How to Survive An Accelerated Design Program
In my personal journey to happiness in not only my career, but also my life, I sought out a program that could fulfill my curiosity and passion for creation, technology and helping people and this planet. This led me to BDW.
BDW is a year long, accelerated graduate program dedicated to redesigning learning for the realities of the 21st-centery global economy. Here we’re developed into marketable talent that possess a unique and relevant combination of user experience design, product development, visual design, research and entrepreneurship.
Needless to say, this program will kick your ass, in the best possible way! Having been through 8 months of BDW, I have acquired, through experience and friends, a few tips and tricks to successfully get through such an intense program.
1. Step away from the screen. We have a lot to do, I mean, a lot. Nearly all of what we have to do is on the computer screen. It’s easy to get tunnel vision working on projects and scouring the web for more information, inspiration and learning, but at these times it is more important than ever to step away. To get up, go for walk, grab a coffee, get some exercise or just see friendly faces, when you let your mind rest and breathe is when true genius moves in.
2. Get to know your cohort beyond working together in the classroom. We spend an inordinate amount of time together. The year goes by quickly and we find ourselves at the studio more than anywhere else. It is important to take the time to get to know your peers. They have other interests and backgrounds we can learn from, as well as having personalities you can mesh with and laugh with, confide in and be there for. We’ve created a family that I know will help me in not only my career, but life, for years to come. So invite them for a drink, have pot luck dinners, and make friends!
3. Don’t be an asshole. Period.
4. Be Flexible. The schedule changes, weekly…daily, just embrace it! At BDW we are fortunate enough to learn from industry professionals. This means they have jobs and companies to run during the day and that things come up for them. The more flexible we are willing to be, the more we will get from them. Also, allow your mind to flex. If you’re feeling bothered by the program or people, take a minute and know it’s all to help you grow and learn. You learn a lot in a very short amount of time, the more malleable you can keep your brain, the easier the information will soak in.
5. Utilize 300+ Awesome Free Things for Startups and Entrepreneurs. This article has incredible resources from business & marketing, stock photos, name generators, SEO analyzers, sending mass emails, social media management and more. You’ll need this.
6. Listen to recorded books. We have books we must read “thrown” at us every day that people expect us to read. All I say is…when!? We’re busy, beyond busy. It is hard enough finding time to do laundry and eat, let alone read a book. I’ve taken up listening to books during my commute (I drive from Denver to Boulder every day). They can also be listened to during chores, workouts, and even just getting ready in the morning. This is a really great way to consume the knowledge we need from the books while being able to get other things done.
7. Read/Listen to Manage your Day-to-Day by 99u. This book is all about maximizing your time and talent. It gives you the tools to create your best work in the limited time you have.
8. Prep your food. Make the time to grocery shop, my favorite store is Trader Joes. It’s important to remember to eat, and to eat as well as you can. Having a healthy diet will help you feel motivated in even the most stressful of times. I try to make a rough plan of the food I want to eat during the week and ensure I have snacks to bring to school. I may not always follow this regimen but when I do I notice a difference in my performance and mood.
9. Brush your teeth while making your bed, or coffee, or breakfast, etc. Multitasking wherever possible. I try to make sure I am utilizing every moment in the best possible way, mornings especially.
10. Use 10MinuteMail.com. 10MinuteMail gives you a random email for 10 minutes that you can use to sign up for any service that may send you an slew of junk mail. Maybe you want a discount, or need to use their product, or maybe it is the prototyping site Flinto.com that you need a new email every 30 days. Keep your inbox clean. Amazing.
11. Always have a change of clothes. We never know what’s next at BDW, at a moments notice we can get an assignment that we have to work until late hours of the night doing. Sometimes it snows and you live 40 minutes away and it would be much easier just to spend the night at a fellow cohorts house. Remaining flexible and always prepared can help you in moments like these.
12. Stay positive. Believe in yourself and your peers, faculty, and advisors. Know that if you put in the work, you’re going to reap the reward. Challenge yourself, stay focused, have fun, smile, laugh, dig deep, overachieve. This is the most amazing experience, if you believe it is!
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