For me the RSDL-weeks are always weeks to catch up work that I didn’t had time for during normal school weeks. This RSDL-week I made a big leap in getting back onto schedule. I planned more time to work on my portfolio but I used all this time to catch up on my own work. I saw more priority in this because meeting with clients is most of the time something I have to do during the day. In the RSDL-week I have the freedom to have these meetings and I can build my portfolio during school weeks in the evening. Also for the Dutch Juggling Convention it was more convenient to work on during the RSDL-week because the other organisers life close to my parents’ house. We work several days together creating flyers, editing text and contacting media. This is also something that would only be possible in the RSDL-week. That’s is why I set priority on these activities, rather than the building of my portfolio. I always plan too much activities in one RSDL-week but this one is the best one so far.
Workshop Branding
During the RSDL-week I followed a workshop branding which was relevant for me, because it made you think as if you as a person where a brand. The main conclusion of the workshop was that you should have a coherent story that doesn’t contradict itself. Normally your identity and vision tells the whole story, but in this workshop we had to write down our dream job, our design hero, core qualities, your properties etc. in order to find similarities and patterns by yourself and by discussing with other students. I found out I already had a pretty coherent and complete story compared to the other students and it was interesting to see what other students unique selling points are. In the end we got a brand personality template in which we could incorporate all our findings about yourself to create a complete clear image about yourself with you then can better communicate with others.
Workshop Portfolio
The workshop portfolio showed me a lot of different possibilities in how to present yourself using a portfolio. We discussed the different possibilities with the whole group and gave feedback on existing portfolio’s and how to improve them. I expected more from this workshop in how the client would like to receive a portfolio, but instead we discussed different portfolio’s ourselves.
NJF Video
This video I filmed and edited for the promotion of the Dutch Juggling Convention. The goal was to make potential visitors enthusiastic and gave them the feeling that they would miss something awesome if they wouldn’t come to the convention. From the USE-learn line course I knew it was important to give the users of a service, tangible evidence so they can estimate the quality of you service. With this video I showed the big tennis hall and other facilities in order for them to gain thrust over this quality.
When I finished the first version I showed the video to an almost graduated filming and editing student at NHTV and he gave me feedback in how I could improve the video. All the points that he mentioned where also things I was questioning if it was the right option. After 4 a 5 iteration I created the perfect video with no flaws. A fresh viewer might see things as odd but because you as editor have seen it so much times, it becomes logical to you. The some sort of user testing of video was a nice thing to do, which I will continue doing.
Exams
Unfortunately I had to spend my first week of the RSDL-week on studying for 2 exams leaving not much time for other RSCL-activities. A more detailed reflection about the courses itself will be written can be found here. Luckily I spend my time well and passed both exams!
