My name is Miguel Santos, a freshman at the New York City College of Technology. The major that I am planning to pursue is Graphic Arts Production Management. However, after having a long conversation with my major advisor, Mary Ann Biehl, I have changed my major to Communication Design. The classes that I’m taking overlap in both majors, so I still have the same credits of the classes I’m taking now. This major is appealing to me because it’s all about creativity of visual presentation, which has been my passion for a long time. In this field, I am interested in becoming a Graphic Designer who does a little bit of everything dealing with the advertising industry.
This is the best career for me, because I am following my passion for design, and my functional skills are creativity, thinking visually, and strategizing. Besides that, since I was a freshman in high school my family has supported me and they believe I can go far in this field. More importantly, they believe in my future. In this essay, I will explain my major and my career choices, my strengths, how people supported me, about my future, about City Tech’s preparation for my career, and my recommendations for people interested in this major or career choice.
According to the website of the New York City College of Technology, “Communication Design is the strategic and conceptual development of visual information to tell stories and convey ideas and emotions” (Biehl, par.2). This is a message from the chair of the department, Mary Ann Biehl. According to Mary Ann Biehl, it is required to earn a certificate or associate usually degree for assistant or technical position in order to advance in this field. Also, at least a bachelor’s degree is required for a job. Additionally, this field prepares students by developing their artistic capacity, as well as their verbal, and written communication skills. According to the college catalog, “A core of advanced design courses will prepare students to meet the challenges of the profession: senior project, the design team and an internship” (City Tech, par.8).
Therefore, graphic designers, art directors, web designers, broadcast designers, animators and game designers are the kinds of career options one can have after graduating from this major. As a result of this investigation, I learned that my major deals with a lot of digital training, which requires many materials and supplies, as well as spending a good amount of money. In this major we are preparing for lifelong learning in associate or bachelor degree programs of the communication design. Thus, with my education at City Tech, I want to take advantage of everything provided me and I would especially like to develop my own style in this career field.
As I discussed previously, this is the best career for me because I am following my passion for design, and my functional skills are being creative, thinking visually, and strategizing. Before I speak in class, I think is true, helpful, inspiring, necessary, or kind based on any composition I have to analyze. Moreover, I am creative in the way I use materials around me in order to finish a project. Besides that, the way I look at things make me feel as if I have a progressive strategy when I look at any assignment. When I was in high school, I was always bored and not interested during my music class, and it was basically because I couldn’t play any basic rhythm on any instrument.
Since the beginning, I knew I had to do something to improve so I started to write rhymes of the vocabulary and general information for my music class as a rap to memorize everything and pass my exams with a high grade. As a result, I can say I learned a lot, and the teacher end up putting me in AP music for the next year. Therefore, it was useful strategy as me being creative. As it is said in the article, A Case Study of an Innovative Graphic Design Curriculum Focusing on Social Responsibility “The aim is to provide a situation where students can excel in selected disciplines while benefiting from an intense cross-fertilization of idea” (Vessella, Mackay par.9). In other words, we have to take advantage of what is provided to us before the opportunity is gone and we must develop our thoughts to reach the next level.
I always love being creative, and organized, watching anime makes me feel in a creative mood. After browsing a lost notebook that I found under my desk during my math class in middle school, art became my passion. I really enjoy designing new things, and because I don’t talk too much, I like to express through visual things. In addition, I feel this passion and my body language transmit it through my eyes as William Shakespeare said “The eyes are the window to the soul” which I find to be true for me. Thus, using imagination to get something done is my ability. As one can see, thinking visually is necessary for this career which is why I think I must continue with my passion.
Since I was a freshman in high school, my family has supported me and believes I can go far in this field. I cannot let down the people who support me even if I fail many times, because they put their trust in me. For example, my arts professors who saw that I dedicated myself in their classes and they were proud of me because they saw me so focused on the work because of my passion. As a result, we end up having a good relationship, making some murals for our school, and I was nominated to create the logo for our senior year. I created a star with a curve enveloping around it, and my other classmates worked together on the quote in order to transmit the message that today’s dreams shape tomorrow’s future.
Therefore, I’m thankful and I appreciate when people spend their time working with me. For example, when people give me advices like “Travel while you are young and available. Don’t settle into a job that you are not keen to do. Try different opportunities and notice where you are most motivated but give your efforts and skills. Don’t give up if it seems hard or scary” (Daiga, par.6). I feel I have to move forward without a doubt because they are models who believe in me. The most important thing in my life is my relationship with a power greater than myself, which is love for my family and God. In general, my family pushes me, and let me know that if let them down more than one time again, I definitely will have no more excuses, and I know I will not forgive myself.
There are a lot of people praying for my family, when I found that out it touched me, and it change my goals. Now I realized I want to be a good man who serves the community. As it is said in the article, A Case Study of an Innovative Graphic Design Curriculum Focusing on Social Responsibility “Social responsibility no longer is an option for the educated. At base, social responsibility implies a respect for the planet, a respect for its people and the environment” (Vessela, McKay par.7). In other words, as a designer, my job is to direct the viewer attention by contributing in order to improve the society as a whole. As one can see, the faith that people have in me gives me confidence and protection.
More importantly, I want to major in Communication Design because it is my future and is the only thing I can develop at this time. The work that I’m doing now is in training my eyes and improving my skills, which actually makes me see my life flashing before my eyes. Now that I’m young, is the time to take advantage in order for me to see myself as an adult in the future. According to my professor Larisa, “I find the most challenging thing is to sit in an office all day, every day in front of a computer. The other big challenge for me has been working under bosses or clients who don’t know much about design, so they either try to direct you in a direction that you know from experience won’t work or not give you enough time to complete a project” (Daiga, par.2).
This makes me aware and prepare me for the future, since it is seems challenging to meet clients or work for a company in this field. Therefore, improving myself is the only thing I can do at this time because it is the requirement for every beginner. The job outlook in this field influence my decision to pursue it because it is expected that Graphic Designers will face strong competition for available position in the future. The salary level for this career is $ 21.22 per hour and $44,150 per year. One example of how this salary will impact my future standard of living is that most Graphic Designers may spend some of their time looking for new projects or competing with other designers for contracts. Moreover, I think I will be financially independent. As one can see, right now having a vision of my future self prepares me to succeed.
City Tech prepares me by offering a lot of opportunities for my career. City Tech is committed to providing a design education in accordance with the highest professional standards. I remember how afraid I was during my first semester to pick my major, but City Tech faculty made me feel confident in every aspect because they accept every student as a new member of the family. In general, City Tech support students like me in this field by guiding us through analytical, conceptual, creative and technical skills development.
For example, according to the college catalog “students are offered a broad range of foundation courses from figure drawing, design and color, typography, photography and design studio procedures to advanced courses including digital media, video, animation, graphic design, advertising, illustration, web design, packaging design and an advertising design internship” (City Tech, par.4). I already took type and media and graphic vectors and now, in my second semester, I am taking design principles I and foundation drawing. Besides that, the relationship between students and professors influence me a lot. Now in my second semester, my professor Larisa tells me of the important things and events that I must be aware of to succeed and what experiences I should expect after graduation.
According to her past experiences, she says that I should have an internship. She says “Internships are so useful! My design jobs have come out of starting as an intern. It is a great way to get your foot in the door. That said, don’t do something you absolutely can’t afford (like you can’t buy food or rent because of it), but if you can swing it and live cheap lifestyle for a little, do it. They are going to be checking you out to see if you have potential in the company, but you get the opportunity to check them out and see if they are someone you want to work for longer term Plus it is good for your resume” (Daiga, par.3). Therefore, I thank every member of City Tech faculty for giving me inspiration on how to become a better person and scholar. All of them certainly are great mentors for me and they have been very generous in sharing their rich and valuable knowledge in this field, for which I am grateful.
For people who are interested in my major or career choice, I recommend to everyone to speak up and explore their options. Since the first day, it is really important to be aware if this is the field to belong by exploring its surrounding and people around it. By doing this, people interested in this major will see what qualities or work someone might be expecting to do before moving on. Also, if there is any doubt or problem while taking major classes, it is necessary to go to the major department adviser. However, before pursuing this major I recommend deeply researching the college website in order to have a sense of the similar offering majors within communication design.
Equally important, it is a good idea to imagine yourself in the future, connect it to your present outcomes and follow your heart instead of what other people think you should be doing. In general, practice a lot and don’t give up in the beginning because no one is expecting you to know even basics of topic they’ve just started. Thus, for people interested in this major or career I recommend being more outgoing and taking advantage of what opportunities are provided.
Works Cited
Biehl, Mary A. “A Message from the Chair.” Department of Communication Design.” Web. 13 April 2015.
Daiga, Larisa. Email-Interview. Web. 12 April 2015.
New York City College of Technology (City Tech). “Communication Design.” New York City College of Technology college catalog 2014-2015. Web. 3 April 2015.
United States. “Graphic Designers.” Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition. Web. 26 April 2015.
Vessella, Sue. Behnoush, Mckay. “A Case Study of an Innovative Graphic Design Curriculum Focusing on Social Responsibility.” Design Principles and Practices: An international Journal, 5.5 (2011): 472-473. Academic search complete. Web. 10 April 2015.
