JOURNEY OF AN OBJECT: Learner's Log

PART 1: NOTE TO FUTURE SELF

Dear future self,

I hope even though you've become a designer, you're still striving hard each day to become a better version of yourself. With each sweat dripped, you're coming closer to fulfilling your dream which is to become the next 'GLOBAL CREATIVE LEADER'.

As your younger self who is still studying the fundamentals of design in college, I would like you to guide through those tiny details which you might have ignored unknowingly. Well, you've become a designer but DON'T FORGET THE ESSENCE OF DESIGN which is to create for people. Always remember that "Design has to be woven around people and not people around design". Always keep exploring and asking the question 'WHY' will uncover endless possibilities for you.

Once Vico Magistretti said, "Being a designer is to look at usual things with unusual eyes" which is why you should always remember to widen your horizon of research. And as you can see that I have even created a whole poster for you so that you understand the importance of these little things. However, we both know that design is quite a huge term for it to be put in a poster because Design is everywhere and it all depends on how you perceive it.

I also know that there will be times when you would have a shortage of ideas, but DON'T GET DISCOURAGED rather recall your learning from one of the think lab activities and use the thinking tools that you have to shine out.

Lastly, I would like you remember one thing not as a designer but as a person is to "value humanity and neve lose faith in it"

From a time past

Your younger self

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PART 2:

a) REFLECTING ON TEAM WORK:

During the course of this project, we were required to work in pairs and groups as well. I think that working collaboratively in a group has several advantages:

• Increases the team spirit

• Better engagement and communication with the team members

• Increases learning possibilities

• Understanding different perspectives

• Better creativity and increased thinking process

• Inculcates leadership qualities

• Reduces the amount of work and time consumed

• Learning from others helps one evolve as a person

• Makes us to be able to adapt to any situation in future

• Gives you a chance to improve on your weaknesses

Recommendations to follow while working in a team:

• Always introduce yourself and your strengths

• Talk to you team members politely

• Do listen to each member's point of view

• Maintain a formal decorum

• Define roles for each member

• Keep encouraging the team; It is okay to not have ideas sometimes

• Address conflicts quickly

• Celebrate the team's success together

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b) REFLECTING ON THE APPLICATION OF VISUAL TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES:

Miro link: here

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c) REFLECTING ON METHODS OF INQUIRY:

Primary method of inquiry is collecting the data firsthand/ through self-conducted research.

For example, surveys and personal interviews. Whereas the secondary method of inquiry is collecting data through indirect sources/ published sources. In this, the researcher relies on the data collected by others, for example, newspapers and websites.

Primary methods are best suited when we have to understand a person's perspective. Since it is collected first hand, it is recommendable to use it while doing an extensive research about specific topics. On the other hand, Secondary methods are effective when the feedback is required quickly. Moreover, it may help the researcher find the exact answers.

Miro link: here

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PART 3:

a) SELF REFLECTION ON OWN PERFORMANCE:

Aspects of the project delivery that helped me in learning:

1. User Interaction: This was one of the activities that helped me a lot in learning. I believe that "Design is for the people" and in order to fulfil this purpose it is very important to know their expectations. I also learned how each consumer is getting affected by the object either directly or indirectly.

2. Group Presentations: Working collaboratively helped me understand various concepts which were unclear to me before. Moreover, it helped me improve my presentational and communication skills.

Strengths:

1. Observational Drawing: Being good at sketching, it was easier for me to capture the details of the object. I believe that the best way to explain something is through art/sketching.

2. Reflective Writing: I believe that writing reflections is one of my strongest points because as someone who likes to read and gather information, it was easier for me to connect the dots when it came to writing. I was even able to support my learning with appropriate quotes as I already knew them.

Key areas of improvement/ Struggles:

1. Slice and Dice: Being the first activity of the project, it was a little difficult for me to segregate the information properly. To improve them, I will first always list down the categories and then segregate the information under them.

2. Creating timeline: Even though I have mentioned above (PART II- b) that posters were my strength when it comes to visual communication, I was somehow not able to perform my best when it came to creating a timeline. In future, I need to first plan the layout and then make it in order to refrain myself from doing the same mistake again.

3. Making process of the object: Despite being good at sketching, I somehow struggled when we had to show the manufacturing process of the object. It was difficult for me show the various manufacturing stages. To be able to improve my work I need to do more research about the product's origin and the various processes it goes through. I might also need to watch some videos that show the manufacturing process in order to be able to capture those details.

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b) BIGGEST TAKE-AWAY FROM THE PROJECT:

Context allows us to be clear with understanding and scoping the problem we are trying to solve.

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