HUA: Empowering those who want to learn

For my final university project, I created a platform addressing racial issues within East Asian culture. Through a website and social media, the project aimed to promote education, and open conversations about these issues.

What?

University Final project

Category

Design & Social Awareness

Year:

2022

The task

The main objective of this project was to create an educational platform that raises awareness about microaggressions and stereotypes directed at East Asian cultures. Another aim was to foster a safe space for people to ask questions about culturally sensitive language and behaviour while educating users on the complexities of these issues. The goal of using a website and social media in particular was to allow users to submit questions, access resources, and engage in discussions related to cultural appropriation and microaggressions.

What I did / Challenges

  • I researched a variety of academic sources, social media content, and real-world examples to ensure the platform was informative and engaging.

  • Designed a website using Webflow.io with an emphasis on clean, user-friendly navigation. The content was structured to offer both personal and academic insights into microaggressions and racism.

  • Created visually appealing elements, including illustrations, a cohesive color scheme, and typographic choices that align with the serious nature of the subject matter but also remained approachable.

  • Addressed challenges such as the slow page transitions by optimizing website performance and ensuring readability across different devices.

  • Used feedback from my user testing trial to refine details like font sizes, spacing, and text placement for better user experience.

Outcome

Received positive feedback from the professor, with praise for the clear communication of complex issues, the aesthetic design of the website, and its overall functionality. The social media content was highly regarded for its clean graphics and powerful transitions and the idea of an alphabetised definitions section worked well.

My presentation was noted for its strong visuals, engaging structure, and logical pacing. Feedback highlighted my use of open, enthusiastic body language and confidence in answering questions, though I was quieter at the start.

Key takeaways

This project showed me the unique complexity of combining sensitivity and design to address societal issues. It helped me improve my web design skills, and enhanced my ability to translate academic concepts into engaging digital design. I also learned valuable lessons in user-centered design and understood the importance of usability across different devices.