After seven months of learning, I need to face the final test, Major Project, to verify my learning results. Interestingly, this is the second MA graduation design in my life. It is undoubtedly mainly affected by seven months of learning with the last disadvantaged mood and thinking. It is not just a change in the learning environment and content, but it also reflects yourself. I have more self-confidence and courage than I have, and it is also more peaceful to face the career involution currently in China. So, as a starting point, perhaps now is a suitable time to talk about my gain.
The power of reflecting
In my previous MA studies, I am like a person who is betrayed, I will never come back with the tutor’s idea, but I have to obey his request to do things. So, I have to give up my IELTS test; I have to give up the job opportunity in another city. I am not the courage to choose; I don’t think I can succeed because many people tell me I don’t have “excellent”.
The word “excellent” is like a curse; some people, such as me, have always wanted to get an “excellent” in other people’s mouth but have been informing you to do far enough. So even if I can see the chance and crisis, I still tell myself that I still need to listen more to others because I don’t have “excellent”.
But as the Johari Window Model is displayed, we have four different levels of understanding of self. Any single story cannot understand a comprehensive knowledge of things; the same is true for us. So at this time, reflection is to break the powerful tools of deadlock; let us better examine their own and the links to the world.
We will certainly think about the world, but these thoughts are constantly in mind. So it is difficult to form real power, and it is difficult to receive feedback from others. So when I first use the User Manual to write my preferences, hates, good and weak, I better met myself and my team, and we will be more friendly to make us better in reflection.
I am no longer anxious that I don’t have a skill because I am clear that my strength and I can contribute to the team. At the same time, I also observed the trend of this society and its development through the power of reflection, helping me clarify my professional planning rather than trapping the mainstream Internet industry.
For me, reflection is a significant ring I am in UAL learning. It makes me no longer be influenced by an external force but more confident and more courageous to look at my future.
Peer support
“Involution” is an image and vivid word, and it has also responded to the grim of social competition. In this context, the relationship between classmates became another form of competitors, and we will rob the limited resources for ourselves. It is also the reality I have faced, and I can’t get any help through the sentiment but the continuous pressure.
I have talked with many UAL students. As a graphic designer, when I conduct projects, I need to work with classmates to determine the basic brand style, colour, or even cultural elements. But finally, I did not get any feedback. Because they think these are their thinking and don’t want everyone to reach a consensus so that they lose their characteristics.
A huge change happened after I arrived. I will share my new insights with my classmates and learn more improvements through discussion. We will discuss the direction of each other and share the relevant resources, rather than being limited to its project.
This influence is not just in learning, and I have changed my views on collaboration. I have been afraid for a long time to contact others, seek help, and competition seems to be a fundamental point of view. Now I will contact the possible partners more active; whether I can get a sure and reply, I will hug the opportunity, rather than being possible failure hindered action.
Service is not only serving
It is the most exciting part of these seven months. I greatly change my understanding of Service Design and realize what I can do.
I discussed this topic with my classmates and found that everyone has similar feelings. We used to design a service, which is more satisfied with users. But by learning, it is so far more than this. Our thinking is more comprehensive while changing the way we look at the world. For example, we have repeatedly expressed that inadequate recognition for sustainable problems before learning is considered a huge possibility in this area.
This kind of understanding also helps me initially identify the direction of the Major Project. When I want to enter UAL, I hope to solve some social problems and contradictions through the power of services. The trend of finding issues from the development of society and preventing problems make it worse. At the same time, considering your strength as a student, doing something that can truly affect rather than solving the problem.
Therefore, I started thinking about a few very obvious social trends.
1. The pressure of family education, more and more young people are psychologically unhealthy
2. The increasing aging trend requires a more effective pension solution.
3. Decades of single-child policy end, marking the lack of labour and parenting markets that cannot meet demand.
These are currently happening and may have been in China for more than ten years. And I hope to think, based on this, start my Major Project, which makes me feel very excited.
