Personal Development Plan

The challenges I chose to analyse for my PDP -

Improve my computer skills
Learn something new
Grow my design network
Become a confident presenter

1. Improve my computer skills - to begin with, I looked up online, part-time computer applications courses. Coursera offer a range of various applications and have appropriate time-scales for said courses. Given that I am time-poor because of my college schedule, I will sign up for a couple of short or part time lessons that will help me develop my computer skills more . One that caught my eye was a 2-hour WIX project. This may be a good course to start with as I would like to maximise WIX capabilities to improve the look of my website.

2. Learn something new - I really enjoyed typography in second term and retrospectively, I was captivated by calligraphy in art class at secondary school. Over the past few years I have researched lessons but have never signed up. The time is now!

Also, on a weekly basis, I follow #thechrisdo on Instagram, Chris Do who is the founder and CEO of The Futur. He shares industry news and trends with tips and tricks added in. More importantly, he also comes from a business perspective. Most weeks I learn something new from him.

3. Grow my design network - My LinkedIn page has been laying dormant for over 10 years. The plan is to reincarnate this from a new 'graphic designer' perspective. I also have a Pinterest account with some followers, I now think I will start to feature my work and see if it can gain momentum. The ISTD is a professional body that works closely with education and industry, I have joined as a member to keep updated on industry news.

4. Become a confident presenter - I am quite an introvert and the idea of public speaking has never been my idea of bliss! In saying that, since Term 1, I am now preparing time conscious presentations. The slides I produced in Term 2 were more concise and clear and also pre-timed in advance. For me, this a new skill to learn and I feel the more I practise and 'plan' my slides, the more confident I will get.

To further my development in this area, I have ordered a book that reviews have been positive about and have started to follow the leadership coach and founder of The Core Story, Padraig Hyland.

(2) short WIX course available on Coursera

(3) & (4) Chris Do, The Futur founder online

(5) ISTD online membership page

(7) & (8) Books on public speaking

(6) Padraig Hyland, public speaker

References

Abstract: The art of design | Paula Scher: Graphic design | full episode | netflix (2020) YouTube. YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCfBYE97rFk (Accessed: March 27, 2023).
Get started with wix (no date) Coursera. Available at: https://in.coursera.org/projects/get-started-with-wix (Accessed: March 27, 2023).
Build yourself as a creative - takeaways from our Webinar with Chris do (2020) 19 Coders. Available at: https://19coders.wordpress.com/2020/09/03/build-yourself-as-a-creative-takeaways-from-our-webinar-with-chris-do-2/ (Accessed: March 27, 2023).
知りたいけど聞きづらい、デザイン制作にまつわるお金の授業: デザイン作成依頼はASOBOAD: デザインコラム・ブログ: デザイン, ブランディング, ブログ (2019) Pinterest. Available at: https://www.pinterest.de/pin/796785359057868934/ (Accessed: March 27, 2023).
Member news (no date) ISTD. Available at: https://www.istd.org.uk/ (Accessed: March 27, 2023).
Courses (2021) The Core Story. Available at: https://thecorestory.com/courses/ (Accessed: March 27, 2023).
Public speaking for authors, creatives and other introverts: Second edition (books for writers): Amazon.co.uk: Penn, Joanna: 9781913321086: Books (no date) Public Speaking for Authors, Creatives and Other Introverts: Second Edition (Books for Writers): Amazon.co.uk: Penn, Joanna: 9781913321086: Books. Available at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Public-Speaking-Authors-Creatives-Introverts/dp/1913321088/ref=sr_1_2?crid=28B7YFW76BHR1&keywords=joanna%2Bpenn%2Bpublic%2Bspeaking&qid=1679944193&sprefix=joanna%2Bpenn%2Bpubli%2Caps%2C71&sr=8-2 (Accessed: March 27, 2023).
The public speaking bible; a survival guide for standing on stage: Amazon.co.uk: Alexander, marcus: 9780955891212: Books (no date) The Public Speaking Bible; a Survival Guide for Standing on Stage: Amazon.co.uk: Alexander, Marcus: 9780955891212: Books. Available at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Public-Speaking-Bible-Survival-Standing/dp/0955891213/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3TKC5ZEOCIC2M&keywords=the%2Bpublic%2Bspeaking%2Bbible&qid=1679944257&sprefix=the%2Bpublic%2Bspeakin%2Caps%2C71&sr=8-1 (Accessed: March 27, 2023).
Abstract: The art of design | Paula Scher: Graphic design | full episode | netflix (2020) YouTube. YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCfBYE97rFk (Accessed: March 27, 2023).
Mimi (2020) Personal development goals every designer should set, Medium. UX Planet. Available at: https://uxplanet.org/pursue-your-dreams-goals-for-product-designers-234453e9b96a#:~:text=Examples%20of%20personal%20development%20goals%20for%20designers%201,new%20...%206%20Grow%20your%20design%20network%20 (Accessed: March 27, 2023).
Mapue, J. (2019) 16 essential graphic design tools for 2023, GoSkills.com. GoSkills. Available at: https://www.goskills.com/Design/Resources/Graphic-design-tools (Accessed: March 27, 2023).