IXD501 MAJOR PROJECT PROPOSAL

Name: Lauren Gilmore

Student Number: B00806475

THE PROBLEM

In today's world, there is a heavy decline in children’s reading habits and they are finding less enjoyment in it. This is a growing concern as it is having a significant impact on their intellectual skills and development into adulthood. One of the main worries is that many children aren’t reaching their expected reading level for their age group. Consequently, many of them find the books they are given too difficult causing discouragement and an aversion to books.

One of the main causes of this is the development of technology. Children are gaining access to devices at younger ages and developing a dependency on them. These devices provide them with endless entertainment which is detrimental to their attention spans, making reading much more difficult and less appealing.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

I did work experience in a primary school and saw first-hand that children develop skills at different rates. Every child is different so it is clear that when a group of children are given books purely based on their age, some will struggle more than others. I want children to feel more confident in their reading so they will enjoy it more and not see it as a chore.

Reading assists children in developing empathy for others. This is because they step into the shoes of a multitude of characters with different feelings and emotions. It also gives them a deeper understanding of the world around them as they learn about different people, places and cultures. When a parent reads to their child regularly, it can strengthen their bond and start discussions about different topics.

I have only scratched the surface of the many benefits reading has for children. This is why it is devastating that many children are no longer reaping these benefits. In fact, one in four children hasn't reached the expected level of reading by the age of 11. Therefore, when entering secondary school, these children will struggle. 69% of 0-17 year olds prefer screens over books. This number will continue growing if we don’t find a solution.

AIMS AND OUTCOMES

An outcome that I hope to achieve is that children will develop their reading skills at a pace which is right for them. This should build their confidence. I hope that by providing an augmented reality rewards system, it will make starting a new book exciting and their passion for reading will grow.

METHODOLOGY

I have begun the research portion of this project which has helped me define a problem statement. To get to know my users more, I will create user personas, empathy maps and surveys. To better understand the market, I will carry out a competitor analysis.

I will develop a strong brand to represent my product effectively. User journeys/flows and storyboards will allow me to understand how users will interact with the product. This will then allow me to begin sketching and wireframing the structure of the product. I will test these as I go. Low-fi mockups will be created. Once these have been tested and approved, I can begin the hi-fi prototypes and apply the branding and more interactions. I will seek feedback and test the designs on a variety of users extensively. The launch strategy will take place including, social media posts, advertisements etc. Additional brand touchpoints will be considered such as the physical packaging that the books will arrive in.