As this is the last week of the course material, I want to reflect on myself of my journey in the past 11 weeks of learning GDO710 Development Practice.
The course material has shaped me to be able to think more critically and be a better professional
Learning Development Practice module has shaped my critical thinking. So rather than focusing on how is the result of a project, it focuses more on how to finish a project by thinking critically about each of the step-by-step processes. So rather than being descriptive, we are taught to be more reflective about our progress. This also has shaped me to become a better professional if I landed a role in the UX industry in the future.
Provide methods for problem-solving
Following the previous point, this module provides various methods on how to solve a challenge. For instance, if we want to think creatively, the only method I am familiar with for ideation is by making a mind map. But here I learned many other methods, for example, the opposite thinking method, which will result in ideas that are unique and radical compared to the common solution in similar cases.
Another example is methods for prototyping. As I was previously a network engineer, the only activities I have participated in that landed me an experience in UX are hackathons. Therefore, I mostly had no time to do sketching, wireframing, etc. I had always been jumping to creating the hi-fi prototype, thinking that doing lo-fi prototype will slow me down and I will not be going to meet the deadline. But since I have some time to finish my rapid ideation project, I realised that wireframing is actually helped me to work faster instead of slowing it down. I can focus more on the content, and eventually, after I finished the wireframe I somehow could see the hi-fi version of it. The color, the text font, etc. And it is definitely faster than having to think of the content and the design simultaneously.
Time and Project Management
From the module, after becoming more familiar with Agile development and SCRUM, I also learned that the kanban board method is way more effective than the method I’ve been using for time management, which is by creating a to-do list. So instead of writing down things to do, it is more effective to put down the list on different labels such as to-do list or backlog, and then divide them into user stories, and then put it in “in-progress, developed, tested, and completed” columns so that we can reflect on any obstacles or challenges within each progress.
Before talking about my plan in the future, these are a few things that I think has room for improvement:
Time Management
The biggest challenge for me to finish this module is time management. I was weeks behind after week 6 due to personal circumstances. That, of course, is not enough reason for me to quit so I have to keep doing the lectures, projects, and assignments. Although thanks to the lecture material that includes topics about time management, I can use the kanban method for my daily activities. But instead of using an online tool for that, I use sticky notes on the wall in my bedroom so I can see them everytime I wake up and be conscious about my tasks and responsibilities.
Engagement with other students
it is difficult for me to engage virtually with people and not in person. And as someone who is not a native English speaker, I found it challenging to speak up more. This is more about my self-esteem problem that I always working on every day. Although for this part, I haven’t got the chance to fix it in this term, I am committing to improving my English and my interpersonal skill in the next modules.
Impostor syndrome
I saw that many of the other students are experienced in the field and I feel like I have to catch up more to get into their level. However, I realised that they also somehow were at my level before. It is just that I have just started, and they have started long before. Therefore I have to keep that mindset to not feel left behind and be proud of my learning process.
From the reflection above, here are the things I’m going to do in the future (next module):
Interact more with other students
In the future, I want to be able to interact more with other students by following the university’s timetable and sharing my progress every week. I also need to interact with at least 2 of the other student’s posts in each forum every week and attend webinars live at least once in two weeks.
Try new things
Other than that, I also wanted to get out of my comfort zone by trying new methods and tools for UX. For example, trying adobe XD instead of Figma. I want to try at least one different tool/method that I usually use for my project by the end of summer, and another one by the end of 2022.
Build portfolio by working on a real-case project
Lastly, I want to build a portfolio by working on a real-case project. But with my limitation to commit to a full-time project because of my double degree, I will try to get at least one project at a freelance site (e.g Fiverr) and 3 self-project this year and put it on my own site as well as on dribble and Behance.
One material that still puzzles me to be implemented in a prototype development is how to do a version control using git. Although I did manage to connect my Figma project to git (https://gitlab.com/srhsfrnv/treecycle/-/issues/2), it only connects the designs of each frame, not the whole project. So git will only update the changes of the design, not the application’s flow. For now, I’m still looking for other options for Figma’s version control.
30/12/2021
Sarah Shafira Novianti
GDO710 Development Practice
MA User Experience Design, Falmouth University