Specific Feedback:
  • When citing an article in a text, the author's initials are not required.
  • ex) Chang, D., et al. -> Chang, et al.
  • There is no explanatory text to the major items, which should be added
  • First occurrence words should be explained immediately.
  • About academic writing -> use accurate wording, not colloquialism. Also, use simple and easy-to-understand expressions.

Week 4

Task to Do
  1. Research Results Findings Analysis (section 4)
  2. Discussion (section 5)
Progress of the Task
No classes due to public holidays, rescheduled lessons on Friday. Received feedback on Section 3 online, and brushed up accordingly.

The weekly interim deadline for this week is the Research Results Findings Analysis and Discussion, section 4. Weekly progression sheets must be updated as usual.

    Writing Progression:
On reflection, there was an overall lack of evidence. In Dissertation Draft 1, I wrote only the background of the study, but I thought it should be elevated to a more persuasive paper by including considerations and details about the evidence at the time of each decision. This problem was pointed out in the feedback.

During the week, we added section 3 and proceeded with section 4 based on the material provided in the google classroom.

Fig.6: Draft Dissertation / Draft 2

Section 4 was about a survey that we had already conducted, so we included a rewrite + added details of what we did in the previous module, Design Research Methodology.

Feedback
General Feedback:
Online individual tutoring only (5/5/2023). 2 weeks of public holidays on Monday followed.

Specific Feedback: 
  • Regarding the failure of the qualitative research, the details of the circumstances and causes of the failure should be described in the dissertation.
  • For the research locale, provide a rationale for why I chose it.
  • For research subjects, be sure to describe why I selected that group of people, my considerations prior to conducting the survey, etc.
  • Flow Chart of Data Collection, and Cited List should be shown.

Week 5

Task to Do
  1. Research Results Findings Analysis (section 4)
  2. Discussion (section 5)
Progress of the Task
No classes due to public holidays.

The weekly interim deadline for this week is the Draft Dissertation requirement, section 5. Weekly progression sheets must be updated as usual.

    Writing Progression:
As in the previous week, we proceeded with Section 5 based on the materials provided in the google classroom.

Fig.7: Revision with Given Feedback

The minimum number of words required is 2000, but I was not sure what to write because I didn't want to pad the English paraphrase with no substance. I may have some overlapping content. I'll wait for the next feedback and brush up again.

Feedback
General Feedback:
Online individual tutoring only (5/5/2023). Feedback is written in W4.

Week 6

Task to Do
  1. To brush up Section 4 & 5 based on feedback
  2. To write Section 6. Conclusion
  3. Complete Abstract
Progress of the Task
Completed the abstract section. As per the material presented, the 6 topics of BACKGROUND/ INTRODUCTION, RESEARCH PROBLEM, STATE THE GAP, OBJECTIVES, METHODOLOGY, and RESULTS must be included.

    Writing Progression:
There is a problem that I basically write the original draft in Japanese, and then gradually revise it into English. During the translation stage, I often look up words and often find that they have actually been replaced by inappropriate words. In some cases, the dictionary may list them as meaning the same thing, but in reality they mean slightly different things, and in such cases it is common to make a mistake. Also, as for content errors, the ambiguous and unclear wordings were inappropriate for the paper.

Fig.8: Draft Dissertation / Draft 3

Bad Example (Before feedback);
In section 4, it was reflected and briefly sorted the results of the quantitative survey conducted on potential customers. Based on that information, we researchers deliver our own discussion of the research objectives and research questions stated in Section 1.

After feedback;
In section 4, it was sorted and analyzed the results of the quantitative research conducted on the survey participants who can be potential customers of electronics brands as explained in Section 3. Based on that results, the researcher further interplayed the findings so that inline research objective and question described in Section 1.3 Research Objectives & Questions.

Feedback
General Feedback:
Complete the assignment by the submission deadline according to the weekly deadline. In practice, draft documents are due in W7, but it is nearly impossible to put them together in the final week.

Specific Feedback:
  • The choice of words, e.g.) Findings and Results mean almost the same thing, so they should be Findings and Analysis, etc.
  • The Research Instrument section should include more specific information such as the number of questions, and screen captures of the actual form.
  • Section 4 should link to the research methodology more specifically presented in Section 3. For example, in the paragraph describing the results of the study, clearly state that Parts 1 - 3 of the research are described in Section 3.1-3, etc.
  • For Section 5, this includes minor word corrections and changes to the overall structure.
  • In Draft 2, the section was divided into sections that state conclusions about the Research Objective and Question, but each Objective has a corresponding Question, and they are linked. Revise the overall structure to make it easier for the reader to understand.

Week 7

Task to Do
  1. The deadline for the complete Draft Dissertation (21/5/2023)
  2. Complete entire draft dissertation
Progress of the Task
    Next Project:
An explanation of the new assignment "Visual Design" was provided. Document the content completed in the Dissertation draft. Prepare the data as a booklet, including visual design: typography, color schemes, and graphic design. In keeping with the student’s own research topic, the design should emphasize readability for the reader, while incorporating visual elements that represent the research well. It must be completed using InDesign, which is used by formal DTP operators/designers, not Canva or other amateur tools.

    Writing Progression:
Finalized for submission on Sunday. Table of content lists all figures and tables with insert page numbers. Reconfirm citation in APA7 format. A research conceptual framework diagram was created and inserted in 1.4. Some words were added to the conclusion section to exceed 8,000.

Fig.9: Draft Dissertation / Draft 4

Feedback
General Feedback:
Things to keep in mind when submitting:
Must reach 7000 words.
For safety reasons, 8,000 words or more is better.
Submissions should be in PDF format.

Specific Feedback:
Reference to the Research conceptual framework diagram was specified.
Research conceptual framework diagram is a set of interrelated concepts, explicit or implicit, underlying a particular study. The conceptual framework forms the essence of the study. In drawing up your conceptual framework, you must have internalized, and conceptualized your study; you must have dug deep into literature. The principal concepts (dependent and independent) variables guiding your study must be interrelated.

Final Outcome of Draft Dissertation (on W7 Submission)
Fig.10: Draft Dissertation Final Outcome (20/5/2023)

Week 8

Task to Do
  1. Create Moodboard
  2. Design Consideration for Visual Design
Progress of the Task
First, Moodboard attempted to extract design elements from a variety of media, not just book design. Since my topic is about websites of appliance manufacturers, The design of Electricity's packaging, promotional booklets, instructions, and website were analyzed. For the design of the contents, includes references to book, Text book, Instructions book, Poster, Fashion Magazine, etc. As a result, I think the following should be included in my design.

Fig.11: Mood Board

Design Characteristics of Electronics Brands
  1. Simple Color Scheme - Black & White + 1 accent color
  2. Linear, simple layout
  3. Bigger Margin
DTP Layout from Book Design Reference
  1. Appropriate Margin
  2. Keep Simple
  3. Add some design elements like line and square, but not too much
I created designs with complex elements that did not follow the guide in Illustrator and linked them to InDesign. The images are basically set at 300 dpi in anticipation of printing, but the color was not specified, so the RGB setting was left as is. CMYK is more suitable for printing, but since this is mainly for web publication, at this stage it is set in RGB, which has a higher number of colors.

Mood Board = MIRO Link
Book Data = .indd, .ai, .jpeg, .png in Google Drive

Feedback
Independent learning week (22/5/2023).

Week 9

Task to Do
  1. Design Consideration for Visual Design
  2. In-design data preparation
Progress of the Task
The inside cover design, the numble design, and the text layout were changed with reference to Pinterest. The flowcharts were designed from scratch instead of using those of Draft Dissertation.

The overall design concept was basically decided, but section 4, which contains many charts, still remains to be completed. The color scheme was created by adjusting the nine colors from the main color, green, to similar lightness.

This color is placed in each section as the main color and the booklet should look iridescent.

Fig.12: Design Consideration (Cover)

Fig.13: Design Consideration (Table of Contents)

Fig.14: Design Consideration (Contents Page)

    Designing Progression:
Cover: OK
Acknowledgement: OK
Abstract: OK
Table of Contents: OK except Page Number
Table of illust: Not yet
Section 1: OK
Section 2: OK, still have room of layout improvement
Section 3: Flowchart design not yet finalized
Section 4: Chart design has not been finalized and is slower than other sections
Section 5: OK
Section 6: OK
Section 7: OK
Section 8: OK
Section 9: The images are prepared, only placing it.
Back cover: To check if it's needed.

Feedback
General Feedback:
Each student should determine their own design direction, referring to more designs on Pinterest.

Students must have at least some design patterns determined before the next feedback, including cover design, door pages for each section, content page layout, chart design, color scheme, etc.

Because 5/6/2023 is a holiday, take a replacement class on Friday morning (9/6/2023)

Specific Feedback:
Elements pointed out that I should review;
  • Nombre design - One idea is a quirky design with page numbers that extend halfway off the screen
  • Number of columns - No need to stick to one column. Consider visually more freeform layouts, such as two columns or free format layouts.
  • Color scheme - If you expect to use different colors for different sections, create a color palette according to the number of sections.
  • Charts - Search Pinterest for pie chart and bar chart designs.
  • Overall design - Search on Electricity Product Brochure and refer to the poster.
  • Cover page content - Only the title and name should be placed on the cover. The rest of the elements (module names, etc.) are moved to the next page.

Week 10

Task to Do
  1. Improve the InDesign data for Visual Design submission
Progress of the Task
Because 5/6/2023 is a holiday, take a replacement class on Friday morning (9/6/2023)

Fig.15: Color Scheme

Fig.16: Master Page Design based on the Color Scheme

Door page design unified to reflect feedback.
Color tone adjustment, text box balance adjustment

    Designing Progression:
Cover: Taylor’s logo was added
Acknowledgement: Layout balanced
Abstract: OK
Table of Contents: The design was changed to a completely different style
Table of illust: OK
Section 1: OK
Section 2: OK
Section 3: OK
Section 4: Still have some task
Section 5: OK
Section 6: OK
Section 7: OK
Section 8: OK
Section 9: OK
Back cover: OK

Feedback
General Feedback:
Because 5/6/2023 is a holiday, take a replacement class on Friday morning (9/6/2023)

Specific Feedback:
  • How about using Avenir font as the main font?
  • Adjustment of layout when "Section 00" character is cut in half.
  • Use facing pages for middle headings and chapter endings.
  • Flowchart size
  • Write copyright statement

Week 11

Task to Do
  1. Complete the InDesign data for Visual Design submission
Progress of the Task
In accordance with the feedback, the following modifications have been made.

    Designing Progression:

Fig.17: Final Cover Page Design

Fig.18: ISBN CODE

Fig.19: New Design of "Table of Content"

Fig.20: Contents Page Finalizing 1

Fig.21: Contents Page Finalizing 2

Fig.22: Contents Page Finalizing 3

Cover: Taylor’s logo removed (already on Back cover)
Copyright page: Add fake ISBN, C-code, book price
and 2 barcodes
Acknowledgement, Abstract, Table of Contents, Table of illust: OK
Section 1-3: OK
Section 4: Layout Completed
Section 5: OK
Section 6: Changed background design
Section 7-9: OK
Back cover: OK

Overall: bolded important words in the text, and adjusted the text color

After researching ISBN codes, I found that books come with something called a C-code for categorization in addition to the ISBN.

Feedback
General Feedback:
At this stage, since each student had a different design style on the research theme, feedback was provided individually.

Specific Feedback:
  • Logo removed from cover.
  • Add ISBN and barcode, which can be Fake, to make it look like a book
  • Adjust the size of the data collection flowchart, shrink it a bit
  • You can have different sections based on letter space, like Section 5.3. Accentuate.
  • May create a section to change the color of the text (not to make the entire book too consistent).
  • Bold important words / use color

Week 12

Task to Do
  1. Finalize the InDesign data for Visual Design submission (The deadline was 1-week extended for some student)
Progress of the Task
In W12, a briefing on the final assignment was held before the progress checking of Visual Design.

The final assignment is articulation for publication in the journal "KREATE". This should not describe the entire contents of the paper, but only a slimmed-down introduction to a specific topic in the paper we wrote. For example, focus on 1 of several Research Objectives & Questions. There was no word limit in the research dissertations, but in the final assignment, we students must write according to the format and word limit given.

Fig.23: Settlement of Chart Design

Fig.24: Placed into the Contents Page Layout

Fig.25: Uses of irregular layouts as accents (on the right page)

    Designing Progression:
Regarding Visual Design, 2 problems were noted in my dissertation. Details are in Specific Feedback on the right.

Due to the mixture of the English I learned in Malaysia and my English education in Japan, it wasn't uniform, which was a problem I could not recognize. Since I often remember things in the American style, I decided to unify my English with it this time.

Also, regarding chart design, I created and tried 3 different styles of pie charts, but none of them fit the design of my book, and I almost gave up halfway through. After class, I re-researched infographic design and came up with the idea of not forcing it to be a pie chart. I then re-created the bar chart shape design based on the data and finally completed all the designs.

Procedure: 
Section 4: All chart designs were completed. 
Overall: The overall language has been unified into American-style English.

All processes have been completed.

Feedback
General Feedback:
We will receive feedback on Wednesday so we can check it out and finalize the final Visual Design.

Specific Feedback:
  • The grammar of word spelling, commas, quotations, etc. throughout the dictionaries should be standardized in either American English or British English. Although "language" has not been the main topic of this project, at this stage, unity is required to complete the dissertation. For example, "Acknowledgements" (British) and "Acknowledgments" (American)
  • It is better to design your own charts instead of using Google form results directly.
Final Outcome of Visual Design
Fig.26: Visual Design Final Outcome (29/6/2023)

It was also published as an e-book.

e-Book Link:

Week 13

Task to Do
  1. Final Dissertation, revising content according to feedback
  2. KREATE article, Draft 2
Progress of the Task
W13 provided feedback on the article and the dissertation. Feedback about the article is listed under Specific feedback on the right.
Also, the Dissertation feedback was provided in PDF format, but I was unaware of the existence of that file and not enough with the corrections. Therefore, I was given time to revise it again, which I did from w13 to w14.

Fig.27: Feedback PDF

Final Outcome of Final Dissertation (Last Revised ver.)
Fig.28: Final Dissertation Final Outcome (29/6/2023)

    TURNITIN:
All revisions were completed on 29/6 and the check up began at TURNITIN. Similarity was 9%, and most of the similars for each item were less than 1%. Whether this result is good or bad I cannot judge, but I am relieved that at least the requirement of the assignment (less than 15%) was met.

Feedback
General Feedback:
Specific Feedback only

Specific Feedback:
KREATE article:
  • The title should not be identical to the study, should be rewritten with a focused title
  • Use Taylor’s email
  • Avoid unprofessional language, such as “For” at the beginning of a sentence

Fig.29: Article Publication Draft 1

Dissertation:
  • The discrepancy between the Figure number on the questionnaire and the Figure number in the paper may confuse the reader. I was taught the solution in the online lecture and applied it.
  • Some ambiguous wording was observed, especially in Section 4. For example, "People" refers to survey participants. This should be written officially as "participants".
  • When I was describing my discussion, there was some ambiguity as to which part of the questionnaire he was referring to the results of. This was rewritten to specify Fig and to be more specific.
  • Other detailed instructions in the feedback PDF

Week 14

Task to Do
  1. KREATE article, Draft 2, finalize
  2. All Submission (W15)
  3. e-portfolio
Progress of the Task
Fig.30: Article Publication Draft 2

Finally, there was only one project left: the W14 feedback provided more detailed guidance on my article. (See the feedback section below for details.) I fixed all the items pointed out and completed Draft 3=Final ver.

Fig.31: Article Publication Draft 3 (Final)

Then, I'll export the Weekly Progression Sheet in PDF format, which records all the work, and finish writing this e-portfolio.

Fig.32: Weekly Progress & Reflection Sheet (8/7/2023)

Feedback
General Feedback:
For me, Specific Feedback only.
*Guidance was given to students who inactively participated.

Specific Feedback:
  • In the Problem Statement paragraph, must avouch what you have researched, rather than ending with a question. So the last part is to be rewritten.
  • Extract particularly important parts of the questionnaire and add the information to the Methodology paragraphs.
  • More citations on the application of the Gestalt theory
  • Cannot use “/ (slash)” in academic writing
Final Outcome of Final Article Publication
Fig.33: Article Publication Final Outcome (8/7/2023)

FINAL OUTCOME

Draft Dissertation (on W7 Submission)

Visual Design

e-Book Link by FLIPHTML5

Final Dissertation (Last Revised ver.)

Final Article Publication

REFLECTIONS

Experiences
In this module, the research topics continued from the Design Research Methodology we completed in Sem2, and we learned Dissertation Writing. In the previous module, we went as far as completing our research. We submitted a research report, but in this module, we went through the process of turning it into an academic dissertation, learning about academic writing as well as the visual design of the booklet using InDesign. I used to work for a magazine company, so I had no problem with the operation of InDesign. However, it was very interesting to try to create a design on paper that reflected the research theme, especially in my case, since the theme is the corporate website of an electronics brand, Gestalt principles, etc. Graphic design on paper is fundamentally different from website design. On paper, you can pack in a certain amount of content with fewer margins, whereas a website must focus on usability and therefore more space is important. This time I tried to design an eclectic mix of them; after a period of about a month I will take another look at the booklet. After a month or so, I will take another look at the booklet so that I can more objectively judge the design.

Observation
While I primarily mentioned the visual design of the booklet in Experience above, the main area of learning was Dissertation Writing. I have found that I have several tendencies in my writing. First, if I have a theory completely worked out in my mind, I often forget to put it in the sentence. For example, from which survey this result was inferred, what process I went through to come up with it, etc. I understood that it is important to write in such a way that the reader, someone who knows nothing about this research, can understand it just by reading this text.

Also, unlike my mother tongue, I could not weave words in a flowing manner, and I sometimes forgot the whole flow of the language in the middle of a sentence because I paid too much attention to the meaning of each sentence so as not to make a mistake. My language skills still need more practice, however, I was happy to learn a lot of technical terms in the design department and academic writing through this assignment.

Findings
Although lots of detailed learning points, let me summarize what I learned about a dissertation overview. A dissertation is a document that is compiled to present the results of one's academic research. When writing an academic paper, it is necessary to convey the content of the research in a logical and accurate manner. Therefore, it is often written in a certain fixed format including Abstract, Acknowledgments, Introduction, Methodology, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, and References. And its article is also important. For researchers, scholarly articles submitted to academic journals are important. This is because publishing a scholarly article in an academic journal allows you to recognize your research findings as your own achievement. Sharing one's findings with people around the world may also lead to the advancement of the study. For these reasons, it is very important for you as a researcher to write scholarly papers and submit scholarly articles to academic journals.

I don't know if I will go into academia or not. My hope is to take a master's course if I can afford it. But I will probably go back to work after college and engage in more practically oriented tasks. I had never read a thesis until I enrolled in this course. However, I learned that there is a lot of research out there and Google Scholar is full of information that can be used in real work situations. This was very beneficial to me. I believe that the means to obtain correct information, the importance of thinking logically, and the way to explain how to reach a conclusion can be applied to all elements, not just the topic of design. I would like to conclude this article by acknowledging Dr. Hayati and this module for giving me the opportunity to think about many things. Thank you very much.
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