The past two days of my so called ‘mid semester break’ have been taken up with a compulsory intensive subject aptly titled: Careers in the Curriculum. For the most part it was like being back at school (but worse)Â the woman in charge would haven been better off teaching kiddies who don’t understand what it means to be patronised instead of adult university students, however there were some exceptional industry speakers.
The designer from BlueBoat was fantastic- by the way, they have a glorious website. A really interesting small firm with photography components, web etc.
One of BlueBoat’s specialties is school branding. I was hoping my heart out to find more school related branding online other than the one shown during the presentation. Alas, no luck. I shall continue to search for inspiration elsewhere… and hope that I can bring life to all the mini sketches that I am filling my train rides with.
I am 90% sold on a membership for the DIA (Design Institute of Australia) in order to have a professional organisation behind me once I finish up my course, it seems regardless whether I go to work in a design firm or later freelance, that it would be an incredibly useful backing. And a great standard for ethics and professional practice.
And I am really regretting that Swinburne didn’t take us through more of this stuff (not the resume writing, but future thinking) earlier. Personally, it gives life to assignments and intention for study. I need the bigger picture and it seems lately that I’m not always the best at chasing it for myself.
So, the take aways have me another assignment (Cover Letter/Resume etc), and the unmarked push to work out what exactly I’m really good at and what kind of designer I want to be. What’s my brand? I am inspired.
Realistically speaking, I am physically unprepared for Industry Placement (Work during 3rd year uni as part of your course) in regards to folio – as I was quite certain up until recently that I didn’t want an extra year at Tertiary level. However I have also discovered a post-3rd year means of doing honours in a more exciting way – there are 160 Communication Design students and only 10 places. It might just be time to get off my butt.
It now feels like I can get there*, even if I pick the less conventional path … I like picking the less conventional path.
*wherever, but for here lets say, ‘being a designer’.