My design journey began by taking interest in learning how things work and more importantly, how they can be improved. I’ve always been drawn to functionality and efficiency, and from the start, I considered myself more of a problem-solver than a traditional creative. My early mindset was about improving existing systems, like making them more efficient, user-friendly, and impactful.
During my first year, I explored the foundations of industrial design, by learning how to apply Human-Centered Design, conduct user testing, and develop low and high-fidelity prototypes. The biggest turning point in my learning was Meal Mission project, in which I took charge of the app interface design, applying everything I had learned from HCD and UI/UX principles. It helped me understand the power of designing with real users in mind, and I gained confidence in both my creative and technical skills.
In my second year, before AOI I associated aesthetics with basic appearances, like colour, or form, but after the course I that it is also how people engage with a product, how they connect with it, how it makes them feel. With Design Research I was able to improve my analytical thinking with creative exploration and the use of variety design research methods depending on the objective of the project. With CBL3 in the games and play squad, I was able to improve my US by conducting user testing, my CA and TR by designing a game in Unity. With Sustainability and Design, I learnt the importance of considering sustainability in your designs and what effects it has in the long term in society. The methods and approaches of Circularity and Regenerative Design were interesting to me, in which I plan to use in my future designs. With DIM and the electives I chose which were mainly focused on BE, I have improved my ability to validate ideas with users and consider real-world constraints. I learnt a variety of methods to use to be able identify market opportunities, design and test concepts and design business models.
From the goals I set myself last year, I can confidently state that I have been able achieve most of them. I have been able to learn further and use my skill of creative electronics in the Aesthetics of interaction course by taking initiative and responsibility of the components it would use to be able to work. I have massively improved in TR by combining tech, aesthetics, and user interaction with the help of different projects and reports I have done throughout the year like AOI, CBL3, DIM and the Business electives I did. I have taken initiative to learn how to improve my mechanical design skill by doing courses provided from Autodesk. I have also been able to maintain log of either my group or individual processes to be able to show and make sure every design choice has a valid reason behind its decision. The only thing I have not improved is physical prototyping since this year there wasn’t many opportunities to do that.
Currently, I would still consider that I’m in a phase of discovering which direction of I want to branch in and develop further as a designer. Compared to last year in which my main strengths were the areas of US, CA and TR. This year I developed my BE area by taking electives which had a focus on building the foundations of a business, verifying the market segmentation, concept testing with stakeholders, researching competitors and factors which have an effect on the business etc.
At the beginning of the year my initial goal was to become a skilled in mechanical design engineer, but this did not fully match my current competence level compared to students from engineering programs. I realized this after applying to several student teams and receiving feedback that I did not meet the technical requirements, which made me reflected on my strengths and the skills I am developing within Industrial Design and how I can be of value to different projects. This led me to shift my focus toward a project management and coordination role, where I can combine my skills of technical understanding, design thinking and developing business knowledge. This was clear to me because within ID you learn a variety of skills like creative electronics, creative mechanical engineering, tools and methods which will allow us to analyse and evaluate existing value propositions in businesses, the importance of considering stakeholders when creating and designing a product/service and the importance of sustainability and the impact it has not only the user but the environment in the world.
Having shifted my focus to this, I will be able to play a major role and be able to communicate with the different of roles/disciplines in every project and support decision-making processes throughout. I’ve also improved my collaboration skills, since I now take a more active role in team discussions and make an effort to provide thoughtful feedback, contribute new ideas, and help the team move forward. Reflecting upon finishing every course has now become a natural thing for me to do, to be able to honestly evaluate my progress as a designer and understand what I have learnt and if possible how to apply it in projects.