Baru Obračajová

I have swapped my all black winter uniform for cheerful pastel shirt dresses and all blacks for espresso tonics.

Summer entered the chat.

And as the elusive promise of summer creeps up on us, it’s time for another goal check-in.

Reflection of Q1/Q2 goals

I should preface this by noting that Q1/Q2 were intense. I have been keeping up with my goal of reading a book a week, experimented with some New Year’s resolutions, and took every opportunity to learn something new. I finally started speaking German and French regularly again and punched all the stress away at weekly boxing sessions. There was a lot happening at the university and at my work.

But how did it go with the goals I set? For a full list of goals, head over here.

Three learning videos ✅

Yes! With a somewhat improvised setup (screen recording and iMovie), I delivered two learning videos on static and dynamic legal info. These were well received by the students.

But after some time passed, I knew that I could push this further, and did a new and better version, yet to be tested. I set up some processes and standards (of course) for future exploration.

I loved the process and I am looking forward to more – so I got better software and decided to procure a mic to improve my audio (any tips?). Will come handy for all my virtual sessions too.

Absence tracking redesign ✅ish

I ended up tackling this challenge in two rather unexpected ways.

First of them was the one I originally planned – a small card for my students that they can carry and track their deliverables with. While I designed it, I haven’t actually tested it, as I finished the work late.

On the other hand, I went through the redesign of my teacher ops, resulting in much easier absence tracking architecture that eased the work itself on me and automated parts of it.

Finally, only a handful of students missed any of my classes at all (🥹). So I did not need to deal with this on any grand scale after all.

Design dates ❌

While I was socializing more and fostering our communities, I just haven’t gotten around to plan my design dates. When reflecting on that, I realized I am just struggling with the whole process of scheduling and maintaining my calendar(s).

So I added “design date” as an option to my calendly, and I fully intend to use it. Maybe this summer (see below).

100 hours of graphic design practice 👀

While this one has very straightforward metric, I am not sure how to gauge it. I have spent tons of time tinkering and experimenting with typography (both in Canva (no shame) and in Illustrator), but I haven’t exactly taken any structured course.

Unlike coding, I feel like self teaching graphic design is a little bit difficult to me. Also because I am just too scattered: do I like making logos? Should I make contracts in Illustrator? Should I double down on learning InDesign?

I did on the other hand have some real outcomes of my practice – many infographics for my blog and LinkedIn as well as a brand new logo for Attorney-at-Code that I am seriously proud of.

So this one is a 50/50.

Summer of Unguided Exploration

While I initially wanted to set goals for the upcoming quarters, I decided against it after reading an interview with George Loewenstein in Backstage Talks, Issue 6. He notes that there is value in serendipity and unguided exploration – and I would like to make space for exactly that.

So Serendipity and Unguided Exploration is exactly what I intend to do all summer long. I am open to considering any collaboration, any event, any project within or outside my regular field, making art and writing, reading fiction, and doing things without any real outcome in mind.

Instead of a goal list, I shall maintain a list of lucky accidents and serendipitous encounters.

Let the Summer of Unguided Exploration begin,

Baru