Developing Digital Journeys through an Action Research cycle
The development of Digital Journeys followed an iterative Action Research cycle, allowing the resource to evolve through cycles of making, feedback, reflection, and refinement. This approach is well suited to design education, where knowledge is generated through practice and iterative development rather than linear problem-solving (McNiff and Whitehead, 2011).
Identify and plan
Following the identification of persistent confusion around digital workflows and software choice, the project moved into a planning phase focused on designing a visual roadmap that could make complex processes explicit. In art and design education, visual mapping and diagramming are recognised as key modes of thinking, helping learners understand sequencing, relationships, and purpose (Gray and Malins, 2004). This informed the decision to communicate workflows visually rather than through text-heavy explanations.
Design and feedback (first iteration)
The next action within the cycle was the creation of an initial visual mock-up of the Digital Journeys Roadmap. Peer and tutor feedback identified several areas for improvement:
- Reordering the legend to improve clarity and visual hierarchy
- Replacing the term industry standard software with software suggestions to avoid overly prescriptive language
- Clarifying context by specifying the relevant unit, brief, and year of study
Reflect and redesign
Reflection on this feedback informed the redesign of the resource, leading to the development of a second interactive prototype with improved navigation and visual consistency. This iterative movement between making and reflecting reflects Schön’s concept of reflection-in-action, where designers refine solutions through continuous engagement with their work (Schön, 1983).
These changes align with principles of information design, where hierarchy and contextual framing are essential for effective communication (Lupton, 2017). In response to feedback, and building on the original project vision, the following features were added:
- dropdown menus were introduced, allowing students to select their course and year of study and view a tailored workflow according to their selected unit brief
- multiple software suggestions were integrated
- dark mode
- interactive elements on the roadmap
Digital Journeys 1.2 – ROADMAP – Working Prototype with interactive elements (fig 5)
Digital Journeys 1.2 – QUICK SEARCH – Working Prototype with interactive elements (fig 6)
Digital Journeys 1.2 – QUICK SEARCH & ROADMAP Dark Mode – Working Prototype with interactive elements (fig 7)
for a full demonstration of the resource please refer to my Introduction blogpost “Introduction – Digital Journeys: Supporting Student Workflow in Fashion Education with Design Software“
Validate and evaluate (student and staff questionnaires)
Feedback from surveys confirmed the clarity and usefulness of the roadmap while also identifying specific areas for future development. Suggested additions included:
- Links to in-house tutorials or official Adobe tutorials to ensure consistency and reliability
- Brief software overviews explaining purpose and typical use
- Step-by-step visual guidance for moving between software
- Examples of outcomes and techniques to show what is possible
- Expanded software options, including alternatives where Adobe software is inaccessible
- Integration into existing platforms such as Moodle or course handbooks
- Opportunities for ongoing student feedback and suggestions
- Clearer onboarding support for students from non-design backgrounds
This feedback validated the relevance of Digital Journeys as a workflow-support tool while also highlighting how it could be expanded to better support diverse learning needs.
Analyse, feasibility and iteration
Accessibility testing using Colour Blind Oracle indicated that colour distinctions between research stages and InDesign were difficult to perceive for users with red–green colour vision deficiencies, specifically Deutan (deuteranomaly and deuteranopia) and Protan (protanomaly and protanopia) conditions. This finding reinforces the need to design interfaces that do not rely on colour alone to communicate meaning (Lupton, 2017).
Accessibility testing
From a feasibility perspective, Digital Journeys would require ongoing maintenance due to regular software updates and annual major version changes. This highlights the importance of designing the resource as a flexible, updateable system rather than a fixed artefact, with content that can be reviewed and refreshed to remain accurate and relevant.
Next steps
The next stage of development will focus on improving colour accessibility, alternative text and font size for a more inclusive approach, expanding in-house and official Adobe tutorial integration, reasearching a better platform to and iterate/update and host the resource and continuing iterative testing with a focus group. Through ongoing Action Research cycles, Digital Journeys will remain an evolving, design-led resource responsive to both pedagogic needs and software change.
Bibliography
Gray, C. and Malins, J. (2004) Visualizing Research: A Guide to the Research Process in Art and Design. Aldershot: Ashgate.
Lupton, E. (2017) Graphic Design: The New Basics. 2nd edn. New York: Princeton Architectural Press.
McNiff, J. and Whitehead, J. (2011) All You Need to Know About Action Research. 2nd edn. London: SAGE.
Schön, D.A. (1983) The Reflective Practitioner: How Professionals Think in Action. New York: Basic Books.
Color Oracle (n.d.) Color Oracle: A free colour blindness simulator for Windows, Mac and Linux. Available at: https://colororacle.org (Accessed: 1 November).
Visual Bibliography
Fig. 1
Bodea, A. (2025) Digital Journeys ARP Cycle. Original visual composition developed by the author, based on an adapted Adobe Stock infographic template: Infographic design template with place for your data (Adobe Stock ID: 438815703). Available at: https://stock.adobe.com/uk/images/infographic-design-template-with-place-for-your-data-vector-illustration/438815703 (Accessed: 2026).
Fig. 2
Bodea, A. (2025) Digital Journeys ROADMAP 1.0 – Mock-up. Author’s original design.
Fig. 3
Bodea, A. (2025) Digital Journeys: Design and Interaction Assets Plan. Author’s original diagram.
Fig. 4
Bodea, A. (2025) Digital Journeys QUICK SEARCH 1.0 – Mock-up. Author’s original design.
Fig. 5
Bodea, A. (2025) Digital Journeys 1.2 – ROADMAP: Working Prototype with Interactive Elements. Author’s original design.
Fig. 6
Bodea, A. (2025) Digital Journeys 1.2 – QUICK SEARCH: Working Prototype with Interactive Elements. Author’s original design.
Fig. 7
Bodea, A. (2025) Digital Journeys 1.2 – QUICK SEARCH & ROADMAP (Dark Mode): Working Prototype with Interactive Elements. Author’s original design.
Fig. 8
Bodea, A. (2025) Digital Journeys ROADMAP – Original Colour Version. Author’s original design.
Fig. 9
Bodea, A. (2025) Digital Journeys ROADMAP – Simulated View for Red–Green Colour Vision Deficiency (Protanopia). Author’s original design, simulated using Color Oracle.