Here you can find out more about me, my development as well as my personal development plan that guides my growth.
My Story
Past
Before picking up design, I was just a curious kid with a crayon. My past was seemingly random surges of creative outburst with no particular direction… or so I thought…
Where it started
August 2006 - my first time building a Lego space ship
February 2011 - my first Minecraft mega-castle build
January 2012 - my first attempts at drawing
September 2017 - my first time playing around in Photoshop
Closer to Design
May 2018 - my first participation in a design competition
April 2020 - first cover design: Spotify release
November 2020 - First book cover published
January 2021 - First architectural drawing class
2021 August - Introduced to industrial design
Every Thursday night year 2021 I met with my friends from drawing class on the top floor of an old post building. There was our artistic get-away where we drew on big canvases, designed wall art and listened to hard-hitting music. This was the place, and these were the people who most notably influenced my passion for design.
May 2018 - my first participation in a design competition
April 2020 - first cover design: Spotify release
November 2020 - First book cover published
January 2021 - First architectural drawing class
2021 August - Introduced to industrial design
Every Thursday night year 2021 I met with my friends from drawing class on the top floor of an old post building. There was our artistic get-away where we drew on big canvases, designed wall art and listened to hard-hitting music. This was the place, and these were the people who most notably influenced my passion for design.
At age 18, my thirst for knowledge manifested in a search for 'the right' university. I saw a clear reflection of my essential character in industrial design, where technology goes hand in hand with creativity.
Technology University Eindhoven was a promising destination that would later help me develop the nesesery skillset as well as a framework for future design projects.
At age 18, my thirst for knowledge manifested in a search for 'the right' university. I saw a clear reflection of my essential character in industrial design, where technology goes hand in hand with creativity.
Technology University Eindhoven was a promising destination that would later help me develop the nesesery skillset as well as a framework for future design projects.
Present
Below is an overview of the key learning points from both my academic journey and professional endeavours connected to 6 Expertise Areas.
Creativity & Aesthetics
What fascinates me is that as a designer I am in a position to innovate and take risks. I face the potential of what could be but is not yet—transforming ideas into actuality. Looking at a problem through a layer of constraints and limiting factors and trying to break it down piece by piece in search of a satisfying solution. When faced with a design challenge there seems to be infinite variables at play and possible directions - to effectively tame chaos I have learned that I need to craft myself a structure and a proven process. Yet, creativity is messy. It flourishes when it’s spontaneous, raw, and unguided. It strikes us when least expected, and it rarely strikes at all when planned.
These unbridled surges aren’t really accounted for in design thinking. Being a team leader throughout most of the team projects (FITD, P1, P2) and self-directing in individual endeavours (Creative Programming Challenge 1 and Challenge 2) I tried to find a process that would bring a sense of clarity and consistent results. However, often I found myself failing to break a wall in search of the right ideas. This made me understand that going beyond ‘Design Thinking’ and letting the process ‘breathe’ more led me and my team to better results.
More than that, during those projects I discovered that the exploratory and communication values of sketching are essential to my way of working. These help me iterate on ideas quickly - bringing creative visions to life while contributing greatly to the aesthetic quality of any design deliverable.
What fascinates me is that as a designer I am in a position to innovate and take risks. I face the potential of what could be but is not yet—transforming ideas into actuality. Looking at a problem through a layer of constraints and limiting factors and trying to break it down piece by piece in search of a satisfying solution. When faced with a design challenge there seems to be infinite variables at play and possible directions - to effectively tame chaos I have learned that I need to craft myself a structure and a proven process. Yet, creativity is messy. It flourishes when it’s spontaneous, raw, and unguided. It strikes us when least expected, and it rarely strikes at all when planned.
These unbridled surges aren’t really accounted for in design thinking. Being a team leader throughout most of the team projects (FITD, P1, P2) and self-directing in individual endeavours (Creative Programming Challenge 1 and Challenge 2) I tried to find a process that would bring a sense of clarity and consistent results. However, often I found myself failing to break a wall in search of the right ideas. This made me understand that going beyond ‘Design Thinking’ and letting the process ‘breathe’ more led me and my team to better results.
More than that, during those projects I discovered that the exploratory and communication values of sketching are essential to my way of working. These help me iterate on ideas quickly - bringing creative visions to life while contributing greatly to the aesthetic quality of any design deliverable.
Technology & Realization
This year, following the courses such as creative programming (challenge 1 & challenge 2) and Creative Electronics, I have realized that electronics can be a tool set used to regulate my creative spirit. As a designer I often find myself lost in depths of abstraction, struggling to evaluate ideas and bring them to life. However, learning electronics, programming and various modes of prototyping has given me a new perspective as well as a tool set that brings this abstraction down to earth. Through a better understanding of these domains, I can communicate effectively with experts, validate concepts in terms of feasibility and create products that work.
Additionally, I’ve found that for a successful design to get completed one has to follow an iterative design process, where issues get identified and resolved through testing and modifications. Continually, developing the ability to troubleshoot and adapt designs based on the test results is a vital skill for me as a designer and engineer.
This year, following the courses such as creative programming (challenge 1 & challenge 2) and Creative Electronics, I have realized that electronics can be a tool set used to regulate my creative spirit. As a designer I often find myself lost in depths of abstraction, struggling to evaluate ideas and bring them to life. However, learning electronics, programming and various modes of prototyping has given me a new perspective as well as a tool set that brings this abstraction down to earth. Through a better understanding of these domains, I can communicate effectively with experts, validate concepts in terms of feasibility and create products that work.
Additionally, I’ve found that for a successful design to get completed one has to follow an iterative design process, where issues get identified and resolved through testing and modifications. Continually, developing the ability to troubleshoot and adapt designs based on the test results is a vital skill for me as a designer and engineer.
Business & Entrepreneurship
As a tangent of my extracurricular activities and speaking with experts in projects (ITBD, P2) I have come to realize that business is an essential domain for a designer to navigate. Particularly sales lays at the intersection of the language of business and design. Through selling, I ensure that my solutions matter and land with people.
The IoT track (FITB) and UCD course reinforced within me the true measure of an idea's success—its ability to bring value to the users. As a designer, I am responsible for dynamically aligning that value. Ensuring the persistence of two simple questions "To whom is it valuable?" and “To what extent?” helps me steer project directions and shape value propositions.
Assessing the feasibility of a good idea is most often than not challenging. However, an MVP brings ideas down to earth, serving as a guiding principle for prototyping with a clear intention to test the riskiest assumptions of a product. When done correctly it indicates what is ‘shaky’ about an idea and serves as a powerful tool in communication with stakeholders.
As a tangent of my extracurricular activities and speaking with experts in projects (ITBD, P2) I have come to realize that business is an essential domain for a designer to navigate. Particularly sales lays at the intersection of the language of business and design. Through selling, I ensure that my solutions matter and land with people.
The IoT track (FITB) and UCD course reinforced within me the true measure of an idea's success—its ability to bring value to the users. As a designer, I am responsible for dynamically aligning that value. Ensuring the persistence of two simple questions "To whom is it valuable?" and “To what extent?” helps me steer project directions and shape value propositions.
Assessing the feasibility of a good idea is most often than not challenging. However, an MVP brings ideas down to earth, serving as a guiding principle for prototyping with a clear intention to test the riskiest assumptions of a product. When done correctly it indicates what is ‘shaky’ about an idea and serves as a powerful tool in communication with stakeholders.
Maths, Data & Computing
With a well-established base of mathematics (calculus), the data analytics course and CP (Tilez & 3D Space) I have gained a deeper understanding of how complex problems could be solved and clarity brought into a design process with programming and data analytics.
Ultimately, Identifying patterns is at the core of what designers do - statistical methods can help me uncover patterns in datasets and inform/validate design choices with real-world data and statistical models. I have gained knowledge of various data types, data analysis techniques and data visualization techniques.
With the rapid digitization and the rise of automated and AI-enhanced data processing tools, many are racing to incorporate data science into their product design and delivery operations. I want to stay ahead of the curve by developing the necessary skills could bring metrics to the table, and with that, actionable insights to the design process.
With a well-established base of mathematics (calculus), the data analytics course and CP (Tilez & 3D Space) I have gained a deeper understanding of how complex problems could be solved and clarity brought into a design process with programming and data analytics.
Ultimately, Identifying patterns is at the core of what designers do - statistical methods can help me uncover patterns in datasets and inform/validate design choices with real-world data and statistical models. I have gained knowledge of various data types, data analysis techniques and data visualization techniques.
With the rapid digitization and the rise of automated and AI-enhanced data processing tools, many are racing to incorporate data science into their product design and delivery operations. I want to stay ahead of the curve by developing the necessary skills could bring metrics to the table, and with that, actionable insights to the design process.
User & Society
Through the course User-Centered Design, (& FITD & P1), I have learned the importance of introducing a ‘human element to the design equation'. It is essential for a modern-day designer to bridge between practical engineering concerns with ‘human’ concerns of interaction. Some wise designers words that stuck with me: “Don’t fall in love with your design.” Fall in love with the problem, iterations and people of your design.
Through multiple assignments I came to realize that a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods of data gathering complement and reinforce each other throughout the design process helping achieve products that are both human-centered and robust.
Additionally At The event ID symposium I had the opportunity to hear stories of inspiring designers. One of them was Kevin Pfeil who explained to me the importance of asking questions and not guiding the design process based on assumptions. Now, I start projects by asking questions… Perhaps, asking them before seeking solutions is a way to make a successful and guilt-free design.
Ultimately, I recognize that applying user-centered design principles in my practice will help me craft agentive experiences that align with user needs and preferences.
Through the course User-Centered Design, (& FITD & P1), I have learned the importance of introducing a ‘human element to the design equation'. It is essential for a modern-day designer to bridge between practical engineering concerns with ‘human’ concerns of interaction. Some wise designers words that stuck with me: “Don’t fall in love with your design.” Fall in love with the problem, iterations and people of your design.
Through multiple assignments I came to realize that a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods of data gathering complement and reinforce each other throughout the design process helping achieve products that are both human-centered and robust.
Additionally At The event ID symposium I had the opportunity to hear stories of inspiring designers. One of them was Kevin Pfeil who explained to me the importance of asking questions and not guiding the design process based on assumptions. Now, I start projects by asking questions… Perhaps, asking them before seeking solutions is a way to make a successful and guilt-free design.
Ultimately, I recognize that applying user-centered design principles in my practice will help me craft agentive experiences that align with user needs and preferences.
Professional skills
By far The most profound lessons I have learned were due to my extracurricular and freelance activities (Gatenox, cover art creation) & Project 2. I've learned that my success was often tied to working within the constraints of the job, such as budget, timeline, and the specific needs of the client. This experience taught me the importance of getting alignment in terms of scope - negotiating between my capabilities as a designer and the desired outcome of the project. I found that creativity flourished and I entered a state of flow when working within these constraints. Without limitations, it was challenging to ground oneself in the reality of what's achievable or desired.
Over the years, through my academic journey dealing with countless workshops, presentations, and pitches, I have learned how to present myself and my ideas verbally in a compelling way. Now strive to emphasize clear communication, confidence and storytelling.
By far The most profound lessons I have learned were due to my extracurricular and freelance activities (Gatenox, cover art creation) & Project 2. I've learned that my success was often tied to working within the constraints of the job, such as budget, timeline, and the specific needs of the client. This experience taught me the importance of getting alignment in terms of scope - negotiating between my capabilities as a designer and the desired outcome of the project. I found that creativity flourished and I entered a state of flow when working within these constraints. Without limitations, it was challenging to ground oneself in the reality of what's achievable or desired.
Over the years, through my academic journey dealing with countless workshops, presentations, and pitches, I have learned how to present myself and my ideas verbally in a compelling way. Now strive to emphasize clear communication, confidence and storytelling.
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Future
I am always searching for ways make myself better than the day before.
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Website created by
Jakub Woziwodzki
Portfolio website.
Website created by
Jakub Woziwodzki
Portfolio website.
Website created by
Jakub Woziwodzki