DSG101 Introduction to Design Studies | Designing Your Future: Week Two

Knowledge Gained

This week, we indulge in self-discovery and exploring self-management strategies such as self-awareness, mastering transferrable skills, practising good habits, understanding different learning processes, learning time management, taking care of our holistic well-being, and personal and career goal setting.

Self-awareness

Having self-awareness helps us identify our strengths and weaknesses. Utilising our strengths can lead us to success, and understanding our deficiencies presents an opportunity to improve ourselves. It also helps us comprehend and manage our emotions.

Part of this week's learning activity is completing the HIGH 5 Personal Skills Test. The report provides insights about my top five strengths: a Coach, a Strategist, a Believer, a Philomath & an Empathizer.

A coach aids their clients in recognising their full potential. I tend to support and motivate colleagues. I want everyone to succeed, and I'm happy to see others grow. It excites me that I could be of any help, with or without recognition.

Looking back to my previous experience at school, my classmates have nominated me as their leader, mostly in group projects. I was not perfect. Sometimes, I asked them for more than they could do because I always wanted the best. I've also heard comments from co-workers: why not apply for a leadership role? Until today, I don't know why. Probably, I don't have the confidence and assertiveness to push people to their boundaries.

It says here that a Philomath is one of the best partners for a coach. Guess what? I'm also a Philomath! I love learning. I'm teachable and can motivate myself to explore new adventures. The downside is that I tend to be bored quickly, so I cannot be doing mundane work.

As a strategist, we have a bird's eye view. We solve problems by stepping back on situations and looking into the bigger picture. I don't believe that there's only one way to solve things. Creative people exist for that reason.

If the door in front is locked and there's no key, I look for a window instead of waiting for it to open. If the window's shut, I look for vents. If there's no way, I make my way. If there's no opportunity, I create my opportunity. I want my options available so I can make informative decisions.

According to this guide, I highly resonate as an analytical decision-maker. I want to be well-informed and minimise mistakes when I can. Though we can learn from mistakes, I don't have to experience them first-hand. I can borrow people's experiences and learn from them.

The strategist's best partner is an empathiser, which is also me. In decision-making, I consider all things, including how others would feel or react. I want to make a collective decision and respect people's ideas and thoughts from diverse backgrounds. I want everyone to feel heard. I appreciate open conversations or brainstorming during disagreements.

Lastly, I'm a believer. I follow principles that align with my core values. I also know when to walk away and learned how to choose my battles.

Transferrable Skills

Mastering transferrable skills can enhance my personal growth and career development. As much as acquiring qualifications for my hard skills, it is also better to combine them with my soft skills.

I have worked in the events, hospitality, retail and insurance industries throughout my 8 years worth of experience. I have acquired transferrable skills, including organising, planning, emotional intelligence, resilience, customer service, multi-tasking, problem-solving, conflict resolution, adaptability, critical thinking, decision-making, time management, communication (written & verbal), numeracy, digital literacy, flexibility, teamwork and working independently.

Outside work, I have attained leadership skills through the student government council and church involvement.

Reflecting on the hard skills I acquired through higher education, I have adequate expertise in Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Canva, Technical and Perspective Drawing, SketchUp & Wix Software. I have experience in AutoCAD and Surveying back in the Philippines.

All of these skills mentioned above are something I can transfer to my career as an interior designer. These skills are honed and nurtured with experience. I can't say I'm an expert, but I constantly apply them daily.

Good Habits, Time Management and Holistic Well-being

Habit is something you practice daily. Practice makes progress. You create your reality. If you build bad habits, don't expect good outcomes. If you build good habits, you make positive changes that will later impact your life. It will be your foundation towards achieving success.

I reflected on my study habits and realised I used to have a bad one. Hey, fellow procrastinators! Last year, I worked full-time and had a casual job on a weekend or a couple of hours on a weekday. My energy's flat out after work. All I could think of was rest. So, I left my assessments to the very last minute. The stress and pressure was fueling my energy to get things done.

I managed to see the end of it. The results were great, but at what cost? I had unplanned absences at work to make up for lost time. My physical, mental and emotional health declined. I had no proper rest. I have unhealthy eating habits. I don't exercise. I missed some family gatherings and isolated myself from the rest of the world. I suffered from depression and anxiety. It affected my relationships. It took me long to seek help. But it wasn't too late. I bounce back with the correct support and mindset.

Based on my recent Emotional Intelligence Test results, I have 74/100 EI. I have improved a lot since late last year. I have been seeing my psychologist and maintaining my prescribed medication. I have been looking after my overall well-being. I work 4 days a week, Tuesday to Friday. I dedicate Monday to studying and spending the weekend with my loved ones.

My key takeaway from that experience is learning to balance work-study-life commitments. I learned to be realistic with my expectations of myself. I'm not a super-human. There are only 24 hours in a day. There's only so much I can do. Therefore, I learned to manage my time. Making time for what matters and prioritising what's urgent and necessary. I take a break without feeling guilty. Everyone deserves a break. Our body needs a break to recover. Lastly, I have fun in the process. I don't need to rush. Take one step at a time.

Learning Processes

There are multiple approaches to learning. I'm more of a kinaesthetic and procedural learner when grasping new skills. During lectures, I try to pay as much attention and take notes to retain information, making me an auditory and semantic learner. Reading makes me sleepy. I find walking very helpful when memorising a speech. When preparing for a debate or public speech, I utilise logical thinking and draw examples from experience. I learn differently depending on the task or what I'm learning for.

I understand that for academic success, reading is essential to learning. My strategy is to listen to music and spend only 30 minutes to an hour reading. Then, reflecting on what I read in a journal to ensure I process the information. It gives me a breather from reading without breaking the momentum.

Learning Preferences

I prefer to work or study alone. However, I would like to be part of a group with similar interests. Where we could brainstorm and exchange ideas. In that way, it helps me get a fresh perspective or see things differently, as others have a different experience than I do. It could be from a professor, a friend or someone with background, proficiency and mastery. Then, I want to reflect based on what I have gathered. I start visualising the bigger picture. Then, curate an action plan. Think of the very tiniest details. I learn best when I'm creating and practising. So, producing an output is where I feel a lot of stress and emotions. But at the end of that journey is a reward of satisfaction. I get some constructive feedback and learn as I go, then repeat.

 Personal and Career Goal Setting

When I start feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to start, I scribble. I wrote "Joy's Brain" in the middle of a clean paper. Using an arrow, I branch out everything that's on my mind. Then, I sort and prioritise them using the Eisenhower Matrix. I follow this process when setting short-term goals.

For longer ones, I use S.M.A.R.T. Goals. Then, I create action plans and treat them as "short-term" goals while working towards the bigger picture. If I feel off-track, I reassess my goals and reevaluate myself to set realistic expectations and align them with my timeline.

I discovered a lot about myself this week. It made me self-aware, recognising my strengths and learning preferences. It highlights what I'm good at. I will utilise this information in my best interest, especially in tackling challenges. I'm keen to challenge myself this year and surprise myself with what I can do to progress my creative journey.

Challenges

I have identified three personal challenges which hinder my learning and success at university. The first one will be my commitment to the Philippines. As mentioned in week one, I purchased a pre-selling condominium unit in my homeland. The pressure is slowly creeping in as the unit is ready for a mortgage next month. Yes, end of April. I have under 60 days to comply with the mortgage requirements, and the mental load of designing a studio on top of everything is daunting.  

The second is distractions. I'm building this website, and I'm having lots of fun. This website is one of my goals for this year. I want to create a digital portfolio. It is non-urgent and unnecessary for now, but it is a dream project.

Overcommitting and exerting energy on the wrong things might cause fatigue and trigger my third problem, my anxiety and depression. It does not define me or my abilities. However, it affects my motivation and self-esteem.

Success & Strengths

One of our activities for this week is to discover our Creative Alter-Ego through the Adobe Creative Types Test.

My creative strength is connecting emotions with imagination and empathy with sensitivity. Associating it with interior design will help me understand the client brief, convey emotion in decision-making, and deliver a design that communicates the client's unique personality.

Looking into the dreamer's perspective, we see things differently. Our imagination is endless, and it is where our creativity stems from. We take time pondering design ideas to ensure they are relevant, comprehensive, and (nearly) perfect. Overthinking, in simple terms.

It is where the problem lies: perfectionism. Decision-making could take time considering all areas, ensuring they work together. Sometimes, I have unrealistic expectations of how things should be. Hence, The Innovator makes our ideal collaborator. They experiment with ideas. They take the risks we consciously calculate. They help push us to our limits, utilising our imagination in creating real-life solutions.

I think my creative alter-ego may evolve as I progress into my career, expanding my knowledge and developing my skills in the design industry. But sure is, I have always been The Dreamer.

Application

I have noted down my strengths and weaknesses. I will utilise the information available on the HIGH5 Personal Skills Test. I downloaded the full personal report. Therefore, I will get my return on investment and apply it in my career development.  

I will also build healthy study and well-being habits. I interact with the Time Circle activity found in Chapter 6 of the Study Skills Handbook of Stella Cottrell. I visualise how I utilise time and plan to change that. I want to incorporate more healthy practices into it.

Areas of Improvement

I want to improve my time-management skills. It is a transferrable skill that applies to all areas of my life. I want to be a pro and have the time for what matters- my life outside with my family, partner and friends.

The AutoCAD & Revit workshop starts on week three. I look forward to joining live sessions. I want to be proactive in learning a new skill. I want to practice. But I'm not sure if I have the time. So, I'll utilise time-management skills and see how I go.

Goals

My short-term goal in managing my studies and personal life in the coming weeks is to create a timetable and plan my week. Below are my priorities and daily to-do list that I want to accomplish:

Monday (Day off)

• Read Module 3 Introduction, Design Elements and Principles, Principles of Tone and Colour, and Design Trends Resources before attending the live class.

• Attend DSG101 live class @ 10:30 AM (QLD time)

• Watch the Principles of Design and Turning Obstacles into Opportunities videos.

Tuesday (Work- 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM)

• Read Chapter 5, pages 117- 121 of the Study Skills Handbook by Stella Cottrell.

• Explore 'Clarify and Achieve Your Goals' and learn about the GROW model.

• Download and print the Design Lexicon for reference for important design terms.

Wednesday (Work- 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM)

• Check out Design Trends and reflect on them.

Thursday (Work- 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM)

• Watch the 'Getting Started with Your Library' 3-minute video

• Work on Learning Activity 1 & share your response in Module 3: Learning Activity 1- Discussion Forum.

Friday (Work- 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM)

• Work on Learning Activity 2 & share your response in Module 3: Learning Activity 2- Discussion Forum.

Saturday (Day off)

• Work on the Learning Activity 3 & submit the publish the self-reflection journal.

• Complete the knowledge check.

• Start drafting assessment 1.

Sunday (Day off)

• Submit the mortgage requirements to the bank for the condominium.

• Get a massage!