I see that [the International Academy of Design & Technology] is linked to the Design Schools, and we would like to contribute more to your site. Let us know if you have any ideas. My Professional Interface class students will be hitting your site! - Philip Bulone, IIDA, IDEC - Chair of the Interior Design Department at the International Academy of Design & Technology, Tampa
contributed by Jenny S. Rebholz [writer / marketing consultant / designer / instructor / mentor / networking machine]
A — B — C… what does each mean to you? Are you the student who always makes the grade and gets the A, or are you the one always striving for the A? Are you so caught up with the letter on the paper that you forget why you are sitting in class? Do you actually retain what you have learned?
Reflecting on my time as a student, I am definitely guilty of being an A-focused student; I was always striving for the A. Fortunately, I was equally concerned about producing work I was proud of and could explain. Graduating from school, I was confident in my portfolio and my ability to do my best on the job. I understood that I did not know everything, but I was confident in my ability to problem-solve, do research, ask questions, and be proactive.
While my impressive grade point average may have been on my resume along with a list of honors and grade-related awards, the focus of the attention was on my physical work, my ability to communicate, my passion, my willingness to work hard, and my drive. With all the stress and hard work I put on myself to get the A… the record of that achievement was only on my resume for the blink of an eye.
So my question to you is…when the A on the page disappears, will you still have what it takes to be a successful designer?
B Does Not Mean Bad
The translation of a B is actually “Good work — good job,” and a B student is a very employable person. When I have students so concerned with their grade that they try to talk their way to an A, I wonder if they are really soaking in the important information and walking away with the skills necessary to function effectively on the job. If you are thinking more about the final grade and less about the actual work and what you are learning, consider that a red flag.
Successful habits of good students who not only get the grade, but also get the job (and, more importantly, keep the job) are to…
1. Listen.
Being a good listener is key to your success as a student as well as a professional designer. And when I say listen, I mean really hear what your teacher, boss, or client has to say. If you don’t listen to your client, you will not provide a good design solution, and they will not want to work with you again. If you don’t listen to your boss, you could lose your job, and if you don’t listen to your teacher, you surely will not get the grade you want.
We can all get distracted, but then you must take the time to figure out what you missed. Restating what you think you heard can help perfect your listening skills. You always want to make sure you are on the same page with your instructors, your boss, and your clients.
2. Read the directions.
Another favorite student habit of mine is the ability, or lack of ability, to read and follow directions. Like many instructors, I put a lot of time and energy into preparing projects and providing students with all the information they need. I even provide schedules and other tools that repeat information for easy reference.
When is it due? What size boards?
When I am asked these questions, I know for a fact they did not even take the time to read. You must take responsibility for the information you receive.
If a client gives you a list of materials they are allergic to and you don’t read it… hmmm… what might happen. If a request for proposal says they will not accept anything over 10 pages and you submit a 12-page response because you did not read… hmmm… what might happen?
3. Meet your deadlines.
Hand things in on time. No excuses. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Hand things in on time.
4. Do the work.
When you hand it in on time, make sure it is complete. There is no option to not do parts of the job. It must be complete. And if you expect to get a good grade, your instructor expects you to deliver a fully completed project on time!
5. Accept constructive criticism and use it to improve.
If you aren’t making the grade or are having a hard time understanding the information, ask questions and ask for feedback. However, the key to feedback is really listening and understanding what you need to do to improve. Use the feedback to approach your work in a new way, and your instructor will not only see your effort, but hopefully you will see improvement in your grade.
6. Communicate.
If you will be late — call. If you are going to be absent — call. If you know about a vacation or absence in advance — make arrangements to get the work done on time and give your instructor the heads up. These are things you will have to do with your clients, so start practicing now. They will strengthen your reputation and reliability in the classroom and cultivate good communication habits for your professional life.
7. Follow through.
If you say you will do something — make sure that you do it. A lack of follow-through will be the reputation that follows you around.
8. Have passion.
Are you in design because you love it? No matter the long hours, the frustration, the stress, when your project is complete… do you feel great pride and satisfaction? Do you get excited about each new project? Passion is a key ingredient to your success in this field — a desire to learn, share, listen, educate, be creative, and solve problems. If you don’t love what you are doing in school, then you may not love it in the real world. The passion for design is what will motivate you on a daily basis.
9. Remember you can’t always be good at everything, no matter how hard you try.
Hard work is admirable. It is expected that you will do your best. However, no matter how hard you try, some things may not be your strengths. You may become good at it, but it may not make you the A-level exceptional performer you want to be at that particular task. Remember that a B means good, and average can really be okay. Work on accentuating your true strengths and finding environments that will not only utilize those strengths but will have support to complement your weaker points.
10. Have fun.
School is hard work and so is life, but you have to have fun along the way. The ability to laugh at yourself and enjoy your classmates and instructors will make the experience worthwhile. If you truly engage yourself in your design program and explore the professional design world before you have to enter it, then you will truly see how fun and exciting it can be.
Improve Yourself And Prove Yourself
Remember that instructors are great resources for recommendations, referrals, and networking connections. If they can’t count on you in the classroom, are you reliable enough for the job?
So, I know that you still want to get the A, but I want you to be successful in the real world. If you think about these successful habits, I know we will both get the results we are looking for!
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The 14th Annual IIDA/HD Product Design Competition is a collaboration between IIDA and Hospitality Design magazine. This competition honors designers and manufacturers for excellence and innovation in product design for the hospitality industry. The deadline to request an entry kit is Friday, April 16. View the 2010 Call for Entries (PDF download) and contact Monica DeAngelis for more information.
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Are you so caught up with the letter on the paper that you forget why you are sitting in class? Do you actually retain what you have learned?
