#collaborativeskills

Collaboration skills are the abilities needed to work well with others toward a common goal. The TeamBuilding article “9 Examples Of Collaboration Skills” defines these as competencies like communication, open-mindedness, and conflict resolution, which help teams share ideas, solve problems, and reach good outcomes.

First, communication is central. Being able to express ideas clearly, listen actively, and ask questions helps team members stay aligned. When everyone understands what others think and feel, misunderstandings drop and teamwork becomes smoother.

Second, open-mindedness means being willing to accept different ideas, adapt your views, and consider others’ perspectives. This attitude helps when new suggestions come up or plans need changing. It also builds respect and trust, since people feel heard and valued when their input matters.

Third, dealing with conflicts is part of collaboration too. In any group, disagreements will occur. Good collaborators don’t ignore this; they address tension respectfully, talk through differences, and find compromises. This not only solves problems but also strengthens relationships within the team.

The article also gives examples and ways to build these skills. One suggestion is role clarity—making sure everyone knows their tasks and responsibilities so overlaps or gaps don’t cause confusion. Another tip is regular interaction and feedback—inconsistencies shrink when teams meet often, share progress, and support each other.

In sum, collaborative skills help groups turn individual efforts into stronger collective results. By communicating well, staying open to others, resolving conflict, and keeping roles clear, teams become more effective, creative, and motivated.

Works Cited

Reference

“9 Examples Of Collaboration Skills.” TeamBuilding, teambuilding.com, www.teambuilding.com/blog/collaboration-skills. Accessed 29 Sept. 2025.

(250 words)

Discussing the seven weekly topics as a whole highlighted the multifaceted nature of critical thinking in design. Each topic offered a unique approach, from understanding visual metaphors to the significance of structured research and collaborative work. The Critical Thinking Skills module has impacted my approach as a designer and student representative by enhancing my learning and leadership capabilities. Week 1’s introduction to critical thinking reshaped my analytical process, reinforcing the value of questioning assumptions and approaching issues from multiple perspectives. This has aided my CPJ work, encouraging more thoughtful reflections and better project outcomes!

Week 2’s collaborative skills proved essential for my group projects in Studio, teaching me to communicate effectively and balance different viewpoints. This skill has also been crucial in my role as class representative, enabling me to mediate discussions and foster an inclusive environment. Effective communication is key to building trust within teams (Wheelan).

Week 3’s focus on emotional intelligence taught me to manage stress and understand team dynamics better. This has been particularly helpful in coordinating group efforts and addressing classmates’ concerns. Emotional intelligence also played a key role in maintaining composure during demanding assignments, supporting personal growth and teamwork (Goleman).

Week 5’s growth mindset encouraged me to view challenges as opportunities for improvement. Applying this in Craft Workshop allowed me to experiment without fear of failure, fostering innovation. It also inspired me to encourage peers to take creative risks, boosting morale during group efforts.

Week 9’s digital media documentation reinforced the importance of tracking creative processes. Integrating this into my CPJ led to clearer project presentations, adding value to my role as a student representative, where structured documentation aids communication.

These interconnected topics formed a toolkit that improved my ability to lead and collaborate. Understanding critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and growth mindset made me more empathetic and effective in group settings, supporting my leadership and academic growth. 

Total word count: 330 Words

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Works Cited:

Goleman, Daniel. Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ. Bantam, 1995.

Wheelan, Susan A. Creating Effective Teams: A Guide for Members and Leaders. SAGE Publications, 2016.

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Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity, 2009 - Yayoi Kusama

Infinity Mirrored Room – Love Forever, 1966/1994 - Yayoi Kusama

Phalli’s Field, 1965 - Yayoi Kusama

Personally, I’d say my biggest strengths in collaborating would be my ability to brainstorm prior to experiences. From doing arts and music, to being an affiliate promoting products on tiktok, I’m able to work independently with the given experiences and skills. For example, during Studio A in week 6 Data space, I told my classmate to pose using the headphones which added personality for our task to arrange objects under emphasis. I realised that my last minute suggestion was prior to my advertising video styles; where I include memes or sound effects to catch attention on tiktok! Thus, I learnt that our journey grows for design when we link to personal hobbies for ideas.

Moreover, for collaborative skills, I would say that I am compassionate towards people as I mostly listen to people’s problems as well as giving advice. For instance, in week 1 craft, I worked with people who are soft-spoken and introverted. One of my classmates looked lost and kept to herself, so I reached out to her to listen to her ideas. Who knew her idea made our project more significant! Thus, being compassionate in collaboration means to help others for everyone’s benefit.

Lastly, collaborative skills means to ensure no ideas come unheard and to be confident. In a class filled with ‘brainstormers’, everyone has overflowing enthusiasm when it comes to Design. Thus, some of us are afraid to share their ideas as they are insecure. Another example relating to my first point, it took me a while to speak up for the last minute idea. I was afraid at first as no one heard my suggestion until I repeated it louder. Although I was embarrassed, in the end everyone was satisfied with the outcome! Thus, during collaboration, it is important to be confident to share your ideas if there is potential to improve something.

(308 words)

Craft workshop week 2 Line (group members: aretha (me), Lova/Kim SeoJeong, Qiao Ya, Jamie Heng, Vanna

Week 6 Studio A, Data space class activity. (Class CEN1C 2024 Elfie (in picture),

References in MLA style:

Ghimire, Stuti. “Hobbies Improve Student Life in More Ways than One - the Washburn Review.” The Washburn Review - Established 1885, 7 Apr. 2023, washburnreview.org/43874/features/hobbies-improve-student-life-in-more-ways-than-one/. ( Accessed 12 November)

My main strength as a collaborator is effective communication. I prioritize engaging with my peers and maintaining high energy, which fosters an inclusive environment where everyone feels encouraged to contribute. This openness aligns with research that highlights the importance of strong communication for trust and cohesion within teams (Wheelan). However, critical self-reflection has revealed the need to moderate my tone and volume. My enthusiasm can sometimes be overwhelming, impacting the balance of group dynamics. Research suggests that adjusting one’s communication style is essential for teamwork (Whetten and Cameron).

Beyond communication, my self-awareness helps me recognize challenges and work to improve them. Critical thinking supports this by allowing me to analyze my actions and adapt, emphasizing emotional intelligence in collaboration (Goleman). Learning from past interactions has reinforced that balancing energy with mindfulness enhances group effectiveness. In future Craft Workshop and Studio projects, applying this understanding will improve my collaboration and contribute to a more harmonious team experience. This approach resonates with my belief in the power of open communication and fostering inclusive environments. Just as Eliasson’s art encourages engagement and connection, I aim to contribute to creating a space where everyone feels heard and valued.

02. If you had more time and an unlimited budget, how would you design the monument differently? (79 words)

If I had more time and an unlimited budget, I would transform our “el gato” monument into a giant stained-glass sculpture, adding intricate details like stripes and cute eyes. The design would be expanded into a nature-blended mall, where free-roaming rescued cats create a dynamic, interactive, and inclusive environment. This would enhance the aesthetic and create an immersive, participatory experience, much like Olafur Eliasson’s works, where engagement and shared experience are central to the art itself.

Total word count: 275 Words

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Works Cited:

Goleman, Daniel. Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ. Bantam, 2006.

Wheelan, Susan A. Creating Effective Teams: A Guide for Members and Leaders. 5th ed., SAGE Publications, 2017.

Whetten, David A., and Kim S. Cameron. Developing Management Skills. 9th ed., Pearson, 2016.

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The weather project, 2003 Tate Modern, London – 2003 Photo: Tate Photography (Andrew Dunkley & Marcus Leith)

Kaleidoscope for plural perspectives, 2024 The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, Los Angeles – 2024 Photo: Studio Olafur Eliasson

Your rainbow panorama, 2006-2011

Week 2: Collaborative Skills

My experience working in a group was really good because it was beneficial for me, it has made me feel like i was capable of being and working with other people c:

My strength as an individual student is that i am a active listener to my fellow classmates as i was not afraid of listening to many possibilities of the outcome of the class project and that just made me feel good about myself as i felt like working in a group has different obstacles to it and this was one but it surely wasn’t an issue to me.

Another strength about myself is that i was a person who was not afraid to ask questions and communicate how i felt about the direction of the art piece and my doubts about it.

This group project helped me learn more about myself because I realised how open minded I was about the never ending outcomes to an art piece especially when it came to a group setting which was great as we worked together as a team to make it come to life.

A weakness that I can improve is that i can be better at generating more ideas as i was kind of stuck when it came to helping my group mates come up with ideas.

If i had more time i would make the monument more 3 dimensional, since we were on a time crunch my group felt like it was best to make it short and simple by creating a monument solely based on a 2 dimensional artifact.

If i had a unlimited budget i would have made a 3 dimensional model that shows earth turning with a 3d modeled hand holding eachother showing a peaceful moment in human history, i wouldnt change the concept that we came up with as it was a brilliant idea my group and i came up with.

Word count: 316

References (MLA STYLE):