Designing Your Future: Creative and Reflective Exercises for Your Career

University of East Anglia
Norwich Business School
Management Skills and
Personal Development
NBS-7114A
SEMINAR 3
26 October 2021
Dr. Fahri Karakas
F.Karakas@uea.ac.uk

Tips on Preparing your Poster:
Examples of Creative Visual Work

3
 You can either come up with your ‘Creative
CV’ (you can check Google Images with
examples)
 Or, you can create your Vision Board/Mood
board and attach it.
 You do not need to explain your poster; but you can still write
about it if it will help you demonstrate your engagement with the
module learning outcomes and skills.
3

6
http://www.simplyzesty.com/advertising-and-marketing/the-most-
creative-job-applications-in-social-media-and-tech/#
http://print24.com/blog/2011/05/32-amazingly-creative-job-
applications/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jmaureenhenderson/2012/06/01/how-
a-creative-job-application-can-land-you-or-lose-you-your-dream-
job/
http://thenextweb.com/socialmedia/2011/06/30/6-wickedly-creative-
job-applications-for-the-digital-age/
http://jobmob.co.il/blog/most-creative-designer-resumes/
http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/dream-job-with-innovative-resume-
ideas/

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 A3 paper
 It’s about who you would like to be, what you would
your ideal life and world to look like
 Choose pictures that inspire you
 Don’t overthink it – focus on gut instinct
 Focus on the meaning of a picture and/or abstract
look and feel of it
16

20
 You in your ideal life
 Choose pictures that inspire you
 Don’t overthink it – focus on gut instinct
 Focus on the meaning of a picture and/or abstract
look and feel of it
 Think 80-20 Pareto : quickly tear or cut roughly, use
just a little glue to keep pictures in place temporarily
 When you are done, take a clear and high resolution
digital picture (Instagram quality)
 Attach the picture as your Poster
◦ If you choose this option, you do not need to add Creative CV
20

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 Choose your job advertisement and copy-paste it at
the top of your portfolio
 Update and customize your CV
 Update and customize your Cover Letter
◦ Both your CV and Cover Letter should demonstrate a very
good match for the job requirements.
 Remember to complete and attach the following:
1) Job Advertisement
2) CV
3) Cover Letter
4) Poster

23
 Seminar Activity 3:
 Flower Exercise
◦ Exercise and Discussion
 Seminar Activity 4:
 Choose Your Option
◦ Exercise

25
Week Self-Directed
Learning Activity
(i.e. what you did)
Learning/Inspiration/Lesson drawn
1 Listened to
Desert Island
Discs episode
of Dame Zaha
Hadid
I reflected on the critical importance of courage to shake up
traditional practices and concepts of architecture through fluid and
futuristic thinking. Zaha Hadid was one of the most celebrated
architects in the world in a field dominated by men. Her triumph
was to turn the beautiful graphic visions of her sculptural approach
into reality. This is due to her rare courage, conviction, tenacity and
a free creative spirit – all qualities that I find extremely valuable in
my future career. I am inspired to learn more about the unique life
and career of this remarkable woman.
2 Listened to
Desert Island
Discs episode
of Cath Kidston
Known for her floral designs combining the vintage and the
modern, Cath Kidston achieved amazing business success with her
business and brand worth £50 million and 100 shops worldwide.
Japanese are crazy about the brand calling it ‘kawaii’ (cute), a
celebration of cheerfulness. I find it a remarkable success story
based on finding this universal appeal of ‘cheering people up’
through practical design. Listening to her story, including the
obstacles and her vulnerable feelings during growing up her
business, was refreshing and gave me hope. Like her, perhaps I can
nourish my entrepreneurial side one day – all it requires is the
courage and readiness to experiment/fail along with a niche
business idea/solution that makes cheers up people.

27
Six Options – choose one of them
1. Personal Logo Table
2. Ten Responses Table: Your Best Year Yet
3. Table of Role Models
4. Table of Potential Firms and Job Positions
5. SWOT Analysis of Yourself and Your Career
6. Create your own Netflix show

Seminar 3 Activity
Flower Exercise

31
 In a nutshell, the “flower diagram” is a self-
assessment, intended to help you figure out what
type of work is most appropriate for you.
 Rather than existing in the form of a test, it
merely exists as a small set of questions that help
you to nail down what you’re actually looking for.
 These questions take the form of petals on a
flower.

34
 Where do you want to live and work?
 List top 3 factors that describe where you would
like your dream job to be located.
◦ Cold or warm weather?
◦ Big city or small town?
◦ Near the beach, the forest, or the mountain?
◦ Ideal cities and countries that you would like to work in?

35
 Which position do you wish to start at? Your job
title?
 Level of responsibility?
 Target annual salary: £
◦ Target monthly salary:
 How much would you charge for 1 hour?

36
 What are your preferable working conditions
under which you could do your most effective
work?
◦ Indoors or outdoors?
◦ Stay in one place or travel a lot?
◦ Prescribed or flexible hours?
◦ Working alone or as part of a team?
◦ More autonomy or structure?

37
1. Working with the human mind
 To bring more knowledge, truth, and clarity into the world
2. Working with the human body
 To provide shelter, food, clothing, fitness, or health
3. Working with the senses
 To bring more beauty into the world through art, music,
flowers, photography, decoration, crafts, jewellery, painting
4. Working with the human heart
 To bring more love and empathy to the world
5. Working with the human conscience
 To bring justice, morality, righteousness and honesty
6. Working with the human spirit
 To bring laughter, spirituality, faith, and compassion
7. Working with the earth
 To ensure sustainability and protection of the planet

38
◦ Choose and circle 5-7 characteristics from the table

39
◦ Choose and circle 5 fields or sectors from the table

40
◦ Choose and circle 10-12 skills that represent your strengths

 After you complete your flower exercise, share and
discuss your results in pairs
◦ Compare and contrast your results
 How does your ideal job look like?
 What does this exercise tell you about your ideal job?
 What are the implications?
 What are the actions that you will take to approach your
goal (i.e. ideal job)?
 Short, medium, and long term actions

Seminar 4 Activity
Optional Table

45
45
• Take 2 minutes to come up with
different alternatives, symbols, or
concepts
• A symbol that conveys your values
(who you are)
• That symbol needs to be meaningful to
you

46
46
 Take 1 minute to identify your
favourite concepts
 Write for a few minutes to
discuss your concepts
 Make your decision and choose
a concept
 Take 3 minutes to sketch
different designs for the same
concept
 Try different colours, line
styles, action, movement,
orientation, height-length
dimensions etc.

47
 Choose a design you like best
 Draw your own logo in details
(you can also do this digitally
if you would like)
 Explain why you chose this
logo
 If you are not happy yet with
your logo, spend some more
time on it
 Stop when you are ≥80%
happy
 Do not seek perfection
47

48
 Your table will include:
1) The process of logo creation;
including sketches and
prototypes
2) Description of the logo;
including what it represents and
why you have chosen this
symbol/logo
3) A few sentences on how this
logo is linked to your values and
your personal brand
4) Your final personal logo
5) You can include a motto or a
slogan if you want
48

49
1. What did I accomplish over the past 12 months?
2. What were my biggest disappointments?
3. What did I learn?
4. How do I limit myself, and how can I stop?
5. What are my personal values?
6. What roles do I play in my life? (Daughter, teacher, student,
job applicant, writer, consultant and so on)
7. Which role is my major focus for the next 12 months?
8. What are my goals for the next year?
9. What are my top 10 goals for the next year?
10. How can I make sure that I achieve them?

50
 Your Best Year Yet!: Ten
Questions for Making the Next
Twelve Months Your Most
Successful Ever
 This book is the best seller self-
coaching book of Jinny Ditzler
 In a table, please respond to
these 10 questions in 1-2
sentences

51
 Table of Role Models; with a few sentences of why they are
your role models and what you can learn from them
 Table of Potential Firms and Job Positions you would like to
apply for, sharing your own research on this
department/company and reflecting on why you are a good
fit
 Your own SWOT Analysis, based on a strategic view of your
career and your job application process
 Finally, you will imagine, design, and create your own Netflix
show (drama, documentary, reality, or any format).

 Decide which option you will pursue:
◦ Personal Logo Table
◦ Ten Responses Table: Your Best Year Yet
◦ Table of Role Models
◦ Table of Potential Firms and Job Positions
◦ SWOT Analysis of Yourself and Your Career
◦ Create your own Netflix show
 Start working on your optional table and do some brainstorming
on your exercise
 Make some progress, put down your ideas, write notes to
yourself on how to complete this table
 Each team: Share your initial work with one another
 Discuss and guide each other in your work

 Finalize your “Flower Exercise Result Sheet” (3)
 Finalize your “Optional Table” (4)
 Attach them to your coursework
 Work on all your portfolio elements:
◦ Job application portfolio
◦ Asset creation project
◦ Two creativity challenges
◦ Lecture evidence
◦ Seminars 1-4

54
 Choose your job advertisement and copy-paste it at
the top of your portfolio
 Update and customize your CV and Cover Letter
◦ Both your CV and Cover Letter should demonstrate a very
good match for the job requirements.
 Remember to complete and attach the following:
1) Job Advertisement
2) CV
3) Cover Letter
4) Poster (Creative CV or Vision Board)

Your most crucial task is: Create
your own creative assets. Start
now!
Use your class projects as an
opportunity to create your own
intellectual and creative assets.
Do not take yourself seriously. Take
your work seriously.
Do not be trapped by your ego –
this will make you mediocre.
You cannot learn and grow if you
try to be clever all the time. It is
much better to be naïve, hungry,
foolish, playful, and curious.
ASSETS

63
https://medium.datadriveninvestor.com/create-your-own-creative-assets-on-
the-internet-74af0e289dcd?sk=f019a56bfac1c6706032fd10f4487a74

Treat 2021 Fall as the semester of ASSET CREATION
In your individual project, you will be creating assets for your
future.
1. SEVEN I PROJECT (Kickstarter type project)
2. ENTREPRENEURIAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL (Shark Tank type
project)
• Think about the assets you want to
create for your future
• Do not think like a student. Do not
treat this as assignment.
• Do this for your own future.
• Do something real – create something
real and fresh.

72
You will choose Seven I or Entrepreneurial Proposal.
Start working on your asset creation project.
Remember: You need to implement it and share it with
the world.
You will include your asset creation project (3000 words)
in your individual portfolio due on Dec 9 2021.

73
 25% of your individual portfolio is “Your
Asset Creation Project”.
 The word limit for this part of your portfolio
is 3000 words (The other parts are not
counted).
 Decide which option you will be doing for
the 25% of your individual portfolio
◦ Option A: Seven I Project
◦ Option B: Entrepreneurial Business Proposal

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 Discuss your ideas about your asset creation
project
 Which option did you choose?
 Share your initial ideas, preparation,
research and brainstorming
 Offer mentoring and support for one another
 How can you add value to your friend’s
project?
 How can you connect your ideas together to
increase your creativity?

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