Will I make changes...as a graphic designer?

My first internship placement at studio ROSE

As a graphic design student, I always think about the relationship between visual communication and our society; how does one affect another? Companies need visual identities to build up their images for-profits, luring the public to consume more through different kinds of advertisements. While we, designers, need to speculate the potential trend and demand of the society and design with logic. To me, graphic design and the world rely on each other, both go hands in hands.

In the technologically driven world, visual communication plays a huge role in sculpting our value, our ways to perceive the news. We are all surrounded by countless of advertisement in any form, from posters on billboards to advertisements on our screens. Every image is designed to grab our attention within a glance, subconsciously affecting our attitude and behaviour. Tech giants like Youtube and Instagram are now working on new user interface design which will hide the numbers of like and shares away, as they realised many users, especially teenagers, are letting those numbers categorise who they are. With the new design of hiding likes on the page, it is said to be helping users to enjoy a less stressful online experiences by focusing more on the content. I am amused by the consequences of how simply hiding numbers can have, knowing how graphic design can actually cause changes in our behaviour, both are connected firmly. 

Through my DPS year, I expect I will be able to gain new insight into the creative industry and broaden my visions in reality. I believe one does not design goods with merely instant ideas. Design is a combination of lifestyle, sense, and knowledge, it requires accumulative experiences. With no doubt skills for software and crafting is fundamental, but also It is essential for me to cultivate the habit of being aware and sensitive of the news and social changes. Thus I can have more information to any upon when choosing my future pathways. During my first year in the course I enjoyed making publications and other printed materials, yet I perceived the new raising demand for digital content, I, therefore, started practicing in coding and motion graphics. 

I am happy to notice my pursuit of animations and the awareness of society hugely fits into reality. During my internship at ROSE, I was told that many of their long term clients are asking for identities beyond still images, making me more valuable and helpful when participating in future client briefs. Still, I question myself if my current practice in computing is driven by my passions or passively by my speculation of the future. It would be nice to see if I am passioned before I truly dive into it for my final year. My purpose for joining the DPS programs remains constant, it is about knowing my real personal interests and limitations via engaging in the industry. Understanding how me as a designer, can contribute and make changes in a rapidly changing world.