Present
In this part, I will reflect on how the courses and electives were integrated into my Final Bachelor Project. I will furthermore describe my level of development within the five expertise areas, design research processes, professional skills, and my PI&V.
FBP
Some of the activities done during my FBP were learned during basic major courses. I did interviews, which I learned to conduct during User-centred Design or other projects. I made a Journey Map, Value Proposition, and Business Model, which were learned during Design Innovation Methods. I have been able to do proper (user) research due to following Design <> Research and Project 3. The activity in which I learned most about processes and the designerly way of thinking in education, was my internship. During my FBP, I have used ways of thinking/doing that my colleagues were very common with, like tangible brainstorming. This made me feel competent and therefore I believe that I can go through my own design process with more confidence than before this semester. Moreover, throughout different projects like project 2 and DIM, I learned that it is valuable to make a house style, which makes communication a lot easier. That is why I implemented this in my FBP as well. I am aware that I have not used many technology or data analytics in my FBP. This was not my priority, as I focussed on tangibility and the process more. A critical note is that I would have been able to implement more learned knowledge from courses like Exploratory Sketching and I think this could have enriched my process.
Expertise Areas
User & Society
The expertise area developed most is User & Society. I am aware of my role as a designer to create value for the people I design for. During activities like project 3, my internship, and FBP I was able to empathize with the users, engage them in the design process and use qualitative and quantitative research methods. Especially during my FBP, I tried to switch perspectives to develop my design for both students and teachers.
Technology & Realization
Technology & Realization has mostly been developed in courses like Intelligent interactive Products, Making Sense of Sensors, Engineering Design, and the Honors Track. I know the basics of developing hardware (soldering and circuitry) and I have worked with software like Arduino and Processing. During the courses, I have developed parts of sensor-actuator systems and AI systems. I have furthermore made prototypes out of wood and other materials in my internship and FBP.
Business & Entrepreneurship
Business & Entrepreneurship is the expertise area in which I have developed myself more and more in the latter stages of my bachelor. Although I realize that the property- and IP-rights and economic side of the business is something I might research more, I do know how to create value through value propositions, business models, and real-life testing. I am also busy trying to be more entrepreneurial in my mindset as I develop, for example, pitching skills and my organizational knowledge.
Creativity & Aesthetics
Creativity & Aesthetics has been developed throughout courses like Aesthetics of Interaction, Sketching, my internship, and FBP. I have used several creativity techniques to generate, select and refine ideas. I have used brainstorming techniques from Studio Tast, like Unblock and Groow, but also more common techniques like co-creation, brainstorming, and the MOSCOW method. I believe quality design is important in interaction and form, but I also see that I am more of a process designer than a specific product designer.
Math, Data & Computing
Math, Data and Computing is the Expertise Area in which I do not have the most experience. I know a bit more than the basics of data analytics through following the courses Making Sense of Sensors and Intelligent Interactive product. However, I do not have much other experience with implementing statistical analysis or models in my projects. In the pre-master that I will do, a lot of this expertise area is present in the form of data analytics for social behavior. Logical and systemic thinking is something that I can do, so that makes it easier to learn how to work with data in the future.
Design Research Processes
Before entering Industrial Design I was used to the classic or conventional way of teaching in secondary education. Reflecting back on my bachelor as a whole, I realize that what I have learned best is the way of thinking that is so common in our faculty and among designers. Now, in contrast to me as a first-year ID student, I seriously believe that the design process is a process in which everyone can participate and designers have a facilitating role in. Design processes not only create new ideas but also start critical discussions. Moreover, I am aware of the existence of many different design processes. Although I know that in the end, all of them follow somewhat the same structure. I have used many research perspectives as well and I can conclude that I perceive myself as a theory-informed designer(/researcher).
Professional Skills
Organizing and planning have always been strong qualities of mine. During all activities, I had no problem organizing my learning activities and sticking to the planning I had made. I have also been part of the ID Career committee at Lucid in which I was chairman. This opportunity made me stronger in organizing networking activities. Moreover, I definitely got better at reporting. Especially activities like Design <> Research and project 3 gave me a basic understanding of scientific writing and documentation. I have always been a team player, which is why cooperation is a strong quality as well. I try to make everyone feel heard and a fair division of tasks has a high priority. Even when there is disagreement within the group, I want to have an open and empathic discussion. In addition, presenting was something more difficult to do at the beginning. I struggle with improvising so that is why I like to be prepared as much as I can and practice a lot. A strong point within my presentations is my enthusiasm. I always try to be open and friendly toward the crowd. I furthermore got better at reflecting. I have a standard template that I stick to for my reflections. Although it can be hard to recall everything I have done, I have become better at pointing out the main learning points.
PI&V
Finally, my Professional Identity and Vision have matured well in the last year of my bachelor. I was quite broad in my Vision in the first two years as I did not know whether I wanted to be a designer per se. Know I value the role of a designer and my scope of designing has focused on getting people to learn through design processes. There is still a lot to work out regarding my PI & Vision, but I think my future learning activities will keep me on the right track.