A Year of Self-improvement

Claudia Ostafijczuk Wydrzynska
Graphic and Media Design 


When I was around nine years old, I held a Playstation 2 pad in my hands for the first time and that’s when I found the love of my life - video games. My biggest dream is to find a job in the gaming industry - esports, game studios or something like that. Right now I don't feel that my designs have the correct aesthetic - the gaming industry has a certain style. 
​

https://www.fnatic.com/internship

Because of this fact, I plan on taking up a couple of self-initiated projects which will involve experimenting with designs and short animations made in this certain style. - this will bring me closer to catching my dream. I am also interested in character design which is why I would love to learn the basics of Cinema 4D and/or ZBrush - who knows maybe this will be something I will enjoy. If you never try you'll never know.
​

“Undead Nightingale” by Zbrush user herocus

Because LCC has so many wonderful facilities, I will use them to learn more about print using traditional methods such as screenprint, letterpress, monoprint and would like to explore different textures, that I can make using different methods and materials. 3D print is something that I always wanted to try but somehow never actually went to any workshop to find out more about it. I have always enjoyed making things with my hands. I feel that this year will let me try new things and learn more about my strengths and weaknesses.

Right now my biggest weaknesses are logo designs and animation. I feel quite insecure about this and hope, that after this year of self-improvement, I will conquer them and be more confident in my profession. To become more skillful in animation, I plan to take up an After Effects course. As for the other weakness - I have found three freelance graphic design jobs which involve branding and hopefully, this will help me defeat my fear of the world of branding. I am also planning to take part in the Daily Icon Challenge. I will push myself as hard as I can to improve. 

I have decided to stay in London, as I live with my partner and call our small studio flat in Zone 3 my home - also, only one of us remembers to water the numerous house plants we own (me).

I am currently working five freelance jobs, with people from different backgrounds and industries (BBE - events, JumbleArt - handmade art, Strictly United - music, Lanark United - football and JoNatural - kinesiology therapy). This also allows me to work part-time (London rent sucks) and build on my time management. I have already noticed that I need to go into every project with a totally new mindset and that researching the profession of my clients is very important, as it creates more complex ideas in my head.  

​My plan for now, is to continue working freelance until the end of December, whilst constantly updating my portfolio with new work. I will plan out and start my self-initiated project next month and hopefully start an internship at an agency in January. Later on who knows, but whatever happens, these experiences will teach me a bit more about life and make it a bit less scary.