Creativity & Aesthetics.
In Year 1, I refined my analog sketching and low-fidelity prototyping, in Project 2 using cardboard models, Legos and painting to explore color schematics. Year 2 marked a shift towards digital skills; using Procreate, I integrated pictorial writing with hand-drawn labels to enhance project visuals in courses like ‘Design <> Research.’ These experiences taught me to align layouts and color schemes with specific target communities.
Since day one, Creativity & Aesthetics has been central to my professional identity and my vision, focusing my academic and personal trajectory in being more competent in this field. Having built a strong foundation through past courses and projects, I consider it a primary strength and did not originally plan to focus on it during B3.1.
Additionally, I also tried, developed and refined other skills. For instance, in ‘Designing Connected Experiences’ we created radio station components based on DIY sustainable materials, assembling them to achieve an aesthetic outcome and casing for our electronics. After completing this project, I once again concluded the strong interconnection between this expertise area with Technology & Realization and my undeniable interest in pursuing this combination.
Additionally, stepping out of my comfort zone and attempting to align to my vision and interest in Interior Design and Urbanism, I chose a Built Environment elective ‘Project S’ , where I was able to learn more in depth about analog drawing, sketching with different media such as pen, painting, charcoal, different HB pencils...etc. I also had to design and build a 1:100 scaled model of a house, using wood and multiplex for the maquette.
Despite not setting C&A as a primary goal for this internship, I gained significant experience in graphic design and high-fidelity prototyping. I mastered basics in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Figma, while also developing UX/UI app interfaces for the project I participated in. I also developed sewing skills, working with industrial needles to sew different textiles and buckle straps. On the realization side, I learned about additive manufacturing, injection molding, and various finishing techniques like sanding and waterproof coating.
My most significant insight this semester was the connection between U&S and C&A. When my team was ideating on the visual design of a camera module, I had to design based on specific characteristics, constraints and clients wishes. This initially to me seemed quite overwhelming, as I had to step out of my designers mark and style and try to adapt to the clients ‘masculine and robust’ vision he had for the concept. This challenge taught me the value of versatility, and the importance of stepping aside and understanding what a client envisions over your own personal ideas.
As for my role in the team, I am usually very powerful in this expertise area. I tend to be the ‘creative thinker and brainstormer’, initially inputting a lot of my ideas to the group, always supported with visuals. I always ensure visuals are aligned within projects, reports, posters, demos...etc. For instance, for the elective I chose ‘Designing Connected Experiences’ our whole theme consisted in a radio station with two segments, broadcasting and listening & recording studios. Our whole project unraveled based on my initial brainstorming, where I proposed working with vinyl record lagging.
