Jessica Mullis
Graphic Design Emphasis
Over
the past couple of years, my work has differed depending on the design or the
project I was working on. I was really trying to find my “style” in art and
design. I had been trying to make everything look unique to me as an artist. I
wanted my work to have some sort of aesthetic that would be recognizable across
all my work. I could never seem to achieve that goal in the past. I recently learned
that in order to be a good designer, the “style” should not come through the
person, but more so through each piece of visual communication. I came to the
realization, through the help of a professor, that each thing I design is
unique, so why should they all look so noticeably similar?
Since
then, I have looked at design much differently. It’s not about me, it’s about
the design. It’s not just about making a design look aesthetically pleasing,
it’s the combination of that and the message that makes a design work as a
piece of visual communication.
I
still believe that creating art for art’s sake is very important. Every so
often I get the craving to just make something for the sake of exploring the
creative process, and seeing what comes out of it. For me, the creative process
in a way has been like therapy. I’m able to clear my mind, without restriction,
and have something physical to reflect upon afterwards. I think that it’s
because of this view I take, that I have learned to appreciate all forms of
art. Whether I personally like it or not, I’ve learned to appreciate it and
look at it as not just an art object, but also a personal progression that
someone else went through.
My
time spent in the Weber State University art program has been very beneficial
to me as a student, and as a person in general. Of course, I have learned what
complimentary colors are, how to correctly proportion a human figure, and how
to use the pathfinder tool in Adobe Illustrator. However, it’s the
communication, problem solving, and critical thinking that I have learned to
really appreciate and apply to more than just school and my future profession. Exploring
the creative process has allowed me to think things through as a student
working on an assignment, but also as a person dealing with everyday struggles
that we all face.
Everyday I see something that influences
me as a person and as a designer, and I would like to keep all these influences
in mind when creating new pieces of visual communication. I believe that in
order to become a really great designer, I will have to constantly and
consciously keep design on my mind. I plan to keep exploring the process while
trying to adapt to these influences and new ways of design.
