Assignment #2 | DIY
Well, in a rush, here is my first instructables! Could have done more field and user testing. Things learned.
It’s neat going through the experience of having to document the process completely so that someone else can follow my steps. In reading other people’s instructables, sometimes I was frustrated because things weren’t clear. I tried to fix that with my own, but I know in the frantic rush of getting this up in time for the assignment, I’ve probably left things I thought were obvious.
With the paper wallet, a friend pointed out the affordance that comes with the paper wallet. One wants to write on it! Since it is so cheap and quick to make, why not use it as a scratch pad? Phone number, bus schedules, to do lists, expenses. One commenter on the paper wallet instructables that I based mine off of said you could put the layout of the cuts in Illustrator or Publisher. Then, you can throw in whatever information you want neatly printed out.
Wallet preference is so key. Some friends said that as cool as it is to have a paper wallet, they like the feel of leather. Some wanted to see all the cards at once. Others like the compactness. I like my solution of a piece of tape with a tabbed portion to open and close the outside pockets. Someone else found it bothersome. You cant please everyone when you design a product.
All this was made possible because of the wealth of knowledge and experiences of people making things (collective invention or innovation?). Hopefully someone can take what I did and be inspired into going into a direction of his or her own.
The instructables interface is so cool! Once I decided to stop designing and stick with a version of the wallet, I snapped pictures, uploaded, instructed, and bam, a beautiful looking DIY page! So user friendly.