{"id":22,"date":"2026-03-06T15:03:22","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T15:03:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/halfyolanda.com\/blog\/?p=22"},"modified":"2026-03-06T15:03:22","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T15:03:22","slug":"user-experience-research-design-major-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/halfyolanda.com\/blog\/index.php\/2026\/03\/06\/user-experience-research-design-major-project\/","title":{"rendered":"User Experience Research & Design (Major\u00a0Project)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For my major project, I chose to explore the architectural heritage of my home city, Damascus. Specifically, I want to focus on the history behind the traditional homes found in Babtouma, one of Damascus\u2019s oldest inhabited neighbourhoods. Initially, I considered exploring the historical cities and monuments across Syria, but that scope felt too broad. By narrowing my focus to Babtouma, I could create a more meaningful and manageable project. The neighbourhood itself is known for its beautiful courtyards, intricate stonework, and central fountains. Babtouma is also historically significant as an area where mosques, churches, and synagogues have stood side by side for centuries, reflecting Damascus\u2019s rich tradition of cultural and religious coexistence. These are architectural elements that are reflected in each home influenced by the cultural norms of Syrians. Due to all the conflict over the years, a lot of Syria\u2019s history remains neglected, undocumented and inaccessible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My motivation for this project stems from a desire to preserve and share these beautiful spaces. These centuries-old homes tell stories about culture, family life, and craftsmanship that deserve to be recorded and experienced. By creating a website that focuses on these traditional homes, I can open up a world that people can access at any time and from anywhere. This digital platform will enable cultural preservation, storytelling, and visual exploration for diverse audiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking a user experience design approach is essential when creating this project. I need to consider the types of users who would use this website and how to guide each of them through it in a meaningful and engaging way. Different users will approach this site differently\u2014whether for academic research, cultural connection, or visual exploration. This article will reflect on the user experience research and design techniques we learned in the UX workshops and how they can be applied to my Major Project website through methods such as user research, empathy mapping, and journey mapping.
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During the UX workshop, we learned that with effective design it\u2019s always important to define the problem first. We need to consider the types of users we currently have and whom we could potentially retian. For my major project, this led for the need to identify who could benefit from this type of resource.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Defining the Problem & User Needs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When brainstorming this idea, I encountered several problems. The first was that much of Syria\u2019s historical information is extremely inaccessible and lost. The country carries such a rich history that the world seems largely unaware of. The homes in Babtouma are filled with untold stories and architectural significance that should be shared. Another problem that I encountered would be the language barrier. As an Arabic-speaking country, most of Syria\u2019s historical content and documentation exists only in Arabic. This creates challenges in gathering information and translating it accurately for an English-speaking audience. Architectural terminology, cultural context, and the stories behind these homes can easily be lost in translation. Beyond this was finding the visual documentation of these homes. Many of these homes have never been properly documented or photographed. There is a lack of imagery making it difficult to study or appreciate the architectural details, from the structure desgin to the furniture and even stonework. Furthermore, there is the political instability the country has gone through over the past decade. This has made it difficult to preserve history. Many buildings have been severely damaged, neglected and inaccessible; creating a need for proper documentation.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

User Personas<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When researching my target audience there were several different personas I was able to come up. Below are the three personas that I created; Lina, Caroline & Khalil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n