Personal Development Plan
As a second-year industrial design student, I have identified five key expertise areas that I intend to improve upon based on my Proffesional Identity & Vision. These areas encompass Creativity & Aesthetics, Technology & Realization, Business & Entrepreneurship, Maths, Data & Computing, and User & Society. To drive my growth and development, I have established SMART goals for each of these areas.
Creativity & Aesthetics
In the pursuit of enhancing my creative skills and presentation skills, I aim to expand my proficiency in 3D modeling and rendering, particularly using software such as Blender and Fusion 360. My SMART goal is to complete a create at least three high-quality model and communicative renderings by the end of the upcoming design project. This will not only demonstrate my capability but also align with the demands of modern-day design, where both understanding and proficiency in 3D software is essential.
The synergy between Blender, Unity, and VR technologies would amplify my capacity to deliver refined and visually impactful industrial design solutions.
Technology & Realization
I have set the challenge of designing and constructing a set of high-fidelity open baffle-floor standing speakers (project Custom Sound). This project mirrors my commitment to blending craftsmanship and technology, a theme woven into my identity as a proactive learner. This project showcases my development in the Technology & Realization domain through:
Selection of components and creating a design that can satisfy specification requirements.
This project entails creating large and acoustically precise hardwood cabinets (woodworking skills)
Developing a hybrid crossover system with a combination of passive (for the woofer to midrange transition) and active components (for the midrange to highrange transition).
Tweaking the setup using a Digital Signal Processor to ensure time alignment of drivers, correction of the impulse response and phase response of the speakers to a specific room
To achieve this goal, I have established milestones, which include completing the cabinet construction by the February and finishing the speakers by the end of the academic year. This hands-on experience will enhance my making skills and provide valuable lessons in tackling problems I have limited prior experience with. It's not just about crafting speakers; it's a tangible manifestation of my evolving identity and vision as an industrial designer.
Business & Enterpreneurship
In the domain of Business & Entrepreneurship, I will start by outlining a clear value proposition that will guide my next research project.
Clearly defining a unique value proposition for my design research project (Answering the question of 'what design knowledge does it bring to the table and to whom?').
By the end of the current academic year, I will actively pursue and secure a UX / interaction design or Product Design internship within the field of industrial design for Summer 2024 or the first semester. This involves creating a list of companies for the internship, networking, and submitting applications to relevant opportunities. The goal is to gain hands-on experience aligning with my academic focus and enhancing my professional skill set.
Maths data & Computing
To enhance my proficiency in Maths, Data, and Computing as, I aim to learn to analyze dependencies and correlations between two variables.
By the end of Project 3, I will proficiently execute a statistical analysis with correlation coefficient assessments, alongside applying significance tests for the correlations. This skill set is vital for me as an industrial designer as it enables informed decision-making based on data-driven insights, fostering the creation of user-centric design solutions.
User & Society
Within the expertise area of User & Society, I plan to conduct extensive user-centered research.
This research will encompass data categorization, theme identification, and requirement gathering while adhering to user-centered design principles. My objective is to use qualitative research for both projects, validating the design solutions, all within the project 3 timeline.