General Reflection
Starting this academic year, I set myself 5 goals. Each goal represented one expertise area and was directly linked to my academic knowledge. The expertise areas are Creativity & Aesthetics (CA), Technology & Realization (TR), Math, Data & Computing (MDC), User & Society (US), and Business & Entrepreneurship (BE). Throughout the academic year, I learned over and over the interconnectedness of all expertise areas and how they are all linked to one another. Reflecting back on these goals, I see how implementing a SMART goal system largely helped me in achieving them. In summary, they are as follows:
> Business aspect considerations in the design process [BE]
> Machining and using relevant tools for aesthetics [CA]
> Data processing and computing knowledge [MDC]
> Prototyping skills, low/high fidelity for a polished prototype + 3D Models [TR]
> Social design and designing for specific users [US]
Excluding these goals, I also had significant development in all expertise areas through courses, personal projects, and extracurriculars. I developed these expertise areas through various soft skills and hard skills. However, the extent of the development differed, this was a result of the courses I attended and my personal interests. Creativity & Aesthetics was an expertise area that was always emphasized by students and professors. Hence, I focused a large portion of my development on it.
Rose - Code
Tote Bag Concept - Internship
From Idea to Design - Initial Protoype 3D Model
From Idea to Design - Final Prototype
Creativity & Aesthetics
As a designer, this is an expertise area that I often find myself improving and learning about. Throughout my projects, I am also iterating my designs to make them more aesthetic or to improve the design. I also enjoy innovating creatively with no limits as a starting point in my project. In my From Idea to Design course project, PolarMeltdown, I had many iterations of the final product. The final product was much different than anticipated, this taught me that creativity and aesthetics are often compromised for feasibility and costs. The rose was one of my earlier projects, it was a code I had written to generate a new rose-like object using math functions, this allowed me to combine creativity with math and led to the realization that all expertise areas are interconnected.
During my short internship as a graphic designer at a clothing apparel company, I developed skills in using the software as well as creating aesthetic designs.
Materiality is a sector that I haven’t had the chance to completely explore yet, despite it being one of my SMART goals from the start of the year. It is something that has piqued my interest from all demo day presentations of groups working in materiality. While I have reflected on the design and its narratives, I want to further develop my skills in that area.
Technology & Realization
Practical and technical work is an area that I wanted to build on from the start of the year. I was provided with a great learning opportunity, using Arduino, actuators, and sensors during creative electronics. This course also enhanced my skills in circuitry, mechanisms, and object-oriented design through my project, Trash O' Matic. From the start of the year, I have been involving myself in building interactive systems and building prototypes. My project in From Idea to Design gave me the perfect chance to combine interactive systems and prototyping for the final product.
Additionally, I have gotten acquainted with many household 3D modeling software used by designers. I proactively participated in a SolidWorks workshop which allowed me to get comfortable with using an intimidating workshop. Here I learned more than just SolidWorks, and that was to start small and seek help in topics that are new to you.
One of my main goals this year was to learn to make 3D models. I fulfilled that goal in my opinion as I took on leadership roles in creating 3D model prototypes for multiple projects, ranging from Project 1 to Creative Electronics. Within creative electronics, I also got the chance to improve my circuitry skills by learning to use cut wires and creating tangle-free circuits.
SolidWorks Workshop Project
From Idea to Design - Electronics
Creative Electronics - Circuit
Project 1 - 3D Model Prototype
Creative Electronics - Trash O' Matic
Data Analytics - Python Data Processing Code
Data Analytics - Processed Data Visuals
Creative Programming Code - Ginometric Functions
Mata, Data & Computing
I developed this expertise area the most in the first semester of my year. I learned to use Processing and for my project, Rose, I wrote a code to generate a new and different rose every time, using mathematic functions and code elements.
Recently, I had the chance to further develop this expertise area through Data Analytics for Engineers. Here I learned to convert messy data into meaningful statistics and visualizations. I learned to identify patterns in data and apply common statistics to it. This was a key learning point for me as I find myself using data processing methods for user evaluation etc., as well as it being one of my 5 major goals from the start of the year.
The last development in this area has been through the course Making Sense of Sensors. Here I am learning to combine real data using a smartwatch and temperature sensors to confirm hypotheses. Along with data processing, I am also learning about data gathering, privacy, and more. I would like to improve my data analysis and models in the next coming years to present better visuals.
User & Society
Users are the most important consideration designers have to account for, along with business and feasibility. It is incredibly important to have a solid understanding of the users while designing any product or service. Despite this, I had little to no experience in social design, user testing, etc. That's why I set a goal for myself to develop myself in this expertise area. My knowledge was so limited that I was unable to set a more specific goal.
However, now reflecting back I have gained valuable skills in this expertise area. The biggest learning for me here was during Project 1. I had the chance to interview direct stakeholders in our project. Not only did this allow me to gain experience in user validation testing but also in understanding the user, what they want, and what they want but can't explain.
At the start of the year, I developed an app concept, FitCheck for the course User-Centered Design. The app was designed to boost a healthy lifestyle and promote exercise. Here I developed a model visualization of how the app works. However, prior to this, I had to do ample research into potential users, what would work best for the user, and more. Essentially, designing with the user as the center of focus.
Fitcheck App Concept
Business & Entrepreneurship
As a designer, I believe that it is important to be able to market your designs. Therefore, business & entrepreneurship is an important aspect of my studies. I have developed this sector through the Introduction to Business Design where I learned to produce and implement the business model canvas, along with product-service systems. Through my project in From Idea to Design, I learned to consider all business aspects including sustainable business models, stakeholders, and creating value for people. This was the perfect opportunity for me to achieve the goal I had set for myself regarding this expertise area, to implement a business model in the design process.
In the near future, I would like to gain experience in developing business cases, real-life testing, and validating business cases. Along with this I also want to learn to create economic and financial models.
Professional Skills
Actively participating in external design sprints and activities enhanced my professional skills such as public speaking and pitching.
Through my extracurricular activity of being chairman of the Industrial Design Career Committee, I gained firsthand experience in leadership and team management.
Additionally, during the external events I had the chance to gain various social skills in order to stay connected with unique people I met throughout the way.
