Questions on Strategic Career Direction - 10 Jan 2012

Already into the new year, and realisation of the completion of the MA, I am questioning which strategic direction is best to take with my work.

Simply I see that there is my past work, my early MA work, my current MA work, my future MA work, and my future employment work.

1.past work,
2.early MA work,
3.current MA work,
4.future MA work,
5.future commerical employment work.

This has been my career progression

1999 - Graduated with a BA Hons in Graphic Design for Publishing
purpose: To gain work in Publishing

2000 - Retrained in Website Design, Graphical skills reduced in place of Website Skills
progression: Emerged as a designer/developer with Photoshop, HTML, CSS skills.
purpose: To become known as a Web Designer

2001 - Started working for System Simulation
skills learnt/developed: Print design, User interface design, Accessibility, Usability reviews, Corporate identity, HTML, CSS, Javascript. Design for Museums Sector, began early CMS knowledge - through Index+ CMS.

2005 - Travelled and worked in Canada
purpose: To gain international work experience, consider starting own company, build own portfolio.
skills learnt/developed: Flash. Actionscript learning.

2006 - Returned to UK
purpose: To return to work in the London scene and develop my portfolio of Website projects.

2007 - Started working for BPP
purpose: To become experienced as a technical Website Producer
skills learnt/developed: Dreamweaver, Flash, Actionscript, Immediacy CMS, Liferay CMS, Eloqua Email marketing, Website Banners, Wordpress, Google Analytics, Jquery, Wireframes. Design for Education/Financial sector.

2011 - Commenced MA in Interactive Digital Media
purpose: To strengthen my knowledge of Digital Media, gain interactive skills, add a qualification/certification to my commercial work.

2012 - Finished working for BPP
plan: To work for companies/work freelance.

2013 - Work for Startup at Google Campus on Tumblr Blog
purpose: Gain referral, recommendation.

---


1.past work,
Static Websites/CMS-based Websites built with Dreamweaver, HTML and CSS

2.early MA work,
Chinese Language Learning Tool on Mobile/Ipad/Smartphone.
Early ideas about gaining work on Chinese websites, learning, and Chinese learning mobile applications
Learn about designing for devices other than PCs.

3.current MA work,
Physical piece of interaction.
Digital Projection mapping of images and stories onto a 3D printed model of an island.
Project between LCI and NMM
LCI: provides the projector or projection knowhow.
NMM: provides the space for the exhibition piece.
Learn about designing for interactives that are non-PC based.
interaction methods: touchscreen, mobile, gesture.

4.future MA work,

PG04 - Mobile Storytelling application

?
Possible directions depend on future direction.
4a)Mobile Application Design
future companies/future jobs.
Android iOS
UX/UI
Designing mobile internet sites for smartphones and tablets

4b)Physical Interactive Design
future companies/future jobs.
design for mobile
design for touchscreen
Interaction Designer
Exhibition Designer

4c)Email Marketing Design
- but does it look at interactivity?

4d)UI Design
- user interfaces for different forms of media.

4e)Digital Design
- designing for different forms of media.

4f)Storytelling Design
Multimedia producer
Digital producer
UX Designer

4g)Transmedia Design
TV producer
Multimedia developer
- experience with FinalCutPro
- AfterEffects
- Motion Graphics
- Gaming applications

5.future commerical employment work.

Several directions:
Jobtype:
1.Designer
2.Front-End-Developer
3.Consultant
4.Own company

Area of expertise:
1.Websites - Education/Publishing
2.Mobile applications
3.Email marketing
4.Physical interactives
5.Education/Language learning
6.Games applications
7.Transmedia
8.Video work

---

Core future work:
1.Email Designer
- build email knowledge and best practice - SilverPop

2.Interactive Designer
- build application/touchscreen/gestural/ar/nfs/3d experience
knowledge of 3D programs/mapping/3D projection/3D printing

3.Website Designer
- build experience of PHP, Javascript, Jquery.

4.E-Learning Designer
- build experience of E-learning technologies

5.Narrative Designer
- build experience of interactive storytelling software/approaches

6.UI Designer
- build experience of designing with UI software, Axure, etc, build communication skills, Project management skills.

---

Motion software:
AfterEffects
Flash
Premier

3D software:
Maya