GD5 - 1.1. Lesson task - The creative process: step 1

The task

Write a short, informal paragraph to describe the type of graphic designer you want to be. It can have as many words as you feel fit and can be in any format you wish: draw a picture, add a photo, or make a mind map. Let your personality shape the delivery.

The questions below may kickstart the process:

• What kind of job do you want to wake up to every day? What do you want to do daily?

• Which type of clients do you want to work with?

• After pinning down your interests and vision of yourself as a professional, in which areas do you think you need more growth and experience?

• What are your next steps to fulfil who you want to be as a graphic designer?

If you are unsure, think of the different courses you’ve done so far in your studies and the projects you enjoyed most - where did you naturally flourish, and which projects did you unexpectedly shine in?

Answers

The type of designer I want to be is someone who has no specific style, I want to be flexible and be able to work with different styles, moods, and projects. I want to incorporate my passion for photography and graphic design skills into my work.

• The job I would love to wake up to every day would have to involve photography and working with photographs. I would love to be a part of a team that works with magazines, commercials, newspapers, or even websites.

• The clients I would love to work with would give me creative freedom while still being involved in the project. I would love to be able to discuss my ideas with them and receive feedback that I could work with.

• The areas I think I need more growth and experience in would be photography (there is always a need for improvement), back-end coding, better project planning, communication with clients, and how to represent my work in the best way possible.

• My next steps to fufil what I want to be would be to find time to improve my skills and planning, work on different projects with different people, and gain more experience.

  Right now, I have to juggle having two small kids, working my job, and doing school at the same time, but my aim is to actually make photography and graphic design my job in the future. I want to dive into the design world, meet new people, work on exciting projects, and be proud of the results.

Photo by me

Sometimes I imagine myself as a bee. A small insect in a big world that you might think doesn't matter, but in reality, what the bee does during its life is crucial. Bees go through flowers (in my case, projects) with different sizes, colors, structures, and difficulty levels. Sometimes they have to work in the wind and rain (difficult times), but in the end, they always manage to pull through and serve their purpose. They help flowers (customers) with pollination, and in return, they get nectar (payment), which feeds and supports their whole colony (family).

I can only hope that one day I can be as useful to society as the bee is to nature.