What is Unstructured Studio?

Unstructured Studio is a non-profit organization that develops tools, activities, and resources to engage children from underserved communities in creative learning experiences.

Some of their ongoing projects are:

Kriti Activities: This is a collection of low-cost creative learning activities for children and educators.

Creative Learning Workshops: These are hands-on, creative workshops for children; facilitation and capacity-building for educators.

And ZubHub Platform: An open-source, documentation & collaboration tool for activity-based learning, which I'm currently working on to improve the user experience.

What kind of people participate in this community?

One of the things that stood out to me in my community (Unstructured Studio) was how dispersed across three continents(Africa, Asia and North America) their team was which shows the diversity of the community. Unstructured Studio is a community of like-minded individuals that consists of developers, designers, lifelong learners, and researchers, so everyone is welcome.

How does my project fit into the larger community?

With ZubHub being an open-source tool, thousands of users have the right to use, study, change and share its source, which improves the tool and makes it easier for other users to use. Check out Unstructured Studio if you're interested in applying to Outreachy.

Why would people want to use my project?

As stated earlier ZubHub is a collaborative tool for activity-based learning, a safe community for kids to explore their creativity and inspire others, ZubHub is a NO BULLY ZONE, which makes it a safe and welcoming space for everyone.

Here is an image of kids at Agastya Foundation in Banglore, India getting involved in a creative Paper Circuits workshop, when the project was done it was documented and posted on ZubHub to inspire other creators.

What makes me most excited to work on my project?

First, I get to work with a team of creatives and a supportive community that values creativity, and collaboration, and knows the importance of improving the user experience of every product. And to top my list, I'm most excited to work on ZubHub because I'll be able to enhance the platform's user experience for its primarily young audience, not only do I get to enhance the user experience, but I also get to observe how they interact with it and listen to the feedback they have to better improve it even more.

What was confusing to me about the project?

One of the things I found confusing when working on my project would be improving the user experience of the landing page, although I'm still struggling with it, rest assured it wouldn't be a concern anymore because I always have the support of my team and we could iterate on a design together.

Conclusion

I hope this blog post has given you a better understanding of the Unstructured Studio community and my project ZubHub. If you're interested in learning more about Unstructured Studio, I encourage you to visit the Unstructured Studio website.

If you have any inquiries about applying to Outreachy, feel free to post them in the comments section.

Thank you for reading!

Some of the struggles I’ve faced during my time as a design intern would be Communication and collaboration, Time Management and Project Deadlines and Handling Constructive Criticism.

Communication and Collaboration: As an intern, I’ve found it difficult to effectively convey my ideas and thoughts to team members and struggled with articulating my design concepts clearly. One factor that has made that a bit difficult would be my current network provider, when we are on Google Meet calls, my network trips off and I can’t hear the rest of the team, it always feels like the ground should open up and swallow me, like urghhh.

But I’m actively working towards resolving the network issue.

Another reason why I’ve found it difficult to effectively convey my ideas and thoughts would be fright and anxiety, but I’d say I’m currently getting a hang of it. P.S.- I’m proud of myself. This has been possible through talking about my feeling with friends, actively listening during calls and seeking feedback from my mentor about concepts I find confusing, now I have gradually honed my communication skills and begun to contribute more effectively to the design process.

Time Management and Project Deadlines: It has been a little difficult meeting project deadlines and managing multiple tasks. As the UX designer on the team, everyone waits for me to come up with multiple UX solutions for the product, which is the hierarchy of things so therefore I need to prioritize and allocate my time efficiently. As an intern, I find myself overwhelmed by the sheer volume of work and struggled to manage my time effectively, sometimes I work beyond working hours which is till midnight to make sure I meet up project deadlines.

However, this experience inspired me to set realistic goals, create a structured work schedule, and seek guidance when needed from my mentor and fellow designers.

Handling Constructive Criticism: Receiving Constructive Criticism used to be a struggle for me because I found it hard to separate my emotions from my work. As an intern, I’ve had to learn how to embrace all feedback, view it as an opportunity for growth, and incorporate it into my designs. I’d have to say, most of the feedback gotten was necessary as it made the designs better, from these constructive criticisms I’ve gained the ability to adapt and improve, ultimately enhancing the quality of my design solutions.

My journey so far as a UX designer has been a rollercoaster ride, filled with challenges that have tested my abilities and expanded my horizons. Through the struggles I encountered, I learned valuable lessons in communication and collaboration, time management and handling feedback. These experiences have equipped me with a resilient mindset and a diverse skill set that will undoubtedly serve me well in my future endeavors. Although the process of becoming a UX design intern may be challenging, the benefits in terms of both professional and personal growth make it a genuinely transforming experience.

For a little introduction, my name is Faridah Adenoni Ejibunu, I am a product designer who specializes in User Experience and User Interface design. My interests include researching, exploring new places, and hanging out with loved ones.

As a product designer, creating user-centric experiences that combine usability and aesthetics brings me great satisfaction. The opportunity to intern with Unstructured Studio through Outreachy would be a life-changing experience that would allow me to apply my skills to worthwhile initiatives and improve the lives of others. Both my professional and personal growth would be accelerated by this internship.

My Core Values

Throughout my journey, I have embraced three core values that guide my actions and decisions, they are Growth, Determination and Honesty.

Growth: Growth, for me, is not just a mere aspiration but an ongoing commitment to continuous learning and self-improvement. Beyond the confines of academia, I have had the privilege of engaging in diverse experiences that have enriched my understanding of humanity and nurtured my personal growth. These experiences have not only deepened my appreciation for diversity but also fostered a genuine desire to contribute positively to the world around me. I believe that every experience, whether it brings success or challenges, offers an opportunity for personal and professional growth.

Determination: Determination is the driving force that propels me forward, enabling me to persevere through obstacles and achieve my goals. I approach each task with dedication, resilience, and a willingness to adapt.

Honesty: Honesty is a foundational value that underscores all my interactions, both professionally and personally. It’s a value that my African parents instilled in me. I strive to be authentic, transparent, and accountable in my work and relationships, fostering an environment of trust and collaboration.

Why Outreachy?

One of the main reasons I applied to Outreachy was because of their dedication to diversity and inclusion, which involves giving internship opportunities to persons who are affected by systematic bias and underrepresentation in the local technology industry. There aren't many tech communities that take underrepresented groups into account or even acknowledge them. So, in light of my background, I felt that applying to Outreachy was the proper decision.

Additionally, Outreachy provides a well-organized internship program that enables interns to develop their abilities, acquire real-world experience, and broaden their professional networks. It's also a fantastic chance to accelerate career progress, work on real-world projects and obtain mentorship from professionals in the field.

I’m excited about this and can’t wait for the opportunities that come with it.