END OF AN ERA
WEEK 12
This week has been focused on finishing deadlines, pulling projects together, and preparing final outcomes after what feels like a very intense but rewarding period of work. While organising everything and looking back through old projects, sketchbooks, and presentations, I found myself reflecting on how much I’ve grown not only as a designer, but also as a person throughout my time at university.
Looking back at my work from Foundation Art and Design compared to where I am now, I can clearly see how my understanding of design has developed. In the beginning, a lot of my work focused mainly on making things visually appealing, whereas now I think much more deeply about concept, strategy, audience, and intention. I’ve become more aware of how typography, layout, imagery, and storytelling can work together to communicate meaning rather than simply decoration.
Over the years, I’ve naturally become more drawn towards editorial and typography-led design, particularly projects that allow me to experiment with composition, photography, and visual storytelling. I’ve also become much more confident in my own creative process. Earlier on, I often doubted ideas quickly, but now I understand the importance of experimentation, research, and allowing concepts to develop organically before refining them digitally.
A huge part of this growth has come from the experiences university has given me outside of the classroom. Working on projects such as PANI allowed me to gain real insight into collaboration, communication, and designing within more professional contexts. It helped me understand the importance of teamwork and adaptability while also building confidence within my own abilities as a designer.
My industry placement experience also played a massive role in shaping me. Spending time within a professional environment gave me a much clearer understanding of the realities of the creative industry and what it means to work as part of a design team. It pushed me to become more organised, more thoughtful in my approach, and more aware of the level of detail and strategy involved in professional design practice.
Beyond design skills, university has helped me grow personally through the people I’ve met, the experiences I’ve had, and the challenges I’ve worked through. It has pushed me outside of my comfort zone and allowed me to become more confident in expressing ideas, collaborating with others, and trusting my own creative instincts.
As deadlines come to an end, it feels rewarding to look back and recognise how far I’ve come since starting Foundation. Although there is still so much more to learn, I now feel much more certain about the kind of designer I want to become and the type of work I want to create moving forward.