The WaSH Student Exhibit at San Diego State University is focused on transferring a physical exhibit showcasing student research about campus sanitation issues onto a website, requiring careful coordination to collect and present student photos with associated captions and narratives online. In addition to adopting file naming conventions and instructional design for successful uploads using Squoosh.app to optimize digital photos, the project also navigates the political challenge of ensuring that digital presentation of the research highlighted shared responsibility for sanitation without being misconstrued as criticism of the custodial staff, whose work and perspectives were included through collaborative discussions.
Most students in both the public health and criminal justice classes followed instructions for submitting assets, but incomplete submissions-such as missing photos or captions-highlighted inconsistencies and the need for further clarity, prompting development of a new webpage template to ensure a cohesive presentation. Additionally, the physical exhibit remains, now with clarified messaging that avoids blaming custodial staff and instead highlights administrative issues, supported by a new communication strategy that spotlights the appropriate parties.
The creation of file naming conventions paired each narrative with its corresponding photo, making them easy to reference and organize.
The establishment of a baseline system which includes webpage templates can now be applied to future projects.
Clear instructions have now been circulated among professors, which will facilitate future file transfers.
Design is an iterative process; this project underscored the importance of design thinking and continuous improvement, allowing designs to evolve and effectively address new challenges as they arise.
I learned about the importance of crafting a strategy that focuses on key objectives, ensuring each step builds toward a clear and intended conclusion.
