Week 12: Finale and next steps

22nd August 2021

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It is the final week of the Development practice module, and I have learnt a lot that I can take away and improve. UX is a fast-growing industry that I believe can offer me endless opportunities and growth. I want to evolve as a designer, and this led me to pursue the UX Design Master.

What I have learned:

• I have learnt to write reflectively by recounting the topics presented each week, describing my experiences, explaining using research and discussing my potential goals and learnings.

• I have improved my research on the topics by using the Falmouth library services and reading peer-reviewed journals and material. It has opened up opportunities to find additional credible sources to broaden my findings and learning.

• I carried out rapid ideation sessions and worked in time-constrained periods by implementing time and project management. I used tools such as Trello and Gantt charts. I visualised a high-level overview of the plan and followed this smoothly throughout the two weeks.

• I have learnt to use creative methods to generate innovative ideas and embraced the fear of failing. I used this to my advantage to improve myself and solve problems. It is the process of creativity.

• I have built my skills in Figma to create high fidelity prototypes. I practised a Figma course on Udemy and learnt how to add interactivity to my designs. I now have more confidence in using Figma and have been applying my skills at my current job.

My next steps:

• I want to practice many creative techniques to boost my creativity and build confidence to approach new methods and processes.

• To improve my understanding of UX, I will continue to read and research peer-reviewed journals and books. It will also help me to become more knowledgeable and reflective in my work.

• I want to further my abilities and become an expert at Figma and Adobe XD. I will practice the software by using them in my future modules and take on further advanced courses. Learning several software tools will improve my professional development and make me more employable in the future.

User Research

User Research is the next module I will be taking on in September. The module introduces the concepts and techniques of human-computer interaction. I am excited to learn about this topic because I want to research, understand and empathise with the users to create products that fulfil the user’s needs and goals.

I haven’t thought about ideas for my final project, but I will start to think about it as the module concludes. I enjoyed creating prototypes that offered the user a service that they may incorporate into their daily life. I am particularly interested in the subject of mental well-being and self-care. Perhaps I can create an innovative app dedicated to helping people, especially during this pandemic.

To conclude this module, it has been a challenging but rewarding experience, and I am excited to move onto the next steps. I am very grateful for the opportunity to do the Masters and learn topics related to my passions and career goals. I have learnt so much and will continue to learn and self-direct the Master towards my ambitions.

References

Falmouth.akarisoftware.com. 2021. Falmouth University Courses and Modules - UXD740 - UX Research. [online] Available at: <https://falmouth.akarisoftware.com/index.cfm/page/module/moduleId/93153> [Accessed 15 August 2021].

Images

2020. User Journey Map. [image] Available at: <https://unsplash.com/photos/w00FkE6e8zE> [Accessed 15 August 2021].