Part of the reason I wanted to attend grad school (other than learning new skills and ideas) was because I was very uninspired in the environment I was in. I worked as a graphic designer for a small nonprofit. While it was a great experience, it was very easy to creatively burnout. The culture was not creative minded, but I needed to be creative. It was a constant struggle.
What I will take away from visual aesthetics is the process. While I tired to sketch and have a process in the past, no one cared how I got my design, they just wanted me to have a design. Now I know I need to go through the proper steps to truly create a better product.
In undergrad, I was constantly told how important process was, but I didn’t really understand it until now. Having a creative process is extremely important. Starting at the brainstorming stage is important. You can’t just skip to designing with out having a clear, worked out plan. It saves time and energy in the end.
I will miss this class next semester, as I love the chance to creatively problem solve. I hope to have more chances to do this next semester and in the future.