A designer statement allows readers to gain insight on a designer’s thought process and the meaning behind their work. It consists of the designer’s inspirations, style, their perspective on things, and the message that they would like to convey through the work that they produce. It has no particular or set list of guidelines concerning the format. The designer is free to make it as short as a paragraph, or as long as an essay. It’s all up to the designer as long as there are no specific requirements that have to be met concerning institutions, businesses, or galleries. Having said that, the designer should, however, strive to include a few points that are key in allowing the reader to truly understand the thought process and significance surrounding an article of work. A designer should always explain the meaning behind their work by expanding on, who or what their inspirations are, what their preferred style is, the impact they would like to make, what the piece means to them, and overall, simply the purpose behind the creation.
Part 3
I chose this format because it allows the audience to gain knowledge on the designer’s creative drive and it also adds sentimental value to a creation. I strive to make sure that every piece of work I produce is as perfect, or close to perfect as can be. I want people to get a sense of how much time and effort I put into each piece based on how precise my work is. Additionally, I always incorporate some sort of meaning behind each of my creations, or begin a project with a set intention, all of which add value and significance. A designer statement can greatly affect the way someone views an article of work. Something that may come across to viewers as bland, boring, and meaningless, might actually seem to come together and make sense once the purpose behind it is unraveled. This format allows the audience to view different forms of work through the designer’s eye and their vision, which can often times add more worth to a piece than initially perceived. This is what I aspire to achieve with whatever it is that I create.
This project was quick and easy to work on. I was nervous at first to be paired with a random classmate but, things ended up working out better than I thought. I chose a microphone as Ken’s icon because his main interest and passion is producing music. I also chose the deep navy blue background to represent his fun, laid-back personality, and, we agreed on yellow as the color for both icons because it compliments each background color well.
Overall, I’m happy with the outcome. Although this project was very time consuming and took me hours of tedious work, I think the final result came out great. It’s still not as precise as I’d like it to be, however, I didn’t know I was capable of producing a piece such as this one. This project helped me discover a new skill of mine that I never even knew I had in me.
Overall, I enjoyed experimenting with the different colors of paint and attempting to blend them into one another in order to create a new shade. For me, the most difficult part of this project was getting the colors of the sky to blend together seamlessly. Also, I rushed to get this project done which is why it’s not my neatest nor most appealing work. It definitely didn’t come out how I wanted it to, but I had fun working on it.
Entering City Tech has certainly been a whole new world to me. Going from being in a private school, where there are plenty of restrictions and requirements, to finally being solely on my own without much advisement, has most definitely taken a toll on me, but it has also taught me a lot. My school didn’t offer any courses which would’ve benefited me in my preferred career path, so I pretty much walked into college with zero experience in anything, which also caused me to feel as though I didn’t fit in. I’ve had to get used to doing things on my own, figuring things out on my own, and overall just becoming a more independent individual.
I’ve had a hard time adjusting, mainly because of my shyness. Public speaking, interaction with others, and basically anything that has to do with attention being solely on me, has never been my cup of tea, which is why writing has always been my preferred way of expressing myself. My anxiety doesn’t get in the way which allows me to freely and thoroughly communicate my thoughts and ideas without becoming overwhelmed with nervousness. I’ve always enjoyed writing/typing essays and I’ve always been pretty good at it. Although English 1101 hasn’t helped me much in regards to improving my skills, it has helped me gain more insight on myself as a person and opened up my eyes to new styles of writing besides just formal pieces, which is mainly what I’m used to. Looking back, COMD 1100 hasn’t benefited me significantly either, besides help bring out a few skills in me that I didn’t know I was capable of. Both classes do, however, encourage students to bring forth their own opinions and perspectives which is useful, especially when it comes to critiquing. I’m a perfectionist, but that doesn’t mean that everything I produce is going to be up to par, at least not to my standards, which is why I’m always open to hear feedback. My Raster & Vector class has probably been the most beneficial in terms of introducing me to new and useful programs/material that I might possibly use in the future. It has also been the most intriguing in my opinion.
As a design student, I’m still on the path of figuring out the best route for myself. My interests still lie within the realm of fashion and the world of design, however, so far my first semester hasn’t quite helped me figure out whether this is the best path for me or not. I’m still confused myself as to what best suits me and my skill set, but I’m slowly figuring it out. Being that I had a late start, things were a bit rocky at first and I’ve struggled immensely with handling my habit of procrastination (which I don’t think I’ll ever resolve) but, I’ve met some amazing people and amazing professors along the way. Although my first semester of college has helped me break out of my shell just the tiniest bit, I still have a far way to go and a lot more self discovering to do.
Faariah Hiyaat, or Fari as she is known by many, is a Guyanese-born, American-raised 17-year-old, whom is exploring the innovative world of design with the help of her enrollment at the New York City College of Technology as a COMD major. She has been private school bound for predominantly her entire childhood and teenage years, where design courses of any sort are not offered. Under these circumstances, her experience in the design field is rather scarce, however, her drive to create has been there ever since her early childhood years. From being a young fashionista, to drawing an exact replica of Spongebob at just 7-years old, Ms. Hiyaat is striving to expand her skill set in the design field in hopes of a more productive and flourishing future as a designer.
Avatar
Question #1
I’d like to start off by asking you, what exactly is your avatar and how does it represent you?
Personally, whenever I’m viewing someone’s profile, on any platform, I’m almost always interested in finding out who the person is or what he/she looks like. I believe that your profile photo is the best place to advertise that, of course; it’s the first area that people’s eyes are drawn to in most cases. It also helps others get to briefly know you or infer things about you. Having said that, my avatar is a photo of me, taken on July 4th by my mother, at Orient Point, NY. Although it may not seem like it, this picture is actually an off guard. I chose this as my avatar because I love the vibe it gives off; it’s a picture that’s full of life. It catches the eye without doing too much, which basically sums up me as a person. The way the rays of the golden hour bounce off of my melanin rich skin is quite impeccable, in my opinion; it creates a sense of unity, and, tied in with the background, an aura of serenity. Additionally, the way the wind is blowing through my hair, along with my smile, showcases the idea that I’m quite an easygoing girl who just wants to enjoy life. I love exploring, which is where the beach background comes in, and standing out in my own ways, whether it be my appearance, my writing, the way I carry myself, anything really! I feel as if this photo really captures an accurate representation of me and what I love. Also, the fact that my mom took it out makes it a billion times more special.
Question #2
So tell me, what are you passionate about?
Well, I LOVE fashion. I love putting outfits together and coordinating colors. It puts my mind at ease and gives me a sense of satisfaction whenever I put together an outfit that really strikes. Additionally, I believe that with every outfit, jewelry is a must-have. I never leave the house without being all blinged-out, and if I do, I usually walk with my jewelry in a box, ready to be put on whenever I’m in a rush, which is almost every morning. Many times, my family members and relatives depend on my opinion when it comes to an article of clothing, or anything in general now that I think about it, and whether or not it works for them, or whatever the case may be. Aside from that, I enjoy pretty much any type of designing to be honest. I simply just love to create, draw, doodle, innovate, silently express myself, etc. Overall, I connect all this to designing because when you design something, essentially what you’re doing is using your imagination, your creativity, and your perspective to create or put together a piece, whatever you desire it to be.
Question #3
How do you intend to grow as a designer with this program?
I’m hoping that with this program I’ll be able to further expand my knowledge in the world of design. I intend on learning new techniques and adapting new skills that will benefit me in the future, concerning my field of study and any jobs I may come across. Sometimes I’m not as creative as I think I should be or as I’d like to be, new ideas don’t really pop into my head on the spot or as readily as I’d like. So, hopefully this program will help get my creative juices flowing a bit smoother and open up my eyes to new perspectives. At the moment, my mind isn’t really set on any particular field within this major that I’d like to pursue, but I know that as I learn new skills, gain more experience, and grow as a designer, my mind will steer into the direction that’s best suited for me.
Question #4
What catches your eye when looking at other people’s work?
When viewing other people’s work, quite a few things run through my mind. Firstly, I almost always analyze how precise and crisp an article of work is. That’s a major area for me because at times, I tend to be a perfectionist. I also focus on how different and unique a piece is in comparison to what I’ve been exposed to thus far, or what reality is accustomed to seeing. I don’t really judge too hard in that area because we’ve already been exposed to so much in our generation. Our world is full of invention and creativity, so it’s hard to put out something that’s never been seen or created before. Color is also big factor for me. I love vibrancy and colors in general. Don’t get me wrong, monochrome pieces are still beautiful and interesting, and often times pieces look best as is, however, there are occurrences where color adds that sparkle that really brings an article to life.
Question #5
Lastly, can you see yourself doing anything else?
I don’t like to anchor myself down or become dependent on one thing. I always like to have backups just in case things go downhill. So, I actually can see myself doing something else. I love science and forensics. I enjoy solving mysteries, putting things together, and learning more about the human body, nature, our world, and the universe. Also, I used to be quite good when it came to chemistry, USED to be. I haven’t done chemistry in a while so my skills might be a little rusty and need some refreshing, but at one point it was one of my favorite subjects. This is a huge turn from the design world but I’ve always been interested in areas like these. Another thing I love to do is bake. Although it may seem a tad bit ridiculous, I’ve had thoughts of opening up my own bakery. I still have a lot more learning to do concerning that though, so of course I’d need to perfect my skill. Above all, fashion and designing is where it’s at for me to be honest, but hey, if things don’t work out, at least I have backup plans.
Faariah Hiyaat, or Fari as she is known by many, is a Guyanese-born, American-raised 17-year-old, whom is exploring the innovative world of design with the help of her enrollment at the New York City College of Technology as a COMD major. Having been private school bound for predominantly her entire childhood and teenage years, her experience in the design field is rather scarce, however, her drive to create has been there ever since her early childhood years. From being a young fashionista, to drawing an exact replica of Spongebob at just 7-years old, Ms. Hiyaat is striving to expand her skill set in the design field in hopes of a more productive and flourishing future.
Avatar
Question #1
What exactly is your avatar and how does it represent you?
Personally, whenever I’m viewing someone’s profile, on any platform, I’m almost always interested in finding out who the person is or what he/she looks like. I believe that your profile photo is the best place to advertise that, of course; it’s the first area that people’s eyes are drawn to in most cases. It also helps others get to briefly know you or infer things about you. Having said that, my avatar is a photo of me, taken on July 4th by my mother, at Orient Point, NY. Although it may not seem like it, this picture is actually an off guard. I chose this as my avatar because I love the vibe it gives off. It’s a picture that’s full of life and catches the eye without doing too much; which basically sums up me as a person. The way the rays of the golden hour bounce off of my melanin rich skin is quite impeccable, in my opinion; it creates a sense of unity, and, tied in with the background, an aura of serenity. I love exploring and standing out in my own ways; I feel as if this photo really captures an adequate representation of me and what I love. Also, the fact that my mom took it out makes it a billion times more special.
Question #2
What are you passionate about?
Well, I LOVE fashion. I love putting outfits together and coordinating colors. It puts my mind at ease and gives me a sense of satisfaction whenever I put together an outfit that really strikes. Additionally, I believe that with every outfit, jewelry is a must-have. I never leave the house without being all blinged-out, and if I do, I usually walk with my jewelry in a box, ready to be put on whenever I’m in a rush, which is almost every morning. Many times, my family members and relatives depend on my opinion when it comes to an article of clothing, or anything in general now that I think about it, and whether or not it works for them, or whatever the case may be. Aside from that, I enjoy pretty much any type of designing to be honest. I simply just love to create, draw, doodle, innovate, silently express myself, etc.
Question #3
How do you intend to grow as a designer with this program?
I’m hoping that with this program I’ll be able to further expand my knowledge in the world of design. I intend on learning new techniques and adapting new skills that will benefit me in the future, concerning my field of study and any jobs I may come across. Sometimes I’m not as creative as I think I should be or as I’d like to be, new ideas don’t really pop into my head on the spot or as readily as I’d like. So, hopefully this program will help get my creative juices flowing a bit smoother and open up my eyes to new perspectives. At the moment, my mind isn’t really set on any particular field within this major that I’d like to pursue, so hopefully as I learn and grow, my mind will steer into the direction that’s best suited for me.
Question #4
What catches your eye when looking at other people’s work?
When viewing other people’s work, quite a few things run through my mind. Firstly, I almost always analyze how precise and crisp an article of work is. That’s a major area for me because at times, I struggle with being a perfectionist. I also focus on how different and unique a piece is in comparison to what I’ve been exposed to thus far, or what reality is accustomed to seeing. I don’t really judge too hard in that area because we’ve already been exposed to so much in our generation. Our world is full of invention and creativity, so it’s hard to put out something that’s never been seen or created before. Color is also big factor for me. I love vibrancy and colors in general. Don’t get me wrong, monochrome pieces are still beautiful and interesting, and often times pieces look best as is, however, there are occurrences where color adds that sparkle that really brings an article to life.
My mind map consists of areas that interest me, places I’ve visited, and words that help to further describe and expand on these topics.
My Mind Map
Define
These were the first items to pop into my head when I thought about my three main areas. The first is a snow globe to represent exploration/travel, the second is a pair of gold bangles that I’ve had since I was a baby to represent fashion, and the third is a paintbrush to represent design (creativity, art, self-expression, etc.)
Thumbnail Sketches
Develop
Inked Compositions
Deliver
Personally, I found that making sure everything was symmetrical and suited according to the right measurements to be the trickiest part of this project. Additionally, my hands are a bit shaky so certain things were a little challenging for me to keep precise. If I were to alter one thing, it would be to invert the colors in my ambiguous drawings to make them appear more puzzling. Although my inked compositions certainly aren’t my best work nor ideal to my standards, hopefully my next piece will be much more improved.
