This week, our group decided to hold an informal Teams meeting rather than posting our ideas on the Ideas Wall. The session allowed us to discuss our initial thoughts for the final project, share concerns, and receive feedback from one another at a very early stage in the process.

When discussing my own ideas, I explained that I was already beginning to think about potential outcomes and project directions. However, my peers' feedback suggested that I may be narrowing my project too quickly. Several people pointed out that I focused on finding the final project idea before fully exploring the research stage. Their advice was to slow down, remain open, and let the research guide the project's direction rather than trying to define the outcome too early.

The discussion reinforced something that had already begun to emerge through my mind-mapping exercise and review of previous projects. Across my work, there is a consistent interest in both travel and neurodiversity, and my peers agreed that this intersection is the most natural starting point for further investigation. Rather than immediately attempting to identify a specific project, they encouraged me to treat travel and neurodiversity as a broad area of enquiry and to begin researching the topic from multiple perspectives.

During the discussion, several potential avenues were suggested. One idea was exploring educational resources or community-based classes that could help neurodivergent individuals build confidence when travelling independently. Another suggestion was investigating whether travel and navigation skills could be introduced earlier through schools or support programmes, particularly for young people with additional needs. We also discussed broader questions about accessibility, confidence, independence, public transport, and the barriers neurodivergent individuals may face when navigating unfamiliar environments.

Although none of these suggestions represents a final project direction, they were useful for highlighting the breadth of opportunities in this area. More importantly, the conversation reminded me that I do not need to solve the project yet. At this stage, my goal is to identify meaningful questions rather than final outcomes.

As a result of this feedback, I have decided to focus on a more structured exploratory research phase. Rather than narrowing my project further, I will begin investigating the broad intersection between travel and neurodiversity through academic sources, case studies, articles, policy documents, and existing initiatives. This research will help me gain a clearer understanding of the current landscape, identify potential gaps, and determine where meaningful opportunities for design intervention may exist.

Moving forward, I intend to remain open to different possibilities and allow the research to shape the project direction. The feedback session was a useful reminder that the purpose of this stage is discovery, and that developing a strong research foundation will ultimately lead to a more informed and meaningful final project.