Another Semester Forward: Growth, AI, and Finding My Voice

Another semester has flown by, and looking back, it feels less like a series of small steps and more like a few giant leaps. The journey in design continues, but this term was defined by a surge in confidence and a clearer direction in exploring AI and automation. I focused on three core areas: communication, my niche in AI, and finishing my mobile app. I'm thrilled with the progress I've made. This semester wasn't just about learning - it was about doing, and I’ve learned an incredible amount about myself in the process.

Doubling Down on Progress Over Perfection

The "Progress Over Perfection" mindset I embraced last semester wasn't just a temporary fix - it became my core operating principle this term, especially as I transitioned into the demanding world of freelancing. With multiple clients and a variety of projects, from AI implementation to web design, there was simply no room for the paralysis of perfectionism. My focus shifted decisively from theoretical knowledge to hands-on experience. I learned more by building and deploying functional AI automations for clients and gaining valuable feedback to build up on. It has not only accelerated my learning curve exponentially but has also proven that tangible results and practical experience are far more valuable than a hypothetical, perfect plan.

Progress on My Semester Goals

This semester, my goals were focused on tangible outcomes.

1. Improving My Communication: My goal was to move beyond simply wanting to be a better communicator to actively building a plan to do so. The "Introduction to User Research" course was the perfect catalyst. For my final project, I created a detailed, actionable plan for my own professional development. It targets my tendency to use Gen-Z slang and overly technical language with clients, focusing on strengthening my core skills, implementing more reflective work, and actively seeking feedback. It's a personal roadmap.

2. Finding My Niche in AI & Design: This was a huge leap forward. I've transitioned to fully freelance work, which has been both terrifying and incredibly rewarding. I'm now actively working with clients on AI consulting, planning, and implementation, alongside my web and UI/UX design projects. This hands-on experience is invaluable. I’m building a foundational understanding of how to implement automation and AI tools. This is building up my path toward a deeper understanding of Human-AI Interaction from the ground up.

3. Finalizing My Mobile App: The finish line is in sight! My mobile app project, the follow-up to my last semester's desktop app, is in its final stages. The finishing touches are being applied, and it will be ready for my final colloquium in the "AI in Practice" course at the end of June. Seeing this project through to completion will be a major milestone and a perfect case study for my portfolio, demonstrating my ability to manage a project from concept to a polished final product.

Reflections on My Courses

This semester's courses were a challenging but perfectly curated mix that directly supported my professional and personal growth.

DESB02 Studijní seminář II (Study Seminar II)

✨ Reflective, Aligning, Necessary

I appreciate how this course forces me to pause and think about my goals. It’s a necessary check-in. Given how quickly my professional work is evolving, I would have loved at least one more session with my mentor. My goals are shifting every few months, and having that guidance to ensure they remain realistic, valuable, and aligned with my long-term vision would be immensely helpful.

DESB21 Praxe II (Practice II)

✨ Practical, Relevant, Empowering

This course is the perfect bridge between academia and my professional life. The freedom to choose what I publish is incredibly empowering. It allows me to complete a course requirement while simultaneously building my portfolio with work that is directly relevant to my career. This semester, I’m creating a case study on an AI solution I developed for a client, turning real-world work into an academic and professional asset.

DESB22 Úvod do uživatelského výzkumu (Introduction to User Research)

✨ Actionable, Foundational, Self-aware

As I mentioned above, this course had a direct and immediate impact. It provided the framework I needed to tackle my communication challenges head-on. Creating a detailed improvement plan for my final exam was a foundational step in my professional growth, helping me build skills and self-awareness that I'm already applying with my clients.

DESB23 Kvalitativní výzkum pro design služeb (Qualitative Research for Service Design)

✨ Intensive, Eye-opening, Collaborative

This was a huge surprise! I had no idea how incredibly time-consuming and difficult qualitative research is. My respect for researchers has grown immensely. Working on a large team project, I conducted in-depth interviews, transcribed, tagged, analyzed, and synthesized data. I couldn't have done it without my team. It was a very valuable, humbling, and eye-opening experience.

DESB24 Data pro design služeb (Data for Service Design)

✨ Supportive, Engaging, Practical

I absolutely loved this course. The lecturer was incredibly nice and supportive, which made the learning environment fantastic. The tasks were perfectly balanced and manageable enough not to be overwhelming, yet challenging enough to push me to genuinely improve my skills. The format of the final and the quality of the provided materials were spot-on.

DESB25 Inkluzivní design (Inclusive Design)

✨ Mindful, Applicable, Eye-opening

I really appreciated how this course demonstrated different ways to apply inclusive principles across various fields. It has fundamentally made me think more about inclusivity in my own work. One task, where we had to find examples of good and bad inclusive design in our everyday surroundings, was particularly eye-opening and made the concepts more tangible.

DESB26 Sociální interakce ve virtuální realitě (Social Interaction in Virtual Reality)

✨ Experimental, Flawed, Connecting

It was fantastic to have a course that encouraged us to meet up and interact in VR. Despite numerous technical difficulties, I have to give kudos for the university even offering such an experimental opportunity. Playing the "Dimensional Double Shift" game with my peers was a highlight. However, the headset and underlying technology are still lacking, which sometimes made the experience more frustrating than it needed to be.

ISKB82 AI v praxi (AI in Practice)

✨ Inspiring, Practical, Community-focused

A huge, huge shoutout to the lecturer for this course. It was incredibly hands-on. Even with a fairly broad knowledge of AI, I learned about so many new tools and principles. I felt part of a community that not only enjoys AI but also understands its limits and thinks critically about its ethical implications. While it was time-consuming with many tasks, it was also fun and allowed for a ton of self-expression in our projects.

KPI22 Kreativní práce s informacemi (Creative Work with Information)

✨ Insightful, Disorganized, Demanding

This was a very interesting course, and I discovered a lot of new tools for creativity and writing that I've already saved to my knowledge base. However, the organization was a challenge - information was scattered across a separate website, emails, and the main information system. It was also very time-consuming. I feel this course would be more beneficial in the first semester, which was less demanding, as its key takeaways would have been a great help in managing the heavier workload of this second semester.

Conclusion and Next Steps

I am incredibly happy with my progress this semester. It was a period of intense learning and even more intense doing. The shift to freelance has accelerated my growth in ways I couldn't have imagined, and my coursework has provided the structure and new perspectives to support that leap. I feel more confident, more focused, and more aligned with my career goals than ever before.

Moving forward, my priorities are clear:

1. Execute: Finalize the mobile app and actively implement my communication improvement plan.

2. Grow: Continue building my freelance business, taking on projects that challenge me and deepen my expertise in Human-AI Interaction.

3. Revise: Revisit and consolidate course materials over the summer to strengthen my foundation.

4. Rest: Take a well-deserved break in August to reset and gain new perspective.