Switching on the digital realm :(

DPS Blog Community of Practice 1 - 1000 words
What New Agency comes from a complete global reset?

Before the global COVID-19 pandemic, I had planned everything including the places I wanted to work, projects I wanted to create and the goals I wanted to achieve. I was so motivated for the year; I was looking forward to the whole experience of it. Then the never-ending lockdown happened and changed how the way the entire world works.
 
Being able to adapt to this new way of living and adjusting to all the online classes, being home all the time, not having that social contact with friends or family was a struggle. At one point I was so close to dropping out of DPS. I was keeping up to date with the news and the constant broadcast of how businesses and jobs were being affected by Covid-19 made me feel like DPS wasn’t going to give me the experience I was looking for. I sat down and made a pro and cons list for the year and decided that I’m going to take a leap of faith and continue with my goals and dreams - I’m just going to have to go for it. After going online and speaking to other design students I realised I wasn’t the only one trying to figure it all out.
 
For me this DPS year is not all about getting internships, it was about me finding and understanding myself as a young Pakistani designer. My main struggle was when people asked me what I do in terms of design, sometimes I would have no idea what to say because I felt like I didn’t know where I was going. During my second year, I was going through a mental block where I found my creativity a challenge. Hence, why this DPS will be beneficial for me to focus on defining myself.

​Since the first term, I would say it has taken me a few weeks to get back in the rhythm of working and being able to juggle multiple projects at once. I was having a creative block where I just couldn’t get into anything. Everyone I spoke too was just so demotivated with LIFE itself.
 
Taking on the ‘Not just a shop’ brief allowed me to start working on my business something that I’ve been interested. Since the lockdown there has been an increase in the number of small business. This digital transition has given not just designers but everyone the opportunity to learn and adapt skills to start their own business/brands from home. The lockdown gave me the opportunity to start thinking about what I can start. I just couldn’t find something that I had passion in and would allow me to grow and develop.
 
I had a SIP proposal last year which I wanted to work on a project that would make people understand the importance of design and how it is misunderstood a lot of the time. But honestly, I had the idea of my message, but I was still hitting a wall with it, something just wasn’t clicking for me. I had a phone call from a distant family member from Pakistan that changed my mind that day, they started asking me questions like ‘Why do I need a career? Why am I always working? What do I need design for?’ I was honestly speechless and shocked to how straightforward the Pakistani community back home are towards the creative industry. It was then I realised, I wanted to create my own brand that would sell products encouraging the creative Pakistani design community. My goal is to let people know that being a Pakistani graphic designer is more than drawing and painting it is such an important part of our society. Some people don’t realise it, but DESIGN IS POWER it is a way that us designers and creatives communicate messages. “DESIGN IS POWER” will be the slogan, mission statement for my brand. My brands identity will be inspired from the Pakistani culture with its bright, bold, and elegant colours, embroidery, jewellery, materials, patterns, mehndi, and the common desi humour.

Just from these first few weeks into DPS I’ve realised that I’ve already learnt a lot from this new world. Applying to businesses and studios - it was a stressful period. Working on my portfolio, I didn’t know when to stop editing and come to an end so its ready to send off. I had to learn to accept rejection and be patient, as it can be demotivating waiting for replies to my emails. Not hearing back for days and weeks was so stressful.
 
It was my first email I sent with my portfolio that helped me a lot with my self-confidence with overcoming the fear of applying and sending my portfolio off. At first, I waited and waited to hear back, and I did at first but then I realised that not all businesses have time to contact you back right away. It was very stressful, but I guess that is what I signed up for, rejection and no responses. It made me learn a lot about myself and how not to lose motivation and confidence when I don’t hear anything back.
 
For the most part of this pandemic, I think the world is still up in the air, the virus has bought a lot of opportunities for designers to start learning digital skills, but however it has turned some business, homes, and life’s upside down. COVID-19 has effective us all in different ways for some it has been an opportunity to change their lives from working from home.

​Saba Ghani

Graphic and Media Design | DPS
[email protected]

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Trigger points

DPS Blog Community of Practice 2 - 100 words
Design Emergency: What creates purpose and action in practice?

​Personal experiences create a purpose for designers. They can be trigger points for creative inspiration. PURPOSE CREATES AN ACTION. Being the first person to take a creative pathway in my family, there are still people back home that don’t understand or believe in what I do. For me purpose came from hearing the negative comments about designers. Shehzil Malik, is a Pakistani designer and illustrator who has become a big inspiration and motivation for me to start working on my business/brand which will encourage creativity in the Pakistani community. Her work is all inspired from our Pakistani heritage.

Saba Ghani

Graphic and Media Design | DPS
[email protected]