Critical, Creative and Reflective Practice

1. What incident/comment/reaction/quote stands out from this experience?

feedback from peers; its interesting to see what grabbed people while listening to you speak
We are all questioning our choice of career path already. Even at this early stage.
That I should pair my interest with music and design + using my passion for youth culture to motivate change.
Discussion about the purpose of Graphic design, wherther it's relevant/worhy contribution to society
The variety of backgrounds people have come from to be studying design.
Do you like generating new rather than building them in to a sustainable business? - i think so, yes.
the idea to add cutting with a scalpel to my major work
That inspiring and educating young minds in design is extremely important and something I should pursue.
Understanding that you can create connection with people from different disciplines or design strengths?
Not knowing exactly where we are all headed
I found it interesting that many other students agreed with the concerns I shared about working in the design industry.
Learning about other people and their process that lead to them studying graphic design.
Annie, I share the passion for films to some extent. If you can bare art house films, try Brazil (1985), No Man's Land (Serbian), Delicatessen (French), A serious Man for any (Coen Brothers).
Probably how relatable everyone was with their feelings surrounding the design industry.
The comments that stood out the most from this experience were from nearly every single member who stated that studying Graphic Design was not their initial choice for University or a career.
That almost everyone in my group felt and thought the same way and were astonished at my future plans of going into Video Game Design rather than pursue Graphic Design. Also many of us wish to travel once we complete our degree.
Nhat's life story.
That more people are interested in the cross-over of creative disciplines than I expected. That people want to use graphic design in contexts other than branding and advertisement.
The positive suggestions from others in my group in relation to my ideas or plans for the future.
That critical thinking is not a linear process. Often it happens when we don't just focus on the goal ahead, however open our minds and journey our train of thought
That not everyone has had experience in the industry. After talking to the group, some dont even want to do graphic design, instead they are hoping to do visual arts. This makes me feel a bit more relaxed, seeing as i definitely want to do design.
"• How our background informs how we approach our practice and who we are
• The recognition how crossover skills and knowledge can inform our design practice, in my case photography
"
"Being asked a question on me wanting to get a job overseas in London.
They challenged me to think about whether I purely just want the experience of being overseas and if I really care about the pay being below average."

2. At what moment did you feel most:a. engaged with what was happening?

when I was talking myself, when somebody was talking about something i was interested in (or they were good at speaking ie. they were engaging) ... i was also very engaged when receiving my feedback at the end
When you could relate with what somebody was talking about.
When people discussed similar interest/ when I read the feedback.
Hearing others life stories
When people told me what design they are interested in and how I personally agreed and disagreed.
Taking the time to respond to what people were talking about.
during the story's of others
When people told their life stories and experiences - where they've come from.
Talking with others in my group about their person experiences with design and design thinking
When we were split into groups and gave 5min talks on ourselves
I felt most engaged when I could relate to situations other students were describing.
When i could relate to other paper.
I suppose when people were talking about how they felt about the direction their lives were taking and how they ended up studying design.
I felt more engaged after being the first speaker, when others began to talk and similarities between myself and others of the group were revealed.
When we opened up the presentation to a small question and answer time. We were very engaged with the stories that we were telling one another and felt very connected.
Nhat's life story
"When were able to distinguish connections between people and situations that would have thought to be significantly different.
When a positive result came from something unfamiliar such as what is mentioned in part 2b."
When we were asking other people questions about themselves and having a relaxed conversation, rather than a monologue.
When we where split into groups and discussed the way we came into Graphic Design
I felt engaged when people spoke about their lead up to getting an internship and the manner in which they were forced to act during interviews.
• When I recognised similar aspects in other peoples stories
When people talked about travel or spoke on things that I had in common with or was interested in.

b. distanced from what was happening?

when people were talking about their childlife/obscure backgrounds. i wanted to hear more about what they wanted to do in future, where they wanted design to take them
When the speaker ran out of things to talk about.
When someone spoke for 10 minutes about their childhood
feeling like I was boring people with my story
Listening to where people grew up etc. would like to hear the idea on life, practice more so.
trying to think of a question
When I didn't completely understand what someone was talking about and didn't have enough time to ask questions.
The talk at the start
I felt most distanced when I struggled to understand or connect with other people's experiences or perspectives.
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I didn't feel particularly distanced at any point, I wasn't entirely comfortable talking about myself though.
Being the first speaker made me feel more at a distance as similarities or connections were not there as no one else had spoken yet.
When we were sitting in silence.
When I was speaking
When we were asked to open up and present who you are to people. Public speaking is not a strong area of mine.
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perhaps the in-depth detail about critical thinking. perhaps work on your explanation of critical thinking using a metaphor.
when people spoke about paintings, and visual arts. This does not phase me, or have anything to do with what i want to do in the future.
• Did not feel this as all stories linked to their design practice which gave us common ground
There were times where I zoned out a stopped listening

3. What action that any participant (incl. teacher/facilitator) took (including, if applicable, online interactions) did you find:a. most helpful or affirming?

occasional questions helped. or a very brief comment/question time after speaking. it showed the were listening.
The writing down of a connection with each speaker was helpful.
People that wanted to start their own business straight up was cool + other who seemed interested in what I had to say.
none really
When Robbie told us of his experience at an internship and when Jacob told us about his experience in college.
Positive and engaging responses
when i was given good questions
That life experiences in the field of interest and other interests are extremely important in shaping the career I would like or may end up in.
The way into design as a career and understanding that this may not be the path to continue on - other possible paths
Other students recognising and acknowledges your perspectives and taking in a genuine interest in what you discussed and raised.
More than one person commenting on how they take risks in their designing and thinking, is very influential.
I think the written connections at the end of the group were the most affirming part of the whole experience. It shows that you aren't alone with your thoughts, ideas or progress through life.
When we were listening to more stories, it was helpful listening to their experiences, their thoughts and their futures that they have planned out.
The comments back
Suggestions from others for how to get my art out
stumbling into design, like any decision everything takes process
N/A
• honesty and open-ness to tell a personal story
I found it helpful and comforting to find people that were in the same situation as me, being unsure about what was ahead in the future.

b. most puzzling or confusing?

what exactly we should write about? i wanted to give useful feedback and receive it in return
How to relate the whole idea of critical thinking with our own autobiography.
Whether to write dot points or to affirm the individual.
What we were actually doing?
trying to highlight the best connection
How to get from one step to the next.
Critical Thinking
How we were supposed to talk about critical thinking in relation to design
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I think I may not have come out of the situation with any clearer ideas about my life situation.
The actual exercise we were to do and what we were to initially talk about as most of us did not know where to start and finish but we managed to find a medium and keep the story flowing for 5 minutes.
Some of the comments back
Writing questions down, why could we not enter into a dialogue after someone's biography? (We sort of ended up doing that anyway)
Life!
That people doing graphic design didnt actually like using the programs. To me this is a vital area.

4 (Optional). Other comments?

A bit more clarification on exactly what is we should have spoken about for the 5 minutes.
It was interesting to find out more about people in my class who I didn't know ery well
It was a useful exercise in examining how you view yourself and reflecting on what steps and decisions you took to arrive at where you are now.
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Our idea of using one sheet of paper to write down our connections and our questions rather then having separate sheets was more effective as we can compare and relate the questions the people in our group had for ourselves.
After todays meeting, i feel a lot more relaxed and less isolated. before i felt as if i was the only student who had not made any progress in the design world, but there are those who also haven't had full experience, and some who even wish to change degrees.