I remember at the beginning of the semester I tried to define what Design meant. As I stated then, I really didn’t know. I was working at the time at NC State and frequented many buildings on campus. I would always pass the building with Design written on it and always wondering what that meant. I had to walk right past it on my way to eat and would wonder what studying design meant and what sort of students would study it. Design of what, I would say. Graphic design? Architecture design? Some other design I didn’t know about? There was even a guy I worked with who graduated from that program at State and I was always scared to ask him what exactly he studied as I didn’t want to seem stupid.
Well, now I get it. I have a new filter thanks to this class. I see the world a little differently and I am appreciative. Now, I admit I am not the best at making that design, and I don’t think anyone would argue that. But I sure do know what good design looks like. I know what looks good and why it does or does not, and then what needs to be done to make it good. Being in traditional media, this offers me a whole new skill set and a new level of skill, and I am truthfully grateful for that. I even look at art differently.
I literally just finished reading my local town paper prior to making this post and I want to comment on a comment someone printed. A gentleman is complaining about a piece of art a local town paid for and wonders how it is art. He goes on and on about what is art and how it doesn’t look like it and why is the town paying that much money for it. I believe that last summer I may have either somewhat agreed with him or been sympathetic. Now, I’m not so sure. While it may not be his style, it is art and there are people that probably like it. Someone took the time to make a piece of themselves through sculpture, and that is the definition of art. I liked this class.