LO5: Personal leadership

Group Retrospectives

The group did a retrospective about the first sprint. We talked about improvements and what went well. I helped leading the conversation and documenting. What I can improve is stop worrying about what others think of me so my creative journey will be easier.

Here are the original notes that I took:

We did a second retrospective and talked more about how to improve. This is the whiteboard of that day:

What my takeaway was, is that I want to be more prepared for client meetings, because I already jump in when needed, but I would also like to actually lead. So I’m going to be leading on the 6th of November. I’m also going to take more actual breaks when I’m feeling out of it: eyes off the screen, eating something or a quick walk.

Third retrospective:

Fourth retrospective:

STARR Reflection

Situation
Throughout the semester, our group held multiple retrospectives to reflect on collaboration, workflow, and personal development.

Task
My task was to actively participate, help guide the conversation, and document insights while reflecting on my own behavior and growth.

Action
I supported the retrospectives by helping structure the discussion, writing notes, and openly reflecting on my own challenges. I identified personal improvement points, such as being better prepared for client meetings, taking initiative in leadership roles, and managing my energy by taking real breaks when needed.

Result
The retrospectives helped me become more self-aware and proactive in my development. I made concrete decisions to lead a client meeting and improve my preparation and self-care habits. This directly supports LO5 by showing conscious reflection and personal growth.

Reflection
This proof taught me that personal leadership starts with honest self-reflection. In the future, I want to set clearer personal goals after each retrospective and regularly evaluate whether I am acting in line with them.

Acquiring new skills

There are some skills that I want to refine this semester. One of these is experimenting with artstyles. I already did some different ones: blobby cat for our branding, the DND sketch for concepting of speedmeet and the concept poster I made during Chris’ workshop.

Blobby cat is 2D with drippys, because he is made from ink. He is also only one color:

What I learned most was to make more fluid shapes while maintaining cat features

The concept poster for Chris’ workshop was based the keywords “taste”, “harmony” and “healthy”. This one was inspired by pop art and comics:

During this, I learned a lot about combining keywords and creating something new. Gaining better vision in overlapping shapes and themes.

The magical forest for DND concept, which was more magical, 3D, rendered. Tried to play more with shadows and lighting:

I had never done something to this extent and it took a lot of time, so I was pretty stumped when it was decided on a whim that we were gonna scrap this concept for speedmeet. Here I also learned about how bad my hyperfocus can be, because this was all I could see for days. Next time I will set alarms to take breaks if I do rendering again. I also learned a lot about procreate’s features and a lot of brushes.

I talked with Chris about my passions with music and digital arts. He gave me the feedback to draw something small everyday to keep improving and to just use the audiolab for music and recording. He also encouraged me to do more with audio and music in the project, so I would like to put my focus on that for the next period of time.

STARR Reflection

Situation
During this semester, I wanted to broaden my creative skillset by experimenting with different art styles and creative disciplines.

Task
My task was to actively explore new visual styles and reflect on my learning process and personal limits.

Action
I experimented with multiple art styles, such as the blobby cat illustrations for branding, a rendered magical forest for the DND concept, and a pop-art-inspired concept poster. I also reflected on my working habits, recognizing moments of hyperfocus and emotional attachment to concepts. After feedback from lecturers, I set personal strategies to manage my energy better, such as taking breaks and setting boundaries during intensive creative work.

Result
I developed stronger visual versatility and a deeper understanding of my creative process. I also learned how to protect my well-being while working on demanding creative tasks. This supports LO5 by demonstrating intentional skill development and self-management.

Reflection
This experience taught me that growth is not only about skill acquisition but also about learning how I work best. In the future, I want to plan creative exploration more consciously and balance ambition with sustainability.

Rituals job interview

This semester I needed to get a job, so this meant I had to prepare my cv again and go to a job interview. Thanks to tina I got the opportunity at Rituals Eindhoven demer. Below you can see my CV:

Long story short, even tho I was very nervous and unsure, I got the job and they told me that they wanted to compliment my CV. So there was nothing to worry about in the end.

I have also noticed my social skills going up after this interview and even better now that I work there for over a month.

STARR Reflection

Situation
During this semester, I needed to apply for a job, which required preparing a CV and attending a job interview.

Task
My task was to present myself professionally and confidently despite feeling nervous and insecure.

Action
I updated my CV, prepared for the interview, and attended the job interview at Rituals. Even though I felt anxious, I focused on communicating my strengths clearly and authentically.

Result
I successfully got the job and received positive feedback on my CV. Since working there, I have noticed improvement in my social confidence and communication skills. This supports LO5 by showing personal development and increased self-confidence in a professional context.

Reflection
This experience taught me that my self-doubt is often stronger than reality. In the future, I want to trust my abilities more and approach new professional challenges with greater confidence.

Careerday

I went to the Fontys ICT Careerday to gain insights into the next semester(s) and looked into the courses, minors and internships. From this day I figured out that I wanted to do game design next and found some interesting companies. Something I found really interesting was making 3D Ads and campaigns and it’s certainly something I would like to do later.

STARR Reflection

Situation
I attended the Fontys ICT Careerday to explore future opportunities within my study and career path.

Task
My task was to gather information about minors, internships, and professional directions that align with my interests.

Action
I actively explored different booths, spoke with professionals, and reflected on which fields resonated with me. Through this, I discovered a stronger interest in game design and 3D campaigns and gained clarity about my future ambitions.

Result
The Careerday helped me make more informed decisions about my educational and professional direction. This supports LO5 by showing intentional career orientation and self-directed learning.

Reflection
This taught me that exploring the professional field helps ground my creative ambitions in realistic pathways. In the future, I want to attend more industry events and actively network with professionals.

Speedmeet host

I actually have pretty bad social anxiety so I wanted to really do something to step out of my comfort zone, which was hosting for Speedmeet. I already got to practice before for the real event by hosting during the usertest at school.

I still thought it was pretty hard, especially since we didn’t get a microphone at the event so I had to practically yell to get people to hear me. But I’d say it went better than expected.

STARR Reflection

Situation
During the Speedmeet project, the game required a host to guide participants during the event.

Task
My task was to step into the role of host, even though I experience social anxiety and public speaking is outside my comfort zone.

Action
I practiced hosting during a user test at school and later hosted the actual event. Despite technical limitations, such as the absence of a microphone, I adapted by raising my voice and staying focused on guiding the participants.

Result
The event ran successfully and participants were guided through the game. This experience helped me grow in confidence and resilience. It strongly supports LO5 by showing courage, self-challenge, and personal leadership.

Reflection
This experience taught me that personal growth often happens outside of comfort zones. In the future, I want to continue challenging myself in roles that require visibility and leadership.

SWAT of Self

To gain a better understanding of myself and my creative process as a media designer, I conducted a SWAT of Self. This reflection helps me become more aware of my strengths, challenges, ambitions, and potential risks, and how these influence my work, collaboration, and development within this project.

Strengths: I am strong in visual design, especially in Photoshop, and I have a good sense for aesthetics and atmosphere. I am skilled at concepting and enjoy translating abstract ideas into concrete concepts. Additionally, I am good at making people feel at ease, which helps during collaboration and user-focused design processes. I learn new tools quickly and enjoy experimenting with unfamiliar software and techniques.

Weaknesses: I can be impulsive in my decision-making, which sometimes leads to changes later in the process. Planning is a challenge for me, especially when multiple tasks overlap. I also struggle with perfectionism, which can slow down my workflow. Confrontation is something I find difficult, particularly in group settings, where I may avoid addressing issues directly.

Ambitions: During this semester, I want to build more confidence in my abilities as a designer. I aim to develop skills in 3D modeling and audio creation, as these are areas I want to explore further. Another important ambition is to stay authentic to myself and my creative vision while continuing to learn and experiment with new tools and technologies.

Threats: Stress and health-related challenges can negatively affect my productivity and motivation. Additionally, there is a risk of not being taken seriously, which can impact my confidence and communication within a team or professional setting.

STARR Reflection

Situation
Throughout the semester, I needed a clearer understanding of my strengths, weaknesses, ambitions, and risks to support my personal development.

Task
My task was to reflect critically on myself and how my personal traits influence my work and collaboration.

Action
I conducted a SWAT of Self, analyzing my strengths in visual design and concepting, my challenges with planning and perfectionism, and my ambitions for growth in confidence, 3D, and audio. I also identified external risks such as stress and health-related challenges.

Result
This reflection helped me make more conscious choices in how I approach projects and learning. It supports LO5 by showing deep self-awareness and intentional personal development.

Reflection
This exercise taught me that understanding myself is essential for sustainable growth. In the future, I want to revisit this reflection regularly to evaluate whether my actions align with my values and ambitions.