kathryn moore

Junior year in the Graphic Design program at Ferris State University, that is. Where to begin? At the beginning I suppose.

First semester started and ended so quickly for me, time flew by, making it feel like I hadn’t accomplished a thing. Turns out, I felt that way because I actually hadn’t accomplished anything. I was working so much and concentrating so much on other parts of my life, that it was almost like I forgot how important design is to me. This was made very apparent by my project outcomes, well, not so outcomes. I was doing minimal work just so I could get extra hours at work, and in the end all those extra hours did was cost me a teary eyed meeting with my professors, practically begging for another chance in the program. I couldn’t just ask for another chance, as I know that would quite possibly have just ended in a laugh in the face, rather, I went to them with a plan. I quit my job, I managed my time, stayed in Big Rapids during vacations, everything I could think of to be a better design student.

I realized very early on in the second semester how different things would be with all of my new found time. I ACTUALLY thumbnailed, and did prototypes, and talked to my professors about my work, it was weird at first, but I’m glad I started to change my habits to ones that would help me succeed in the future. Throughout the rest of the semester, I learned a lot about my work habits and where I fit in in the design world. I’m very thankful that I was allowed another chance in the program and pray that my hard work pays off.

In a Typeradio interview, two of the founders of Strukt Design Studio describe their team as being skilled in unique ways, making the team flexible and versatile. This is such an important thing to remember when working in groups, that not everyone has the same talents, but it’s the differences in these talents that make the team work as a whole.

A specific instance that comes to mind is the project we’re working on in groups right now, my groups topic being, “Journalism in 2020.” When we were first assigned this project and put into groups, we were asked to not only do the work together as a group, but to think about the different roles you can have within that group. The format we were asked to compare and contrast with is called the 9 Pillars of Design, which refers to the tactical and strategic sides of a design team.

At this point of the project, I can see different talents coming out in each person in my group, including realizing the things that I bring to a group that I hadn’t realized before. For instance I’ve always been good at and enjoyed researching and creating content, lucky me, turns out that’s one of the pillars! This format makes me realize what I can bring to the table when other things aren’t exactly my forte’.