Get over been rejected & Be organised without planning

Yoann Hui

Design Management and Culture

​Today, technology and globalisation created us a well-networked but complex world. The economy is shifting from attention economy to emotion economy, and human-centred design becomes significant and noticeable in different sectors such as financial, built environment, branding and marketing. It is by setting the target audience as the core of the design and aims to contribute a good user experience. Being a creative nowadays in this society, We have been requested not just be creative but also open-minded, adaptive, and curiosity. We need to understand the challenge in-depth to create a human-centred solution; human insights and culture is an essential part of it. 

Due to this, it develops my eagerness to experience and understand how the London creative industry plays its role in this complex world. And aim to practice my skills and learn within the UK and Europe market after graduate, to enhance my working experience multiculturally that would hugely beneficial my future career. However, in a competitive and fast speed, London society, have a chance to work in the creative industry is not easy. Be an international graduate looking for an opportunity to work in the London creative industry is even harder because of the Visa issue. 

As the above reasons, I decided to join the DPS program and minded not just study but also experience and practice in the London creative industry. And expect to build-up some network that may help my future career growth. During our course, we have been trained as a thinker by learning and practising not same problem-solving methodologies and identity analysis skills. This discipline is broad and adaptable to various sectors. At the beginning of DPS, my goal wasn't that clear and only want to explore the UK and Europe creative industry. 

Since June, I have been planning to seek placement and aim to get an offer before I returned to my home town for switching my Visa. However, It wasn't an easy job, and I couldn't manage to do it. While I back to my home town, I still kept searching for different placement such as project management, brand strategy and creative intern in London. During this period, it made me doubt about my portfolio and works. I was kept in touch with Sarah for the portfolio advice. 

Following with portfolio approval with Sarah, she advised me to applicate for a year-long internship that would be working at Arup FRI team (Foresight, Research and Innovation). Arup is a global design film mainly focusing on the built environment market. And FRI team is an internal research team at Arup, it responses to provide business insights for internal projects or clients. I have been contacted by them for an interview after the application, but I failed the application. A week after, surprisingly, I got an email from Arup global research team leader for another interview, and presently at the final stage of the application. With a hope that I able to work and learn from them. 

During these times, I am learning to get over been rejected and be organised without planing. Also, I have been motivated since I examine more about research role. I am passionate about understanding the challenge and change in our everyday lives. And research it helps to inform our understanding in-depth, as key themes that are currently affecting or we thing it may affect our future. It provides insights, so we are understanding practically what we can do about these things. As a researcher, the role is not only to unpack the challenges, gives inspiration and helps designer for innovation and creative solutions. It also has a responsibility to present and convince business leaders to be aware of or take action to be up-to-date in our society. It such a motivative and meaningful role to be, as key themes that are our action then contributes to a resilient and ultimately much more sustainable world.