Writing Section
150-word role, objective, and messaging
Role
My portfolio is a tool to connect other people and me. It will show important information about me as a designer, including what kind of designer I am and what are my strengths and abilities
Objective
I hope my portfolio can be a good tool for me to develop my skills and for others to know more about me. It could help me make more friends who share the similar interests like me. Also, as I study further, I will continue to fill my portfolio with more skills, and make it a good place to record and prove my improvements, and a reflection of my way of thinking and presenting things.
Messaging
My portfolio will be a combination of dedicate design and people viewing my portfolio will think I am a dedicated person and I am committed to good design outcomes. Overall, it is an accessible and professional combination of who I am as a designer..
250-word reflection on the unit
This unit is set to help students get ready for their major and decide their work in the future, it mainly talks about professional and practical knowledge that students can use in their further study and work.
In this unit, I have learned some practical skills, which includes SMART goal setting method, both-ways learning and time management and planning. I can use SMART strategy to achieve both short-term and long-term goals. It shows me how large and unachievable goals can be divided into simple, easy-doing goals using the specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely goal setting method. It is very useful to track and make progress by taking step by step.
The both-ways learning contributed a lot to the acceptance and tolerance of Aboriginal culture as it boosted the connection between western and Aboriginal culture. Learning the both-ways learning has let me understand aboriginal way of learning and their own way of connecting the world, which added a new definition of the world in my mind. Therefore, I am aware that design is not just about producing objects, but about communicating and embrace multiple culture.
What’s more, it is very important and useful to know how to manage time and planning ahead of time. A person who can manage their time well can manage their lives well. I found myself easy to feel stressed when there is too much work to do and only a little time left. And I can’t eat well as I worry too much about the work.
Therefore, to improve my study, in the next semester, I will use SMART goals and weekly schedules to plan for my task keep focused and organised and planning ahead to balance life and studies.
150-word Indigenous engagement reflection
According to both-ways learning, the indigenous way of learning is deeply connected with land, sky, waters, plants, animals and environment. This includes story sharing, community links, deconstruct and reconstruct, non-linear, etc. Knowing their learning methods and applying respect and ethic in the design processes is of great help to let the indigenous staff feel engaged.
It is crucial to show respect all the time while being in an environment with Indigenous members. Knowing that Indigenous people and western people have different cultures and ways of thinking and learning can help to build empathy and understanding between different cultures. I aim to treat any project having Indigenous people and land with humility, respect and an open attitude, making sure my design is both ethical and respectful. Also, design I want to develop opportunities that are beneficial and good for Indigenous people to participate in considering their skills and knowledge. This can help them to fit better in the industry and grow through learning comfortably while being respected.
200-word codes of conduct
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As a designer, it is important to understand the ethics and social responsibility of relevant fields. This can help to make sure constructions are carried out in an appropriate way and products are made in a safe way.
In order to act on my duty in design industry, I need to be honest, transparent and make sure everything I did is legal. For example, I can’t allow workers to operate without PPE; it’s illegal and unethical to change safety records to avoid penalties. Also, it is not legal to hide project delays or cost overruns.
Performing codes of conduct also means prioritising workers’ safety to anything else and prioritising environmental-friendly materials to those can cause more pollution. When choosing materials, I would advise the factory to choose those environmental-friendly materials.
Overall, this unit has let me know ethical and social responsibility is not just about following rules, it is also about care for the workers safety and the environment quality. Following codes of conducts is part of designers’ everyday work. Being a responsible designer means taking social, environmental effects and safety of the workers into consideration.
500-word readings review
500-word readings review
Through these required readings in each week, I found they have something in common-they both emphasis qualities that good designers must have. In the units, from beginning to the end, the readings contain practical and inner strategies, principles that lead designers to success. These include goal setting, design principles, appropriate mindset, necessary ethical behaviours, indigenous design, how to be productive and communications with clients to deliver design products they like.
At the beginning, the first reading illustrates how to prepare at the start of being a designer as a student in university. The key is to set goals. There are many steps to set goals, including strategies like setting short term, mid-term and long-term goals, prioritising the most important goals in a spectacular time, planning ahead and having a positive attitude. As a design student, it is always important to know some basic design principles and keep them in mind. In the second reading, Dieter Rams mentioned ten principles that define good design: innovative, aesthetic, unobtrusive, honest, long-lasting, delicate, environmental-friendly, useful etc. These principles emphasise the utility of every design product and the importance of taking the responsibility of each product you design.
As moving to week 3, the perspective switches to the mental aspects. These readings focus on developing a good mental condition to become a good designer. The emotional intelligence reading let us understand deeper about emotions and how to control them, while mindset reading allows people to have faith in success and have courage to solve difficulties (Dweck, 2006). Together, the two readings both emphasise the importance of a person having inner qualities on the way to success.
The week four readings are all about first things first manifesto. It is clear that renewals are done by different designers. I can see that they put much effort into it. These changes of the manifesto showed designers committed to continuously adding new concepts to the manifesto, in order to let more designers aware the importance of taking social responsibilities. The contents have been more convincible thanks to their contribution. These contents are the foundation of next week’s readings-following the design ethics and respecting the culture difference in design. Among the three readings, Australian Indigenous Design Charter (DIA, 2022) demonstrates ways to work with Indigenous people while showing respect; Design Ethics (Encyclopedia.com, 2019) wrote how to work with clients, colleague and end products users while performing ethic duties, respecting other cultures’ understanding of design.
Week 6 and 7 focuses more on self-development and communications in design. Lufkin (2018) uses researches to analyse the best time to be productive. This can be of great help to track our studies and work while making sure creativity and productivity. Seiter (2014) argued that giving and receiving criticism can promote the relationships between colleagues.
In conclusion, these readings give a deep understanding of how design works between people, how it works in different culture background, how to deliver good design products while following the codes of conduct. Design is more than just creating things, it is a lesson that everyone in the industry should learn and put into practice.
Reference list:
1. Gill Hasson (2014). Emotional intelligence: managing emotions to make a positive impact on your life and career. Chichester, West Sussex: Capstone.
2. Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Random House. https://adrvantage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Mindset-The-New-Psychology-of-Success-Dweck.pdf
3. Encyclopedia.com. (2019). Design Ethics. Cengage. https://www.encyclopedia.com/science/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/design-ethics
4. Lufkin. (3 January, 2018). Is this the best time to be productive? BBC. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20180102-is-this-the-best-time-for-productivity
5. Seiter. (12 September, 2014). The Art and Science of Giving and Receiving Criticism at Work. Fast Company.
https://www.fastcompany.com/3039412/the-art-science-to-giving-and-receiving-criticism-at-work