work placement reflection

Work Placement Reflection

1. Personal Reflection

In this work placement, we work as a team of 4 with our client, IKII. IKII is a company who offers

smart luggage and a variety of merchandise related to travelling. They have social media,

websites and retail stores to promote their products. Through my analysis, I realize we actually

have done 2 types of job positions for IKII. At the beginning stage, we work as a designer for

them, as no credits will be given for works we have done. However, due to the issue that they

felt it is better for us to do what we are good at, we changed the position into having

collaboration with them. In this case, we made our artworks for them and it will be credited to us.

Therefore, we actually did 2 types of jobs, which is having content video shooting and artwork

poster design. 

During the 1st type of collaboration, which is a content video shooting project, my position is the

main photographer and videographer. I’m in charge of the outcome of the shooting, the art

direction, concepts and editing. It is quite challenging for me as I have not come across with

video shooting and managing the whole outcome. There are a lot of considerations with this

position, as in the concept idea for the whole project, references, art direction, the angles and

places for shooting that best suit the outcome, as well as the editing part. It requires a period of

time to finish all these parts. 

As for the 2nd collaboration, it is more from a personal design perspective. It requires more

creativity and progression with IKII. We are briefed to create a poster illustration for IKII to
relates their promotion in Taiwan. During the process, I've learned to give updates to the person
in charge. In fact, I gained some extra design knowledge, as in how to convert normal design
ideas to become a more interesting one. It requires progress and brainstorming. Therefore,
brainstorming ideas and having mindmap is indeed an important progress during idea
execution. I enjoyed the process where I can experiment with different ideas and styles on the
work.

Both of the projects imparted many new knowledge and experiences to me. It changes some

opinions about myself. I have always been unconfident with managing the project and

unconfident about myself. However, I’ve learned to be more confident and brave enough to try

new things and challenges. You will never know you can make it after you have tried to do it.

I’ve tried to touch new things, such as managing the shooting, and it surprisingly is not as hard

as I thought. Thus, I will not be unconfident to take this position again in the future and hoping to

touch other positions too as a challenge to myself. 

During the work placement period, I’ve not only been imparted knowledge and experiences, I
have also learned skills that help in my work placement. 

- Creative problem solving
Many people think creative thinkers are born to be but not made. However, it actually
develops from our daily lives and each experience or challenge we have encountered.
(2011-2020 skills you need, 2020). Yet, it is significant in our career because employers are
more likely to hire people that could tackle challenges and are not afraid of those
obstacles. (Omoth, 2016). 

- Making decisions 

We all have decisions to make in our daily lives. However, what matters is that the decision
we have made that moves us on. It helps in our problem-solving skills when we are able to
make good decisions because it enables us to make decisions between possible solutions.
(2011-2020 skills you need, 2020).

- Negotiation skills

Sometimes, there are issues that may cause both parties to be unhappy with. Therefore,
we need to have deals or rejection when it is necessary. Of course, it is needed to be
rejected in a manner and professionally to remain in a good relationship. (Steff Green, 2019).
It improves relationships in which both parties can reach a mutual deal without hurting
each other’s sentiments. (Strengthscape, 2016). It also improves the final result of each
project. (2011-2020 skills you need, 2020). 

From the whole working placement, I actually quite enjoy the process when my teammates and I
are working hard to make the video shooting project done. There are so many efforts needed to
put, where it is a totally different story behind the scene and in front of the scene. I enjoyed it a
lot when finding references and doing lots of test video shooting. Every single time I video shoot
it again and again for many takes, is to make sure the best outcome. And I realize this action is
actually helping me to strengthen my shooting skills. Thanks to my teammates, they are giving
cooperation and accompanying me to try and error during the video shooting process. For
example, we did a rain scene in one of the video shoots. However, the rains are all fake, we
think and use a lot of ways to ensure the rain looks real in the scene. Although it was tiring and
things changed faster than plans, it was really an experience that full of laughter, efforts,
knowledge and adventures. As for the other project that each of us designed a poster for IKII to
promote their product in TAIWAN, I enjoyed it a lot too because it all depends on our creativity.
We have full freedom to create the artwork we wanted and it will also be credited to us. 

In conclusion, I do not have things that I like the least because I enjoyed each project and the
process. Each project is like every challenge and experience to me. Yet, I only have
dissatisfaction with the client’s command. I felt they do not have plannings and have over
expectations on us. It is because we are in the program of working placement but not
internships, but they expected us to do all the work within a very short period of time. In the
meantime, they add lots of content that never had discussions before for us to do. Which, it
is overworking loads and time given, as we have other subjects too. Therefore, I'm
displeased with the work flow management, and that highlights the need for communication.
Fortunately, we managed to have conversations and discussion to solve all the issues.
This is why I felt communication and negotiation skills are very important too.


______________________

2. Job Responsibilities Reflection

My position is the main photographer and videographer. I’m in charge of the outcome of the

shooting, the art direction, concepts and editing. There are a variety of considerations with this

position, as in the concept idea for the whole project, references, art direction, the angles and

places for shooting that best suit the outcome, as well as the editing part. It requires a period of

time to finish all these parts. To make sure everything goes right, my teammates and I have
discussions on the time schedule for this work placement as our time is tight. 

There are challenges faced during the process, which the client does not follow the plan and

time schedule we both agreed. We told the clients that we have limited time so we proposed the

schedule and the work we will be doing for them. They agreed with it. However, they add lots of

content that never had discussion before for us to do. Meanwhile, they changed some content

and requested us to shoot some particular content first. Which, it is over the workloads and time

given. This caused us to reschedule the video shooting content again in the meantime I have to

rush for the ideas and shooting to make sure what they requested was done. Yet, it took us

more time to finish the project and need to make choices in which content to be shot first. 

To make sure the timeline is enough for us to finish what we need to do, I have discussions with

my teammates on the time and content planning. Meanwhile, during the video shooting, I’ve

also faced some obstacles, as in the weather, angle and venue to have the shooting. For

instance, I need to have fake rain in one of the scenes, however, it requires a height to create

fake rain effects. Therefore, to solve this problem, I keep thinking with ideas and ways to resolve

it, which is, asking my teammates to use a pipe and spray the water from a particular height.

And, I seize the opportunity to have the shot immediately when the weather is more cloudy. It

requires so much trial and error during the whole video shooting project. 

It is indeed an experience that lets me learn new skills and find out the problems as well as

ways to resolve it. I’ve learned that problem solving is a basic life skill and is essential to our

day-to-day lives, no matter in daily lives, school or work. It is because solving skills empower us

not only in our personal life but are critical in our professionals too. (CCMIT, 2020). In fact, in this

competitive world, employers are more likely to hire people that could tackle challenges and are

not afraid of those obstacles. (Omoth, 2016). 

Nonetheless, I’ve also learned from the biggest issue during the work placement, which is the

negotiation skills with clients. During the work placement period, we did not do any rejection on

the contents they keep added for us to do. This situation actually let the clients feel we are okay

with everything. Hence, it is the part that we learned most things, as in how to negotiate with the

client in a manner way. We have some discussion among our teammates and make a deal with

the client. They agreed with our deal and are still in a good relationship with us. This actually

requires some negotiation skills to turn their request down meanwhile would not make them feel

dissatisfied. It is important to have this skill because it improves relationships in which both

parties can reach a mutual deal without hurting each other’s sentiments. (Strengthscape, 2016).

Not only help in our career advancement but also help in our daily life be it personal or

professional as a designer too. (Strengthscape, 2016). Yet, the aim of having good negotiation

is to get the best deal between both parties, where it could improve the final result of each

project. (2011-2020 skills you need, 2020). 

______________________

3. Work Replacement Reflection

Throughout the work placement, I felt there are few parts that can be improved. First, it is from

the client's perspective, as in improving communication skills. It is because each role has a

different perspective and the way we collaborate need to reach a win-win situation. I understand
and realize the marvellous relationships between clients and designers. From the client's perspectives, they need contents every day to gain their sales and to gain awareness. Whereas designers have limited time to produce many contents a day. This is why communication skills are very important. "Treat your clients like friends" (Shaughnessy and Sagmeister, 2012), I've learned this during this work placement and I need to improve more on this section. Find out what they want from us --- from design, and establishing the framework for a mature working relationship.(Shaughnessy and Sagmeister, 2012). It is not that accepting all request they want, but is that we listen and absorb the client's point of view. Then, how we conduct ourselves in such a way that clients agree with our point of view too in order to maintain both parties good relationships.

As for myself, I think I should improve my negotiation skills. Beneficial to clients and to
teammates too. Sometimes, when it is necessary, rejections must be given in order to avoid
offences. Of course, it is needed to be rejected in a manner and professionally to remain in a
good relationship. (Steff Green, 2019). 

All of these skills that are learned from the work placement are indeed helpful in our career. It is

due to the market nowadays looking for additional value to their business. (PeopleScout, 2020).

According to a research by Wonderlic, it is found that 93% of employer leaders stated soft skills

are an essential element when making hiring decisions. (wonderlic, 2016). Thus, I think what I’ve

learned through this work placement is actually helping me in my future career too.  

_________________________________________________________________________

References

CCMIT, 2020. Introduction To Problem Solving Skills | CCMIT. [online] Ccmit.mit.edu. Available at:

<https://ccmit.mit.edu/problem-solving/> [Accessed 5 May 2020].

Omoth, T., 2016. 6 Soft Skills Employers Are Looking For In The Workplace. [online] TopResume. Available at:

<https://www.topresume.com/career-advice/6-soft-skills-employers-are-looking-for-in-2016> [Accessed 5 May

2020].

Strengthscape, 2016. Top 4 Reasons Why Negotiation Skills Are Very Important In The Business World |

Strengthscape. [online] Strengthscape. Available at: <https://strengthscape.com/top-4-reasons-why-

negotiation-skills-are-very-important-in-the-business-world/> [Accessed 5 May 2020].

2011-2020 skills you need, (., 2020. What Is Negotiation? - Introduction To Negotiation | Skillsyouneed. [online]

Skillsyouneed.com. Available at: <https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/negotiation.html> [Accessed 5 May

2020].

Steff Green, 2019. How To Turn Down A Client (Politely!). [online] Practice Ignition | Client Engagement,

Proposals & Payments Software. Available at: <https://www.practiceignition.com/blog/how-to-turn-down-client>

[Accessed 5 May 2020].

PeopleScout, 2020. Soft Skills In The Workplace: Why They Matter | Peoplescout. [online] PeopleScout.

Available at: <https://www.peoplescout.com/insights/soft-skills-in-the-workplace/> [Accessed 5 May 2020].

Ray, J. and Overman, A., 2014. Hard Facts About Soft Skills. AJN, American Journal of Nursing, 114(2),

pp.64-68.

wonderlic, 2016. Hard Facts About Soft Skills. [online] Docs.wixstatic.com. Available at:

<http://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/cceaf9_ec9ed750296142f18efdd49f4930f6d3.pdf> [Accessed 5 May 2020].

Shaughnessy, A. and Sagmeister, S., 2012. How To Be A Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul. New York: Princeton Architectural Press.