Design Itinerary in the Pandemic
June 25, 2020
The Covid-19 pandemic has confined us to our homes and as design students, it makes us wonder what we must do to keep us engaged and involved. Here is a list that might shed some light on this and hopefully add some meaning to the pandemic days.
Yes, it always starts with you. It is
said that the cleaner your workspace, the cleaner your mind. So, first start by
organizing your workspace. Once you are organized you will start to feel
positive and motivated. Start by looking for that cozy comfy space in your
house that you want to call your own.
We all know that your portfolio is
the best way to convey your creative footprint. So in order to reach maximum
audience, make a website. A website can be one unique way of differentiation
but it doesn’t end there. You need to be as creative and informative as
possible. So one such thing you could do is keep writing blogs
about whatever you feel or what your opinion is on a specific topic.
Avoid adding Behance and other social
media platforms where you showcase your creative work. It might shift the
recruiter’s focus from your work to another person and hence the chances of you
getting the job might be affected adversely.
You might not want to sit on the
couch just making a buzz in your brain. You need to take necessary steps now as
the pandemic has affected the world in a unprecedented and unforeseen ways. We
are heading towards tremendous changes in various fields where technologies are
evolving and many design practices are getting obsolete. So how do you keep
yourself updated in this rapidly changing world?
You could read books, newspapers, watch
informative documentaries, videos and take opinion from people about how to get
the hang of what’s coming in as the new normal. Connect with designers and
colleagues to get a broader perspective on what other designers are doing and
what are the helpful ways to tackle the pandemic in a creative way.
Constant learning is going to be
essential as people quickly shifting gears evolving /adapting to the new
patterns, scenarios etc. So plan and think about what you want to learn.
Prioritizing things is one of the most important factors to using time
efficiently. We are heading towards people talking about major changes yet to
happen in the industry and jobs being laid off. The next trend is a
multidisciplinary approach in jobs. One good way would be to start with
languages. This is something you may never learn in your regular routine, but might
prove very beneficial in the upcoming years.
There are books, documentaries and
online courses offered for free during this pandemic. Do take a note of that.
While learning is one step of developing, another one is to practice. You will
get various design exercises on the internet, do practice to make yourself more
efficient and review your understanding of what you have learnt.
Last but not least try participating
in design competitions. It’s mostly about gaining experience and learning. The
goal is not only to win the competition but to learn and analyze while you are
working for the competition. This learning and experience is one of a kind and
may not be learnt just by sitting in classrooms / homes and simply thinking
about it.
So treat this time as a golden opportunity and make the most
of it.
Stay home, stay safe!
Author:
Anup Hengade, Product Design, Semester II, Unitedworld Institute of Design (UID)
Disclaimer: The opinions / views expressed in this article are solely of the author in his / her individual capacity. They do not purport to reflect the opinions and/or views of the College and/or University or its members.
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