"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?""That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat."I don't much care where–" said Alice."Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the Cat."–so long as I get somewhere," Alice added..."Oh, you're sure to do that," said the Cat, "if you only walk long enough."
Lewis Carroll
. . . .
The skeleton in my closet
“The world is full of wonder. But the world of graphic design… is not–” It was my second year as a design major, and Marian Bantjes had just put my feelings into words. Since declaring my major, I had tried to like the graphic design process. I was known for diving into a creative medium and pursuing it to the end, my first origami collection being a product of such devotion. But graphic design was a study I merely shrugged at in high school. I would be an accountant, psychologist, or math teacher, sure. But graphic designer?One day, I attended an online design talk where an alumna shared her story. She double majored but wanted to give her all to her design major. Her dedication moved me, and I wanted to do better and stop doubting the study I chose.
. . . .
Creative Liberty
Marian Bantjes recognizes the digital and problem-driven focus of the graphic design career. However, she highlights an opportunity to make design vibrant and personal. Bantjes approached her projects as equally beneficial to her and her clients. “The appeal of what I do may be connected to why I do it,” she says, and we witness artists and designers admiring her work for its passionate quality. Design, and ultimately, life, takes all of you into account. A love for calligraphy or origami does not stand in the corner during the design process. I felt empowered to bring my interests and visual art background to design. In the same class where I learned about Bantjes, I was able to work on a personal project with this perspective. I did not expect the project (Born Read-y) to mean so much to me and others.
. . . .
Night Light
Despite accepting the wholeness of graphic design, my level of doubt in myself still fluctuates. Questioning my choice of study comes out in the dark–when I can’t picture the future. Despite my doubt, I am part of a bigger picture that will come full circle. In fact, I witness it recircling every now and then. I used to fear the dark, suffer from a phobia of Halloween, and, most of all, dislike skeletons. But this former fear of skeletons makes my current interest in them more meaningful. I used to sleep with the light on, but I still have to keep a light on in my life. I do this by remembering something fearful that has turned around. Even though I spiral, these relapses become small circles resting inside bigger circles when viewed from overhead.
. . . .
Feeling it in My Bones
Being a graphic designer is only a part of my existence, a tiny bone in my body. When I honor the small, it magnifies my connections with others. From birth to the death of being a student, I am delighted I can marry art to the rest of my life instead of having it stand alone. Whether or not you consider yourself an artist, a creative journey is one where every little encounter counts. In art and life nothing is lost, knowing you're being circled through the process.
Notebook
Along with references to music, I’ve stamped words throughout the notebook as a reminder of how design reaches into the personal. Feel free to use these as connections to your thoughts and recommendations.
ABOUT ISABELLE
Isabelle Yu (IGY) is an artist and designer from Roseville, CA. She is working to complete her B.A. in Design Studies and minor in Honors Humanities at APU. After graduation, she looks forward to reuniting with her skeleton, Clyde, and finally reading the books sitting in her closet.