Month: November 2022

So far in this program I have not had much exposure to the graphic design world beyond our guest speakers. Through these speakers, though, I learned there are some overlapping qualities between the worlds of visual media and graphic design. Graphic design seems to be incredibly challenging. I have little to no exposure to web design and it seems very daunting. The character qualities that come into play are comparable to my own field of visual media from punctuality and dedication to application and repetition all of these qualities are key parts of both disciplines. In my brief glimpse into the design side of things I have learned that the career path is massively competitive and that you really must put in a lot of work just to make it to the bottom line when it comes to corporate careers. Moving forward, I think I would like to see more design jobs that are not centered around the corporate ladder and hold more personal and artistic significance. I have met some truly kind, funny, and interesting people in the design program and I am very much looking forward to seeing what they do in this program and beyond. Design is a great career choice for these individuals and something I could see myself doing in a different life.  

Visual media and graphic design obviously share core elements. However, visual media tends to focus more on storytelling and environment setting while in contrast graphic design focuses more on conveying information in a concise and succinct manner. Carrying over what I’ve learned about graphic design will help in the visual media program to more effectively express my artistic vision to a broader audience. Design also tends to be very much all about the tiny details which I personally have a tendancy to lose or glaze over in favor of the broader picture. I believe I could apply this to my own work to make more polished finished products. I think that design is also very representative of compromise. The product we as the consumer or viewer see is almost never what the designer had originally intended, much like what AJ discussed when she spoke to us. It goes through so many hands and so many changes that really only base elements of the designer’s vision are still present. This is also true in photo and video work as well, especially in the corporate realm where it has everything to do with what the client wants and very little to do with what you actually want to create. Personally, I do not believe the corporate rat race is for me, that is not to say I will not take a job that is presented to me and do my best at it, but more so that I cannot see myself truly finding happiness in that environment. What I do appreciate though, is learning more about the process in which designers go through, witnessing the creativity at play, and seeing those characteristics applied in real world scenarios.  

Of the leadership principles we heard about this week I’d say the top 3 I have personally displayed are “Have Backbone: Disagree and Commit”, “Customer Obsession”, and “Learn and Be Curious”.

Being in customer service for the last 10 years has taught me a lot about people and how to work with them while still retaining my dignity. There have been many businesses I have worked for with domineering or aggressive employers and catered to haughty, self-possessed customers. Most of the time if you approach a situation with maturity and grace while still holding your ground then usually the other party will at least meet you halfway. It is all about compromise. That, to me, is what “Have Backbone: Disagree and Commit” means.

“Customer Obsession” is my specialty, at least in terms of the service industry. When I am making customers their coffee, I take a lot of pride in the product I put out and the feedback I have gotten over the years has been overwhelmingly positive. I know what people want and I know how to give it to them.  

“Learn and Be Curious” is less something that is specific to my work life, and more something that I have as a principle in my life as a whole. I think learning and a good sense of curiosity will get you any place you could ever want to go. Learning is something that I will strive to do as long as I live, and I will never stop being curious and making discoveries about the world around me and translating that into my work and art. 

I would say the principle I would have the most difficult time adopting would be “Dive Deep” I tend to get lost in detail and am definitely more of a big picture thinker. Sometimes it can be hard for me to delve deeply into things unless I find them extraordinarily interesting. It is something I have been working on for a while and I am much better at being detail oriented now, but I think if we are talking corporate leadership, that would be my steepest learning curve.