Be Prepared

My grandfather, my uncles, and half the boys in Sunday school were all boy scouts. All the boy scouts in my life have this reliable nature about them. They are cautious and adventurous, curious and capable, and always seem to have the right answer. I attribute it to the age old Boy Scout Oath: “Be Prepared,” an oath I hope to carry with me as I leave the iMedia program.

I see Visual Aesthetics as the cornerstone of this graduate experience for me. When preparing for this year, I interviewed three web design professionals. All of them emphasized that their job is a constant learning experience due to the changes in trends, technology, and clients. The other courses we are taking will prepare me for what I may be faced with now, but it will all be subject to change over time. Flash is not supported by mobile Apple products. The Magic Bullet Theory is irrelevant now. Web development will always be evolving. User preferences will change at a moments notice. But the eye for visual design can last the generations over. The tools will change, and the mediums will too, but being able to develop a creative vision well will serve me no matter what shifts.

My “I will BE PREPARED if I learn the following” list:

• I expect to learn design principles that I can rely on.
• I expect to learn how to edit, critique, and develop my work into professional quality  final products.
• I expect to learn how to be adventurous in design while maintaining a reliable skill level.

I’ll stop at three, because I like groups of three. But if I had to add one more and break my rule, I would expect badges. I will plan the ceremony, if you’ll do the sewing.