Reflection on My Edventure Canvas

I’ve been on quite a journey in my design studies—exciting, sometimes nerve-racking, and definitely full of new insights. Coming from a different field (IT and Economics, Sales) means I’m a baby junior in the design world, and I’ll admit it can be intimidating. Still, I’m really enjoying the learning process. Despite occasional bouts of stage fright, each new skill or concept I master feels like a mini-victory.

Linking Goals to Concrete Steps and Resources

I'm glad that I managed to connect my global educational goals with specific steps and resources.

Progress in Individual Areas

1. Strategic approach to projects and organization - I'm really satisfied here. I managed to bring a more strategic perspective to my main team and push for a UX workshop on the redesign of an e-shop. This was a valuable experience for me because I got to apply the knowledge I gained in practice. And when I imagine how many users will have a better shopping experience thanks to this, it makes me even happier.

2. Appreciating my own work and being able to sell myself - With a job change towards web design and digital products, I managed to achieve one of my big professional aspirations. And I was able to value myself better when starting the new job than I would have done before. It was an important that healthy self-confidence is key to further growth.

3. Learning to reflect more on my work - Here, I have to admit that I haven't made much progress yet. I keep jumping from project to project without stopping to evaluate what I've already accomplished. I rarely take the time to appreciate my achievements so far. However, I'll try to set aside a fixed slot for this, maybe every Friday afternoon. Even those 30 minutes, during which I'll go through what I've accomplished in the past week, what I've learned, and what I'd do differently next time, can bring me interesting insights.

4. Changing jobs - With a job change, I took an important step towards becoming the designer I envision. Now it's important to keep working on myself. Deepening my knowledge, following industry trends, trying new things. And also, from time to time, "lifting my head from the handlebars" and looking at how far I've already come.

5. Gaining perspective - The fact that I managed to push for a UX workshop shows that I'm on the right track to becoming an advocate for user-oriented solutions. I want to continue this and always keep in mind that data and user feedback should be the foundation of every design decision. Even if it means going against the majority opinion in the team.

Applying the Design Process to Projects

I'm thrilled that I managed to incorporate the design process into solving my macOS AI app project. For me, it's a perfect takeaway of how an effective design process leads to creating a great product. I'm looking forward to seeing where I can take this project!

Exploring a New Approach

One of the most significant shifts in my mindset has been adopting a "Progress Over Perfection" approach in both my personal and professional endeavors. In the past, I would often get stuck in an endless loop of designing, preparing and perfecting details, which sometimes resulted in not having a complete product, missing the primary focus, or taking a crucial step forward. This mindset was prominent even in my personal life.

I've come to realize that done is often better than perfect, and that getting something out there, even if it's not 100% polished, is more valuable than endlessly tweaking in pursuit of perfection. This shift has allowed me to be more productive, to gather real-world feedback earlier, and to iteratively improve upon a solid foundation rather than getting stuck in the conceptual stage.

This mindset shift has been liberating and has helped me push past my perfectionist tendencies. It's a work in progress, but I'm already seeing the benefits in terms of output and personal growth.

Making a Move

Another significant change in my life has been moving from Olomouc to Prague in pursuit of a more dynamic professional and personal environment. This was a huge step for me, both exciting and daunting. Prague offers so many more opportunities in the design and IT field, and I knew that if I really wanted to grow and challenge myself, this was the place to be.

The move has pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best possible way. I'm meeting new people, exposed to fresh ideas, and getting involved in projects that I wouldn't have had access to before. It's been a whirlwind, but I feel like I'm exactly where I need to be to take my skills and career to the next level.

Steps Toward My Goals

1. Complete Projects with a High Return on Learning:

   • I finished a few major projects, including my AI application and a custom-built portfolio. The portfolio itself was an enormous undertaking—no templates used. Everything was designed from scratch, letting me showcase my creativity, interaction design skills, and motion design capabilities.

2. Document Case Studies Thoroughly:

   • For my AI app, I made several modifications based on user testing and detailed every change in a case study for my design thinking course. This helped me see the real impact of iterative design and user feedback.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Overall, I feel like I'm on the right track. I'm pleased with the progress I've made over the past semester and I'm really enjoying the studies. At the same time, I also see areas that need further work. Most notably, regular reflection and appreciation of my progress. I also want to continue deepening my professional knowledge through courses, podcasts, articles, and networking. I'm super excited about attending my first UX Monday in February! And last but not least, not being afraid to step out of my comfort zone - taking initiative, trying new approaches and technologies.