Regardless of your project's final deliverable, effective project planning sets the stage for a successful outcome. Setting clear, specific, and measurable goals – the S.M.A.R.T. approach – is your compass. 

S.M.A.R.T. goals are a structured way to define and plan your objectives in a clear and effective manner. They can be especially helpful for students like you who are embarking on an independent study project. Let's break down what S.M.A.R.T. stands for:

Specific: Your goal should be crystal clear. Instead of saying, "I want to get better at digital design," be specific about what you want to achieve. For example, "I want to create a brand logo for a fictitious business."

Measurable: You need a way to track your progress. So, your goal should be something you can measure. In our previous example, you could measure it by saying, "I want to complete a logo design with at least three variations."

Achievable: Your goal should be realistic and attainable. It's important to set a goal that challenges you but is still possible given your resources and the time frame. Don't aim to create an entire website in a week if it's not realistic. Instead, set achievable milestones.

Relevant: Your goal should be relevant to your overall project. In other words, it should contribute to the bigger picture. If you're designing a website, setting a goal to learn how to paint with watercolors may not be directly relevant.

Time-bound: Set a specific timeframe for when you want to achieve your goal. This helps create a sense of urgency and commitment. For instance, "I want to complete three logo variations within two weeks."

You are evaluated on your ability to set S.M.A.R.T. goals throughout the duration of your project.

Part of your learning in this project will require you to explore project management tools to help you document, track, and record your progress. You will want to develop a system from the beginning of your project's inception. Many systems exist to help you do this, you should explore a system that you believe will help you track and document progress effectively. Read through these questions to help you prepare. 

Choose the Right Tools: Start by selecting the project management software or tool that suits your needs. There are various options available, both free and paid, and vary in complexity. The simplest tool you can use is a Google Doc (or even just a pen and paper). You may also be interested in trying out other software, such as Notion or Monday.

Define Your Project Tasks: Once you've decided on your tool, you will want to break down your project into smaller, manageable tasks that you can complete in 1-2 periods. This will require a bit of preliminary research, since you'll be learning these skills for the first time. For instance, if you're creating a brand identity, you'll want to look at examples of other brand identity packages online to get a sense of what's required. After exploring, you may determine that some of the tasks you'll need to do include "sketch logo ideas", "create digital logo drafts", "find/create mockup photoshop files", etc.

Set Dependencies: Dependencies are tasks that can't happen until others are finished. Using the brand identity example, you can't create logo drafts before you've done research. You can't create the mockups without the logos. This helps you establish a logical order for your tasks.

Create a Gantt Chart: A Gantt chart is like a visual timeline of your project. In a Gantt chart, you list your tasks on the left and allocate timeframes to each task along a timeline. As a beginner, start by creating a simple Gantt chart using Google Sheets following this tutorial

Assign Deadlines for Yourself: Allocate realistic deadlines to each task on your Gantt chart or in your project management software. Ensure that these deadlines align with your overall project completion date (6 weeks in your case).

Monitor Progress: As you work on your project, update your project management tool regularly. Mark tasks as "completed" or adjust timelines if necessary. This allows you to see how well you're sticking to your plan. It's critical that you set aside time to do this frequently, and not let your productivity exceed your ability to track progress. If you encounter unexpected delays or changes in your project scope, don't worry. Timeline adjustment is a natural component of project management, just don't let it get out of hand!

Stay Organized: Keep all relevant project files, notes, and resources in one place within your project management tool. This ensures everything you need is easily accessible.

Remember, these tools are there to assist you, not to complicate your project. They help you stay organized, meet deadlines, and achieve your S.M.A.R.T. goals effectively. As you become more familiar with them, you'll find they are invaluable for any project, and you'll be better equipped to handle more complex projects in the future. 

Researching the project scope and identifying the skills you need to learn are key initial steps. Then, you'll create a plan to self-teach using online resources. The process may seem overwhelming, but through thoughtful project planning and smart goal-setting, you'll be equipped to manage your project efficiently and bring your creative ideas to life within a 6-week timeframe. So, embrace these planning methods as your allies on the journey of your independent study project.