This term’s module has been more of a mental roller coaster than a technical skills or design challenge for me. There were testing and thought-provoking tasks, but my main challenge was mental. This is no detriment to the module itself, as overcoming one’s own triggers and insecurities is an invaluable asset to one’s future.

I have engaged with the works explored and refreshed techniques. But as always, I maybe could’ve done a bit more sketching.

The weekly tasks helped keep my momentum up, which has paid dividends come submission time. It was hard, however, to ensure the work was completed to a decent (my) standard. I give myself high standards, but this is only because I know I can do it. I just need to find the system that best utilises my abilities without sacrificing my sanity. But, when in life do we ever have the ability to truly allow ourselves to thrive with all the external reactive influences flung at us from all angles?

I found the vast amount of readers, alongside other modules’ weekly work and readers, pretty intense. I have had to really regiment my time to complete it. This has been to the detriment of paid work and family/work-life balance. It has been a true play of priorities and sacrifice of the important.

The group task for this module was a test! I learnt to channel my patience and battle my “panic mode”. However, this pent-up emotion did erupt as a colossal disappointment post-showdown. Our group dynamic was challenging with leaders who did not want to be led, others who needed to be led, those who wished to lead but couldn’t, and, of course, the obligatory people who didn’t show up at all. It resulted in a mismanaged team and a poor outcome in my eyes. But we got it done. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try to get the outcome you want, you’re flogging a dead horse/ swimming upstream, etc., etc., gotta pick your battles.. how many more cliches can I insert here?

I still need to work on my team skills. I felt I did ok with what I had, but I want to learn why it went wrong and how I can ensure (or at least to that extent) it doesn’t happen again. I suppose a way around this is to talk to each other honestly and openly at the start about what we all want (inc. grades) out of the project and how to manage the situation to ensure everyone has the opportunities to perform as they wish.

Chatting to the other team members, they all felt it went “ok”. So, my interpretation seems to be quite different. Which is a difference of expectation or interpretation maybe too.

What could I have done better? I do feel I need to expand my creativity, or at least how to start my imagination off. Often I need a springboard that “unplugs” my brain, and once I’m open its much easier to work. Sketching is also high on the agenda, which I’ve written about in another blog post. I’ve read almost all of the readers, but I cannot remember a lot of it, this is due to my dyslexia so I must find ways to ensure I hold on to the pertinent information for future use.

I watch relevant YouTube videos and listen to podcasts of an evening, which has really injected my overall knowledge base.

I really valued our advert and poster skills, which were also linked to my research in my group project topic. Using simple techniques to allow a simple composition to become powerful to our subconscious but also in design has been an invaluable skill to take with me. I now look at everything I produce differently, and I hope what I have learned comes across in my works.

I always aim to do the best I can, but outcomes sometimes fail to achieve the desired result. All in all, ok. I am excited for next term.