Past
Instead of quickly grasping some bits from the past, I decided to create an overview of all the main activities I did during my Bachelor. Reflecting briefly on every semester will create a bird’s eye view of my process during this study.
B1.1 (PC)
Starting very ambitions wanting to learn everything as quick as possible. Having a background in website development and graphic design I wanted to further develop these skills. I already shared this knowledge with fellow student by giving an independently organised HTML and CSS workshop. Although I had a quite good project with a nice process (if I may say myself) and did a lot of extracurricular activities, I received a PC for lacking a vision. I was almost angry about this and even more motivated started the second semester.
B1.2 (P)
Still one of the most productive projects I have done. The team worked awesome respecting each other’s skills, share a common passion and eager to make something epic, a Kinect game! Really learned how to write code here. Assignment creative electronics helped me to create a base on this skill getting more familiar with sensors, actuators and Arduino. Still almost a whole year with only creation that are done from behind the desk. Unfortunately I didn’t pay attention to my vision and identity which leaded to a P which according to my coach could be an E.
B2.1 (E)
Although the music pen project was a good project, I didn’t really felt that I fitted in with the group. I tried to do my own small projects within the project. First time for me really making a product with my hands instead of being behind a computer. The assignment sketching teaching me the incredible important skill of sketching in communicative and professional way. BC Design had a really good coach that showed me that even in the most crazy ideas there hides a quality that you can use.
Basics in marketing which was pretty much all theoretical, but also here you need the base. There was a marketing game which we won by using logical thinking (instead of reading the book). And thanks to my coach I finally I had something that at least looked like a good vision which resulted with an E.
B2.2 (P)
A project all by myself, that was a lot more difficult than thought. Although the project reached its goal of creating a mesmerizing experience, the prototype quality wasn’t up to the standards. The main activity during the semester was organising the Dutch Juggling Convention (550 jugglers!) which I found much more interesting to do, than running a project. The assignment intuitive & aesthetic interaction has shown me the importance of creating physical products instead of for example apps.
B3.1 (E)
An internship at a chocolatier, would it fit with the study? Apparently it did creating a whole shop by combining my design and Sebastien Trudelle’s experience to create our ideal shop. About everything was thought of: interior, business plan, identity, packaging and even the cup of coffee you would drink from. Still one of the most awesome experiences travelling to Belgian and France to find inspiration, talking to different experts in the field about what is best to do. This is a way I would like to work, a guy with an incredible amount of experience and passion having a good idea and me designing this together with them. It also has shown me what it takes to run your own business and all the problems you can have.
B3.2 (H)
The H-verdict came as a big surprise last semester. Up until that moment, I had good semesters and feedback that has be rewarded twice with Excellence. Last semester in particular was the most intense one where I worked almost 24/7 on school but also extracurricular activities. The feedback of my coach was positive with a critical note and also the meeting with the assessor went quite well. Seeing the assessment on IDCompass with and Hold was like hitting a brick wall. After anger and frustration I started to reflect how this could be possible. More about the reflection can be read in the PDP
