This module has presented many learning curves which I have enjoyed navigating my way through. I have found this a thoroughly enjoyable module and the content I have engaged with I will no doubt carry forward in my design practice. Perhaps the biggest challenge was the beginning stage of this process. As there was a wide scope with this brief, I felt slightly overwhelmed with the many directions I could have taken this project. How I overcame this was through listening to real people. While it is an option to hypothesise what people want while sitting behind a screen, I found that my initial ideas of where I wanted to take this app didn’t align fully with what I imagined people wanted from a banking brand. Through completing surveys, I realised exactly what the target demographic were looking in a banking brand which gave me a clearer vision as to what way to steer this project.

I found that time management was something I have improved on massively throughout this project. As I sit here writing the reflection on this module, unlike last term were it was very much down to the wire with stacks of work still to complete, I’ve actually completed all the work and I am able to truly evaluate and reflect, which is testament to the fact I have managed my time well.

I also feel a lot more engaged in this module in terms of actively researching outside of the prescribed content. This has undoubtedly informed my work massively and has equipped me with a far better understanding of the industry all together.

Something that I have changed the most in my practice for the better, is that I make my preparatory research, planning and sketching serve me. In my foundation and first term, I felt that this was rather a box ticking exercise. I always was working backwards in a sense, meaning I had a clear vision of the end goal in my head and rather connected the dots to get there. I forced myself to never think too far ahead and let projects unfold organically. In many ways, you have to let go of the control of the trajectory of the project. I’ve learned to explore avenues, accept when they come to a dead end, evaluate and move on.

I’ve really enjoyed the lecture content in this module. It all felt new which was exciting. I developed a strong understanding of the process of branding and it’s importance.