As I wrote earlier this semester in my Medium post entitled, “Senior Thesis Update #1”, I decided to use my senior thesis project as a way to explore how other designers were thinking and feeling about creating content over Instagram. In my post, I discussed the user experience of Instagram, and the accessibilities it does and does not provide to content creators looking to use the platform as a way to market themselves and others. After experimenting with Instagram’s assets and tools myself, I have decided it is the best platform to store and maintain the online fitness blog that I have developed. My last, and most ambitious post was a three-minute-long arms toning workout video that I created specifically for IGTV. What I learned from this small project was that Instagram is optimized for shorter videos between fifteen seconds to one minute. Although it provides the option for longer length videos, it does not algorithmically make it easy to reach a large audience with this form of content.
This being said, my most rewarding small feat during my senior thesis project process was creating this short three-minute tutorial. Moving forward, I would love to continue making longer workout videos where I can talk through movements and exercises with an audience. Therefore, I would love to expand my thesis project in the future onto a different platform, such as YouTube. In the beginning of the year, this was not attainable for me given that I knew nothing about filming and video editing, especially by myself with little equipment. Now, I feel more confident making longer-length videos where I can talk to the camera and feel completely normal. Overall, I still plan to continue my Instagram fitness blog, however, I will mainly be posting short and snackable photo and video content. In addition to this, I would love to expand this blog to YouTube as well, where I can reach a new and more diverse audience with different needs and demands.