Throughout this module, I have had the opportunity to refine and develop my knowledge and skills about the industry. It has been a stressful yet rewarding experience, from securing a placement at ESO to creating a simple but effective CV. I am incredibly proud of the progress I've made. Week by week, I have gained valuable insights and learned key points that will help me understand and succeed in the industry. This module helped me prepare myself for applying to jobs and gave me a well-rounded understanding of the design world from workplace etiquette to intellectual property.

On a week-to-week basis, I learned new information through engaging lectures and the resources available on Blackboard. There were topics I had some prior knowledge of, but after the lectures, I gained a deeper understanding of the inner workings of these subjects. I particularly enjoyed continuing the research on NDAs and learning more about how they protect us as designers. I also found it interesting to explore tenders and how they help protect a designer’s work. One new concept for me in this module was freelancing, which I now see as an important factor to consider in a professional career.

Creating a CV was a vital part of creative entrepreneurship. I found it to be one of the simpler projects, but it was crucial that it was done correctly and included all the important information. Having a well-structured CV is essential for presenting myself professionally and making a strong first impression in the industry. One of the challenges I had to overcome was creating the portfolio website, as Framer is a difficult platform to get the hang of. I struggled with making the website seamless and responsive due to the template I was using. But after lots and lots of trial and error, I got the website to be professional and responsive. I enjoyed learning Indesign when creating my tender document, CV and cover letter it helped me achieve and professional layout. Completing the pitch proposal showed me that I could freelance, as I have the skills to come up with ideas, but I need to work on communication and presentation skills if I were to become a freelancer.

Overall, this module has given me valuable insight into the industry, from trends to professional etiquette. I’m now much clearer about what I want to achieve from this course and my placement year at ESO. It has provided me with a fresh perspective on design and how to present myself.