Design Thesis Research || Strategies, Resources and Timelines
DEFINING GOALS
The first two blogs I’ve completed for this class have involved the exploration of my personal strengths, weaknesses, values and interests, which has all allowed me to fully consider what it is that I aim to achieve in this class as well as in my career following graduation. Pinpointing and defining my weaknesses has allowed me to understand what aspects of my character and design skill have been hindering me from improving as a designer, and focussing my values and interests has allowed me to understand which of my weaknesses are actually applicable to the future ahead of me.
Short Term Goals
Short term goals, I would define, are anything I hope to accomplish before the end of my senior year and which are limited to my successes and advancements as a student. These goals are the most tangible and easy to conceptualize, having a very clear end outcome As it stands now, my current short term goals are to obtain initial professional experience, have a successful, well though-out thesis, and to graduate. Many of these goals address my value of initiative that I want to approve upon as a designer both in my educational and professional careers.
In regards to the goal of finding professional experience, it’s important that I am able to obtain an internship before the fall semester ends so that I can have a full semester of experience in a real professional work environment to understand client relationships. I would preferably like an internship in branding or something within the realm of fashion design, but my foremost concern in regards to this goal is that of gaining any form of real world experience.
Mid-Length Goals
Goals that would go beyond my educational career but would still exist within the early stages of my professional life, would be those that would provide me with the necessary skills to improve as a designer. These goals are a bit more conceptual and hard to define, but for the most part, involve improvement in my creative thinking skills and as I find my self gravitating toward an interest in fashion and fashion styling, would also involve finding experience in the fashion industry and getting at least an additional certificate or associates degree in fashion styling. These goals are meant to loft me toward my longer term goals.
Long Term Goals
At the forefront of my mind at the mention of long term goals is developing a stable sense of confidence in myself and in my work that is able to show through in my professional relationships and my designs. All of this is built on the improvement of my skills and my development as a designer, which will only grow as I continue to achieve my short and mid term goals. At this point, I want to have achieved most of the necessary experience for a career as a brand or fashion designer, have worked with many different clients, and improved upon my own interpersonal skills.
There is no end goal, as I’m sure I will constantly strive to improve and gain new skills, but at this point, I want to be a designer that is confident in and happy with the work that I do. If I were to come up with one single tangible long term goal, it would be to start my own clothing brand, but as it stand now, my only goals are to be happy with my skills and confident in my abilities to effectively utilize them for my design projects.
RESOURCES
After doing some quick research, I believe that it will be helpful for me to continue my education after graduating in order to get a more specific emphasis in my area of expertise for the kind of work I’d like to do. While this likely won’t be another four-year degree or master program, I believe it will be beneficial for me to at least get a certificate in areas such as business administration, and fashion styling to compliment my skills as a designer and make me more employable in my desired industry. As such, in regards to educational resources I want to pursue after graduation, a certificate or associates degree in fashion styling is something I believe will be beneficial in launching me toward my desired mid and long term goals.
In regards to mentorships, I believe I could benefit from finding individuals within my desired industry of branding and fashion styling in order to guide me in the right direction in regards to my professional development. This is a resource I want to be exploring and pursuing as early as this semester, and could even play into my short term goals in addition to my mid and long term ones in order to give me a head start in my professional career. I want to be connecting with professionals working in my area of interest, not only to expand my professional network, but to gain valuable one on one experience with an expert to help ignite my passions for and knowledge about the industry. Additionally, my thesis seems to be tipping towards the side of fashion and branding, so utilizing this resource will evidently be useful in the completion and success of my thesis at the end of this semester.
TIMELINES
Short Term
Internships and Professional Experience
Research and find what experiences will be most relevant to my area of design
Find opportunities and reach out to professionals in the industry
Develop Mentorships with Industry Professionals and Expand Professional Network
Apply for Internships in Branding and Fashion
Success in this gauged by the internships I receive.
Starting Date: Beginning of Fall Semester
Desired Deadline: End of Fall Semester
Mid Term
Fashion Styling and Business Admin Certificates/Associates Degrees
Research the best programs that address my specific areas of industries and that will enhance my skill set for future employment opportunities
This should start before graduation, preferably during this semester
Apply and hopefully get accepted
Obtain an additional educational degree
Staring Date: Beginning of Fall Semester
Desired Deadline: Within two years of having graduated from UCD
Additional Goals
Get a job
This would preferably be in branding, an area where I already have the necessary education. I would hope to achieve this after graduating.
Long Term
These goals aren’t as tangible and clear cut and I’m not sure how I would designate the exact timeline. As mentioned above, I would determine that this timeline, in gaining the confidence I need as a designer, would be the ultimate culmination of all my previous short and mid-term goals.
Actions I will need to take throughout my career as a designer:
Find as many educational opportunities to develop my skills as a stylist and designer
Find career opportunities from a variety of employers within the fashion and branding industry
Cultivate my vision for a personal fashion line and brand
Find the resources needed to launch the brand