Peer Presentation Reflection #1:
Name: Jack Parker
Discipline: Bachelor of Industrial Design
Reflection:
For my first peer placement reflection, I selected a video presentation from my own discipline of industrial design. The presentation was given by Jack Parker, an industrial design student who is completing his work-integrated learning (WIL) placement with Vac Truck Industries. His role as a mechanical engineering draftsperson and the experiences he had, are very similar to my own previous work experience. In his presentation, Jack discussed his role using the CAD software SolidWorks to produce complex 3D models and technical drawings, as well as his ability to collaborate with various staff members across the company to develop and refine designs.
In terms of transferable work skills, I was particularly impressed by Jack’s ability to adapt to new software and technical tasks. His experience in complex 3D modelling and producing technical drawings demonstrates his aptitude for problem-solving and attention to detail. These skills are likely to be valuable in a range of industrial design contexts, as they involve the ability to think critically and creatively to develop effective solutions to design challenges.
I was also impressed by Jack’s ability to work effectively with clients and create marketing materials. These skills are essential for success in the industrial design industry, as designers must be able to communicate their ideas effectively to a range of stakeholders and create engaging and compelling visualizations of their work.
I learned from Jack’s video presentation that the skills he developed with CAD and workplace communication are valued by employers and I know how long these skills can take to develop and refine. From my own work experience in this field and seeing Jack’s level of understanding of these skills is commendable. I was also impressed by the quality of Jack’s video presentation. The use of ambient background music, clear and concise voiceover, and effective use of video footage all contributed to a professional and engaging presentation. In my own video presentation, I will aim to emulate these elements in order to effectively communicate my own experiences and skills. To this end, I will make extra efforts to collect footage from my own placement to use in my video, in addition to writing a clear and concise script and recording high-quality voiceover.
Peer Presentation Reflection #2:
Name: Ashley Passlow
Discipline: Bachelor of Industrial Design
Reflection:
For my second critical reflection, I watched an exemplar video presented by Ashley Passlow, another industrial design student who completed a work-integrated learning (WIL) placement. During her placement, Ashley worked on a product that would help music therapists better treat patients. She did this by researching, designing, building, and prototyping a wearable device that would monitor the patient’s heart rate and from that data would control another device that played a curated song playlist developed by the music therapist. The aim was the device could better help the therapist understand the patients cues and help nurture the therapist/client relationship.
While watching Ashley’s presentation, I noted several skills that are relevant to my own placement experiences, including target market research, prototyping and testing, and CAD modelling and rendering. These skills are essential for success in the industrial design industry, as they involve the ability to research and understand the needs and preferences of target markets, develop and test prototypes to ensure that they meet these needs, and create detailed and accurate representations of design concepts using computer-aided design (CAD) software.
However, there were a few aspects of Ashley’s presentation that I found problematic. First, the audio quality was not great, with a scratchy sound and at times poor clarity. Additionally, the voiceover was recorded in one take, which resulted in long pauses and filler words such as “ums” and “ahs.” Finally, the video content consisted primarily of slides with information, and although the layout was well done, it could have been more dynamic with the inclusion of video in motion or other visual elements.
Additionally, it was not clear from Ashley’s presentation whether this was a university course project or a WIL placement project. This lack of context made it difficult to fully understand the scope and significance of her work. Finally, while Ashley discussed what she could improve about her project in the future, she did not reflect on how her experience could be applied to her future career goals. As a result, it was difficult to see the full value of her WIL placement in terms of her future development as an industrial design professional.
In my own placement and future career, I will aim to develop the skills and experiences noted above, as well as pay attention to the quality and clarity of my audio, the pacing and structure of my voiceover, and the dynamics and visual appeal of my video content. I will also strive to provide context and reflect on how my experiences can be applied to my future career goals in order to demonstrate the full value of my work to my audience.
Peer Presentation Reflection #3:
Name: Mac Reid
Discipline: Bachelor of Science MA: Marine and Wildlife Biology
Reflection:
The third and final peer presentation I will reflect on was done by Mac Reid. In her presentation, Mac discussed her experience at Seaworld Marine Park, where she did her WIL placement as a Bachelor of Science student, majoring in marine and wildlife biology. Her primary objective was to observe, document, and analyse stingray behaviour.
Mac was clear about the tasks she completed during her placement, including the use of the Zoo Monitor app to observe and document stingray behaviour. She also provided a timeline of outcomes and explained how her work benefited the client, Seaworld Marine Park. Additionally, Mac highlighted some unexpected challenges she faced during the placement and described how she was able to overcome them.
Although this student’s placement was in a different field to my Industrial Design degree, I was still able see a number of skills that are shared across industries, including research, documentation, and analysis, the ability to quickly learn new software used by the industry, the ability to work and collaborate with other team members, and the ability to self-direct tasks and outcomes and manage time effectively.
In terms of presentation skills, I found Mac’s voiceover to be clear and engaging, and the mix of dynamic video and static informational slides to be effective in conveying her message. Additionally, the use of visual elements such as transitions, titles, and graphs helped to make the presentation more engaging and visually appealing.
From my experience watching Mac’s presentation, I learned that there are a range of transferable skills that are valuable across industries, including research, documentation, and analysis, the ability to quickly learn new software, the ability to work and collaborate with others, and the ability to self-direct tasks and manage time effectively. Additionally, I learned that effective presentation skills, such as a clear and engaging voiceover, a mix of dynamic video and static slides, and the use of visual elements, can help to make a presentation more engaging and effective. I will aim to apply these learnings to my own work in the industrial design industry in order to develop my skills and succeed in my career.
