Learning Contract objectives explained

Establishing my Learning Contract in Fig.1 through the use of a radiant map, I have clarified the key areas I want to change and which are most important in my design practice. After exploration by using further maps I have drawn an integrated map shown in Fig.2. This shows the inter-relationship between the sub-issues and is more concerned with specifics within the areas.

From these two maps it is clear that I have five major themes that all my objectives for this course can be categorised within. Five colours symbolise them and their meanings are below:

Red – Passion and motivation
Blue – Increasing scope of my design practice
Orange – Practical applications
Green – Reflection on my professional self
Purple – Corporate design development

All five areas are extremely important to my design practice and have to be considered as part of the whole and not in isolation. They constitute the direction I am heading in my career in the company, and more importantly my personal professional development.

Each area of the map has a key relationship that largely summarises it. By looking at these relationships I have distilled the connected elements into statements describing my problem space. These are my universals listed below. Their colour indicates the initial area of the integrated map from where they came and are not just about business project outcomes but also about personal capabilities and are definitions of intended outcomes.

 Coach, inspire, empowerment, motivation, satisfying enjoyable results, greater design standards ambition

Cross-discipline design practitioner, networker, asset to any business

Design evaluator, quality control, efficient working practice, web standards, educating business

Reflective practice knowledge, open-minded, conscientious, professional attitude, enjoys improved working method

Educate clients, tailored solutions, challenge preconceptions of online products, influences key decision makers.

Mental Models

From the five universals I have created three mental models. The universals and the mental models only deal with the direction that we are developing in and not the processes we use. The mental models enable us to see the problem space described by the universals.

Mental Model 1. Illustrating corporate design development

This mental model is the embodiment of what many people do not think about when talking about online design (here a web page displayed on a mobile phone).

Therefore this model presents the notion that preconceptions can be seen as a hindrance to the development of potential ideas.

Mental Model 2. Illustrating reflection on professional self

Reflective practice knowledge, open-minded, conscientious, professional attitude, enjoys improved working method

This model represents my professional journey since embarking on this qualification. The mountain is a metaphor for the journey; its peak is shrouded in mist, hidden, maybe unattainable or perhaps even a false peak.

The path is long and not straight to the top, not unlike career progression. It is at the mountain’s summit that the ideal professional self exists.

Mental Model 3. Illustrating increasing scope in design practice

Cross-discipline design practitioner, networker, asset to any business

The model represents my need to be a marketable product to other companies in other nations. I desire to work in Denmark and my ticket would be skills that could crossover to other design disciplines. 

To be sought after by other firms in any area a good network of contacts, knowledge of best practice and a sound grasp of design practice would help secure employment.