Five Things I hope to Learn by Doing a Thesis Project

1. Confidence. Through this project I want to focus on the strength that is required to believe in my own ideas. So many ideas get lost in the shuffle, shot down by one conversation or negative review, remain undeveloped because I think there must be something better out there already, or that someone more talented could do it better. I will stand up for myself and what I believe is good thinking, good research and good design process.
2. Technology. Instead of saying “I can’t,” I will say “I currently struggle with” while I continue to expand my repertoire beyond HTML, CSS, and “call the developer”.
3. Long-term project management. I’d love to develop a project that has the legs to make its way into the real world. I want people to try it, use it, love it, hate it, so I can work on it long-term to make it right. I want to further develop the discipline it takes to make my own periodic deadlines towards the end goal.
4. Presentation Skills. I’ve always been good with presenting a project one on one. Put me in fron of a professional audience, and I get a rash and lose my regular speaking voice. I will continue to develop my presenting skills because as Karen McGrane so elegantly put it to me last year, “A huge part of your future career success will depend on your ability to present well, and I’d love for you to come out of this program with the skills and the confidence to do it well.”
5. Research away from the screen. I came back to school to try some new things, and explore my interests off-screen, off-Adobe, and off-Google. I haven’t been too successful with prying myself away, but the personal research that inspires me usually happens by having good conversations with smart people, and by exploring my surroundings in a thoughtful manner. Usability research about my projects has taught me to think and try things in a whole new way. I want to make time for my research, in many forms, and bring the knowledge I obtain into my process.