General Advice for Design Students

Choosing a project is a challenge faced by many design students. Here are a few general tips and questions you can ask yourself.

General Tips, Advice, & Questions

  1. Be smart and do your research, then make an informed decision.
    • What precedent projects exist that inspire you?
    • What past projects were successful? Which were not? Why?
  2. Consider the scope and choose a project that is realistically achievable within your timeline.
    • How large is this project? Can I make it smaller?
  3. Envision your future “ideal” portfolio and choose a project that will fit nicely in your eventual portfolio.
    • Is there a particular visual style that you are interested in exploring that is currently missing from your portfolio?
    • Is there a medium that you have yet to explore and would like to?
  4. Consider breadth vs. depth and choose a project that matches your goals as a student.
    • Should I do another project (like my other ones), to demonstrate a niche specialty/focus by going deeper?
    • Should I do something totally different from my other projects, to broaden my portfolio to be more well-rounded?
  5. Envision of your future “ideal” career and choose a project that aligns with your career goals?
    • What type of client projects do you hope to work on after you graduate?
    • What kind of designer do you hope to be? A generalist or specialist?
  6. Follow your heart and be passionate!
    • Are you totally excited to work on this project? If not, then choose another. If so, then go for it!

Make a Wish (List)

Write down your personal goals and prioritize them

  1. Technology Related:
    • Technologies to use/learn/test:div
      • Github (cloud-based version control & code sharing)
      • WordPress (custom theme from scratch or a child theme)
      • Web App Prototype (with Hi-fidelity UI design and videos/animated gifs)
      • Simple Native Web App (using Phonegap Build)
      • CSS3 Animation (test out different techniques)
      • My Own Custom Framework (similar to Site Base, Bootstrap, Foundation, Skeleton)
      • Responsive, Retina-ready graphics/imagery (including svg’s)
      • Using Modernizr (?)
    • Technologies to do more projects with:
      • CSS preprocessors (ie SASS)
      • jQuery
      • Vanilla Javascript (no JQuery)
      • Custom Grid Systems (and advanced grid layouts)
      • JQuery Slider/Slideshow
      • Single Page Site w/ Vertical Animation
      • Mobile Frameworks (Jquery Mobile, Framework 7, Ionic, etc)
      • Better Web Fonts/Typography
  2. Other things that I would like to integrate:
    • A Portfolio project with a “Simple” (less is more) minimilast UI (ie. flat and material)
    • Good use of the Grid (ie. The Magazine Look, Print Design Influence)
    • Rich, Strong Typography
    • Multiple Stacked Hero sections (e.g. “Posters”)
    • 1-2-3/Step-by-step Walk-through/Instructions
    • Speaking Navigation
    • 3D/Depth
    • Custom Icons & Visual Cues (ie. badges/starbursts, etc.)
    • Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, & YouTube Integration
    • Interesting backgrounds (ie. photos? gradients? patterns? stripes? etc.)
    • More White Space
    • Large, stylized footer

Conclusion

Choosing a school project can be challenge. But like all design problems, you can find a solution by being an informed designer and think critically about your chosen project.