Entry 7
Jack Griffiths
November 12th, 2024
Hey everyone! As the project manager for The Flow Within, I can hardly believe how close we are to the finish line. With the final deadline of November 27th rapidly approaching, the past few weeks have been a whirlwind of progress, breakthroughs, and hard work from every member of the team. It’s been amazing to see how far we’ve come and how well everyone has stayed committed to making this project a success.
One of the things I’m most proud of is how consistent the team has been with our weekly tasks, keeping our social media presence alive with regular posts, interviews, and blog updates. The media creation team has also taken on an exciting new challenge—creating the commercial for our project. They’re in the early stages, but the ideas they’ve shared so far are brilliant. I can’t wait to see the final result, which I know will really capture the heart of The Flow Within.
The marketing team has been another powerhouse, diving deep into the history and background of the Avon River. Their research has uncovered some incredible stories and insights that we’re incorporating into the project. This connection to the river’s history, including its cultural and indigenous significance, is adding a layer of depth to our installation that I think will resonate with our audience.
On the technical side, the coding team has been making huge strides. This week, they hit a major milestone: successfully connecting interaction on a phone through a website to the computer’s coding for the projection. This breakthrough was a game-changer for the project, as it brought our interactivity concept to life in a tangible way. It was a proud moment for all of us, and it’s a testament to the team’s dedication and creativity.
As project manager, Avery and I’s role has been to ensure all these moving parts come together smoothly. We’ve been keeping a close eye on deadlines, making sure everyone has what they need to stay on track, and facilitating communication across the team. It’s been amazing to see how everyone’s individual contributions are building toward something bigger. From the media creation team’s visuals to the marketing team’s storytelling to the technical team’s interactivity, every piece is starting to click into place.
With just a couple of weeks to go, the focus now is on refining and polishing every aspect of the project. The final showcase is fast approaching, and I know the hard work and creativity we’ve poured into The Flow Within will shine through. It’s been an incredible journey, and I couldn’t be prouder of what this team has accomplished. Stay tuned as we wrap things up and prepare to share The Flow Within with the world!
Entry 6
Avery Slote
November 12th, 2024
As we enter into the second half of the production process for The Flow Within post-presentation, I wanted to take this as an opportunity to reflect on what has happened so far and what we are looking forward to!
At the beginning of the project – although the team was excited to begin, it was hard to ignore how daunting of a task it appeared to be. We had to work hard to meet deadlines, stay organized, and familiarize ourselves with our newly formed team. Looking back at our team then, compared to now, it is interesting to see what big changes such a short time can make! From an individual standpoint for example, I was able to see myself being anxious to speak in front of my group to introduce the pitch for The Flow Within, to a person being able to present in front of community members during our showcase.
Our workflow began as individual, with each member being assigned a task and communicating amongst other members only when necessary. This has developed into a greater collaborative environment, where ideation and development is being done together! This change is so amazing to see and I feel it’s being positively reflected in the quality of the content we make too.
Over the course of these past few weeks, we faced a lot of challenges like with the pressure of deadlines and technical difficulties. Our members had to overcome two separate unforeseen laptop issues! Adapting to issues like this is something I’m really proud of my members for. Their willingness to communicate, their ability to ask for help, the dedication to persevere and the team’s desire to aid a fellow teammate, it was great to see.
As a team lead, it is important to remember that comparison is the thief of joy. During showcase day, it was stressful seeing the other groups’ installations. Each one carefully presented, creative, and unique. Initially, it was hard for me to set aside the insecurities of my creation but with the support of my time I realized that we held great successes in our prototype presentation too. My mindset was able to switch into one of inspiration, motivation, and pride for the effort of our team. Reflecting on the showcase event and seeing photographs of our team, I feel proud of how everything came together.
Post-presentation, as the team has gotten more settled into a routine and feel the relief of the project presentation passing, we are excited as we find ways to refine our production. Our marketing and communications team for example is very excited to schedule, create, and produce video-based promotions that are more engaging! They are calling upon trends and fast-paced content to help The Flow Within stand out. It feels with the passing of the immediate deliverables, our team can focus on creating and enjoy the process too. I hope our team will continue to feel this surge of passion throughout the rest of term.
I look forward to being able to implement the feedback we received from the showcase, and seeing how much more growth our team can have as we push through to the final product!
Entry 5
Jack Griffiths
November 12th, 2024
Hey everyone! What an incredible week it’s been for The Flow Within! We finally had our big presentation day, and I couldn’t be more excited to share how it all went.
We started the day setting up our stand, and it looked amazing. The media creation team had designed beautiful postcards and an eye-catching poster that really pulled our whole setup together. Seeing everything printed and displayed made it feel like our project had truly come to life! Big shoutout to the media team for their fantastic work—it gave our presentation a polished, professional look that drew people in.
The technical team also did an amazing job getting our first prototype ready. We were able to show a working version of our interactive concept, and people were really engaged with it. Having a tangible piece of the project to showcase made a huge difference and really helped communicate our vision. The prototype isn’t complete yet, but it’s already showing the core functionality, and people seemed to love it.
As the event got going, Avery and I took on the actual presentation, introducing The Flow Within to the crowd and sharing our journey so far. It was nerve-wracking but so rewarding, especially with so many interested faces in the audience. We talked about the concept, our progress, and where we’re hoping to take the project. Having Avery there made it feel more like a team effort, and it was great being able to rely on her when I got stuck. We worked well together to keep the presentation smooth and engaging.
Meanwhile, the marketing team was out there capturing the best moments of the event for our social media. They got fantastic shots and clips of our stand, the prototype in action, and us interacting with the community. They did a great job of creating some good content!
Talking with the Stratford community was such a rewarding experience. We got tons of valuable feedback that we’re excited to incorporate as we move forward. One of the big takeaways was the importance of keeping our project simple and focused. It’s easy to get wrapped up in all the possibilities, but this was a great reminder to hone in on our core message and experience.
We also received some thought-provoking suggestions around connecting The Flow Within to Stratford’s history, particularly the Avon River’s role in the community. Many people encouraged us to consider weaving in the river’s historical and cultural significance, including the Indigenous relationships with the river. This feedback really resonated with us, and we’re already brainstorming ways to respectfully acknowledge these important aspects to deepen the experience we’re creating.
By the end of the day, we felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and renewed motivation. We’re so grateful for all the support, feedback, and insights from everyone we spoke with. This event gave us a fresh perspective and a lot of excitement for what’s next. Stay tuned as we keep building, refining, and bringing this project to life!