Tools

Below is a summary of key tools I used during my master's. Some I used as they were necessary and useful, some because they are key tools for my target user audience and this would enable me to better understand them and increase my empathy with them.

The approach I have taken to sharing them is in the form of semi-reviews. This can be shared with other students in the first instance and will feed into the development of a review platform as part of part 3. The format will need further refinement in terms of what I include.

For the more useful tools I have detailed how I used them. For tools I used either in Part One, or just tried and didn't use a lot, I have just listed them.

What is it:

Simply described it is a transcription tool and a very clever one at that. Otter records meetings takes notes in real-time, generates an automated outline, Otter records your meetings/voice memos and transcribes them. You can also import audio files for transcription. It identifies different speakers and gives you the ability to edit by listening to the relevant text in transcriptions. It can also provide the different percentages of time that people contribute for.

How did I use it:

Interview recording and transcription: I recorded and transcribed them so I could be present in the interviews rather than worrying about my notes. I could then review them in detail afterwards. I also took note of the percentage of time it told me I was speaking. If this was too high, then this told me I needed to listen more going into my next interview

Learning Journal reflection and idea capture: I found that the time I was often reflective and had ideas was when I was driving in the car. To capture these, I would set otter to record when I started driving, and then speak out loud anything I wanted to capture on my drive to work. I would then export the transcription into my learning journal for later review and/or action.

Rating

Definitely use it again but would explore other transcription options

What is it:

An endless online whiteboard that enables easy online collaboration. It's great for visual thinkers, who like to have everything in one place.

How did I use it:

Some key ways that I used Miro

Resource display: Uploaded resources such as presentations we had been given, or workbooks/ebooks (eg IDEO's Field Guide to Human-Centred Design) when I wanted to reference/consider them alongside other information in one space to help guide my project.

Thought capture and organisation: Used the virtual sticky notes to capture thoughts and ideas that could be easily grouped and connected to other ideas.

Project Planning: Created a template to run my project plan, so the backlog was easy to connect to the ongoing thoughts and ideas I was capturing

Templates: Miro templates are really helpful. For example, I used this function to get a base template to use for building my personas and could easily adapt and develop my own persona template.

Thematic Analysis: I captured key themes from my interviews and surveys and grouped them together into various themes

Rating

Couldn't live without it! I think Miro has permanently fused as an extension of my brain.

Procreate

What is it: Procreate describes itself as an app that allows you to sketch, paint and create. It is a tool for creative professionals that contains everything you need to create expressive sketches, rich paintings, gorgeous illustrations and beautiful animations. It is a complete art studio you can take anywhere, packed with unique features and intuitive creative tools.

How did I use it:

Illustrations: I produced illustrations for a range of different mediums. These ranged from social media engagement to images to use in various presentations. I even made drinks menus for a friend's party.

Visual Thinking/capture ideas: I am a very visual person and found it quite useful to sketch out various things I was working through. This included things like mindmaps, images that represent different concepts, quotes from interviews and visual notes. This generally made it easier to remember and created different neural connections than if I was just writing things.

Rating

Couldn't live without it. I haven't seen anything on the market that is as good.

What is it:

An artificial intelligence software that can help you with content creation, including copywriting and content improvement. Jasper claims to increase your speed of writing copy by them times which I have certainly experienced, and you can even direct it with the tone of 'voice' you want to use.

How did I use it:

Blog Writing: The first blog I wrote myself it took around a day to complete from start to finish. By using the Jasper blog recipe, I could write a blog in ten minutes. I would run a series of commands telling Jasper what I wanted to write about. The blog would be created, and I would then work to ensure I could add personal touches to the content.

Multiple other uses: There are so many different applications for jasper, from writing ads, content summarisation, content improvement to LinkedIn engagement. New functions are regularly being added.

Rating:

How can you say no to something that saves you this much time!

What is it: Website builder

How did I use it: Used it to build two websites. It had great tutorials to help you be self-guided.

Rating

It was intuitive to use but would also explore other sites

What is it: A cloud-based typing assistant. It reviews spelling, grammar, punctuation, clarity, engagement, and delivery mistakes in English text, detects plagiarism, and suggests replacements for the identified errors. It also allows users to customize their style, tone, and context-specific language.

How did I use it: I only used the basic level of Grammarly to check my spelling a grammar as I was typing.

Rating

Couldn't live without it. Although it does not work across all apps and formats so sometimes need a bit of workaround.

What is it:

Trello is a visual collaboration tool that shows you what's being worked on, who's working on what, and where something is in a process. Just like a whiteboard, filled with lists of sticky notes, with each note as a task for you and your team. You can add photos, attachments from other data sources, documents, and a place to comment and collaborate with your teammates.

How did I use it:

Project Management: I used it to create all the tasks that needed to be completed to write each assignment. I used the tag function to keep track of where I was in each part of the process. If you have the paid version, you can also use a calendar and Gantt chart function.

Social Media Planning: I created a social media content curation board. This allowed me to write down the different notes for content I wanted to create, separated it into different channels and tag it with different themes.

Rating:

I have tried a range of different tools but just keep coming back to this. It's easy for one person but would also explore other options.

What is it: A screen recorder and video editor to take idea-sharing to the next level. A one-stop solution for making demo videos and explainer videos.

How did I use it: I created videos for my website. I liked that you could have a video of yourself on screen alongside screen recordings, PowerPoint and then edit and add additional animation afterwards.

Rating

It was great, but I would be open to try other tools.

What is it: Typeform is an online form builder that helps users build fun and visually captivating forms. This tool is easily customisable and quite interactive. It allows you to compose forms/surveys in a way that respondents can easily respond to and engage with.

How did I use it: I used this for my survey. I was able to use conditional formatting, create personal areas of engagement and easily export the data.

Rating

I explored a lot of different tools and found this to be the most engaging. I have since noticed that is a very widely used tool and have appreciated being on the other end of the survey. Would definitely use it again.

Other tools I either used less frequently or trialled in Part One/Two