Adding more drawings and stuff to my Methodology, like this --

Another theory that I could add is that of Observational Research...

Looking at well laid-out websites again

I really have to have a point of difference from what the tribunal website already does... have to structure my content in a funner way and with more emphasis on certain things. Looking at visual styles and whatnot now also. Colour palettes, fonts, etc etc.

Lets be honest here - this design is totally just a carbon copy of some of what the tribunal website is already doing... the green? Way too similar! It's good to get it out of my head though.
I do like the idea of a scrolldown journey though... With a fixed hovering navbar for easy navigation through the large amount of content. And I think the style of TT illustrations (little vector graphics) is also quite good, could use sort of the same ish style for this?

Features again - Hammering out the structure

So the website would be divided into 2 sections - how to avoid the tribunal, and then, how to win it.

Automation and automatic process make it easier for people to proceed feeling more knowledgeable and confident when a distressing event is taking place. 

Being Prepared AF

Good visual metaphors. Like, being on the ocean? Climbing a mountain? Gamifying the process slightly... making it more engaging, a narrative people can relate to. A task that seems difficult but then is easy when you have the right gear and preparation, that's what I want to get across to people. It's like your life jacket here, your secret food stash. We all have an earthquake kit right, just in case? Well, this is like that. It probably won't happen, but if it does you can bet you will be the most prepared and the most likely to win your case against a shitty landlord.  "Getting your ducks in a row etc etc"

"Preparing for Tribunal actually starts when you begin the tenancy."

WHEN YOU MOVE IN.

• A database for all photos of prior damage and stuff, all pictures of the existing condition of things. Explain why: So landlord can't sneakily take it out of your bond at the end of the tenancy, which happens a lot. 
• KEEP EVERYTHING ON FILE, especially the contract that you signed, the amounts of money that you are paying each week, etc etc. One easy place. (Secure...)

DURING TENANCY. 

• "Common mistakes tenants make in the path before a dispute..." "Tricks for young players" - e.g. If a landlord is being slack and not fixing something that needs to be fixed, DON'T stop paying your rent. 
• When contacting the landlord for a repair, keep it civil and polite - here's some pre written emails you can use and tailor to send to the landlord asking for a repair, this way it is a pre set process and you are less likely to anger the beast etc etc. 

WHEN A PROBLEM ARISES

• Getting prepared from then on, this is when you bring out your earthquake kit, or lifeboat or whatever the fuck. 
• Bla bla bla, getting prepared 
• Don't hesitate to contact the Citizens advice bureau or the Tenancy 0800 number for help before you take action - it's always great to get outside input from people who know this stuff inside and out. 
• Link to Tenant Advocates Chat... free govt service for vulnerable tenants, they can sometimes help you before you have to go to tribunal... 

How to Win at Tribunal

Illustrated user journey with one of the users... important stuff to remember before + during the courtroom, that they might not tell you. 

After Tribunal

• Other Useful Stuff
• After your case has had a ruling made on it, check out the "tenants database" - this is a register of information that landlords can access about YOU and potentially discriminate against you.  Make sure you request the information it holds about you...
• If you feel like it, you could add the landlord to this information database about bad/shitty landlords - this helps others like you in the future to see nasty landlords and potentially avoid them. 
• A little review form, maybe to make it more legal, a proof of ID? Proof of address. 

#SUPERCRIT

Feedback from Supercrit

• Really get the precedents in order and what they need

presentation of a complex idea

1. context

2. big idea

3. audience description. situation of audience. personae

3a. research. users (testing), history & precedents. where necessary

4. experience plan (flow charts, storyboards: narratives)

4a. experience prototypes (incorporating evidence or feedback where necessary)

5. outputs - include experience prototype where people can perform as necessary

6. reflection. how does your output relate to your research? how does it relate to your intent? to the needs/desire/understanding of your audience?

7. conclusion. desire. projection of concept into future: personal and/or community. hypothesis 

SWOT analysis of the Tenancy Tribunal website and the TPA website (Christchurch)

TT Website

Strengths:  Beautiful and clean visual style - professional and simple design. Cute and appropriate little illustrations. MOSTLY simple enough to navigate, (barring the huge amount of information actually on there). Some use of different visual navigation systems to attempt to break up the massive amount of text.

Weaknesses: Quite text heavy. A very cold and dry tone, not engaging for the reader. Emotionless. Content is not tailored to tenants only- too neutral. Which could turn tenants off the website and discourage them pursuing the TT process if they needed to. Needs much more detailing and more information about what actually happens and what CAN happen in the Tenancy Tribunal process to ensure that tenants are prepared for anything that could happen.
A subsection of the Tenancy Services website, not its own special site to completely serve and speak to the tenancy tribunal experience. For our purposes, too much emphasis on what happens before the Tenancy Tribunal step.

Opportunities: A more user friendly tone - doesn't have to be unprofessional or silly, but just a bit more reassuring to encourage first time users and those embroiled in the gruelling and stressful tenancy tribunal process.  A separate website or subsection dedicated to getting through, and getting the most, out of the tenancy tribunal for a tenant. Opportunity to bring only the information relevant to Tenancy Tribunal to the forefront, rather than emphasising "working it out beforehand", as the website is wont to do.

Threats: Landlords and property management companies who will not support tenants being more informed and empowered to use the Tribunal because it's generally better for them to have uninformed tenants. The government bureaucracy wall to generally getting things done in a way that will help marginalised groups, because of the interests of parliament? The desire for them to keep things neutral and impartial.


TPA Website

Strengths: Tailored specifically for tenant's purposes. Good relevant content Also has parts about the landlords obligations and stuff for the tenant to look at presumably. Really good content for before, during, and after the journey of Tenancy Tribunal, including even what someone should do even before they move in (do I need that on mine? Probably...) A much more accessible tone, more user friendly to read and understand. Even has a section of more specific things that could happen within the TT process - "preparing your case". SO BRILLIANT!!! That is exactly what tenants need to be supported etc etc.
http://www.tpa.org.nz/page/preparing-your-case

Weaknesses: Weak-ish website layout and design, could be structured better, especially r.e. menu items on the navigation bar - there are 2 navigation bars when there might only need to be one. The content is again quite text heavy and would benefit from some structuring and perhaps illustration (good ol' VCD)!

Opportunities: Could really benefit from a unique or more interesting/fun/visually oriented journey of the Tenancy Tribunal? Instead of just a chunk of text.  Perhaps a more dynamic version of emailing... i.e. a chatbot for discussing problems and getting specific advice? Even to Tenant Advocates... because those are a thing. Also easy to share information and things on. Connection to the services of the TT so that cross touchpoint things can happen, like a pool for items and documents 

Funneling down a Proposal/ Research Question

From question to statement... Now is the time where we move from a research question to a statement, to present at the Supercrit next Friday.
Another technique is to go from broad to narrow, from general to specific.

From Question to Statement  + Broad to Specific

How can visual communication design inform and support vulnerable tenants in dealings with the Tenancy Tribunal (and potentially other matters of flatting and the law?) 

Visual communication design can inform and support tenants who are dealing with the Tenancy tribunal.

Tenants in NZ need to be supported and informed when dealing with the Tenancy Tribunal (and housing law in New Zealand) so they can have the best possible outcome for them. 


New research proposal template

For further clarity

1. The Tenancy Tribunal is the one mechanism that tenants have at their disposal to enforce the laws and ensure their landlords and property managers are behaving properly and legally. 
2. However, tenants’ experience with the Tribunal is commonly stressful, emotional, and frustrating because of its relative lack of usability and hostility. 

3. Therefore, tenants need to be more supported + informed when dealing with the Tenancy Tribunal (and housing law in New Zealand) so they can be empowered to use the Tenancy have better and fairer outcomes when dealing with a landlord that is trying to break the law… ???