Involuntarily riding a roller coaster, blindfolded; my metaphor for 2020.When talking about a global reset in 2020 one cannot mask the undeniable effects of the Covid-19 crisis, paired with political, economic, and social disruption it leaves many people puzzled and the future fuzzy. Involuntarily riding a roller coaster ride, blindfolded. Is my metaphor for this year. Imagine you have been blindfolded, kidnapped, and thrown onto a ride. With no control or vision of what is to come, forced to think, sit, and wait. Hoping it ends but not knowing when it will, you are physically fluctuating in height and speed, a mix of emotions following shortly in its footsteps. It feels never ending, repetitive, until one day it stops. The blindfold is lifted, and you are set free from your confined seat, any ride after that will not match this experience. It has shaped you as a person, adapting to a new normal, is difficult at first but it gets easier and things take time, but at least there is an end to the ride. This is my own, very dramatic, way of saying that this situation is temporary, personally having this mindset helps me maintain a positive attitude and to whoever is reading this, whether it be your up or down day, I hope you may feel a sense of reassurance. It will be over one day and though both I and you have gone through different experiences within this year, do not give up because this will do you more harm then good. Trust me, I was a potato in the first lockdown, and it did not do me well. It is easy to feel discouraged when opportunities are denied but that does not mean they have disappeared, who knows where one will be in a years’ time? Adapting and making the most out of an undesired and inconvenient situation, is the new agency that comes from this global reset. Increased reliance on technology and online platforms have created a high demand for UI and UX design, helping businesses and society, which is why I have chosen to do a short course in Creative Computing. Upskilling, as well as combining practices, I want to give more space for my ideas to grow into a reality. ‘’Design is one of our most powerful tools in the Covid-19 crisis’’ – Design Emergency The quote above by Design Emergency is valid and respected, additionally I suggest that it is creativity that fuels one of the most powerful tools in the Covid-19 crisis. Without the creative thought process there is no design, concepts influenced to make this reality more practical I hope will not go unvalued. Furthermore, creativity, for many including myself during lockdown, has acted as a coping mechanism for isolated days. Such as baking, music, drawing, dancing etc. Framework is defined as a basic structure underlying a system concept or text, this global reset that is currently underway has made me question the various forms of framework. Structure is a concept, which varies from person to person, and it can change if there is a shift in mentality. For example, lockdown has broken the structure for how a person goes about their day, this does not mean a new structure is impossible or bad. It is just unfamiliar at first, new and old structures can be merged or used to grow in areas of work and lifestyle. By shifting my mentality on my idea of structure, I have found a new way of working whilst unintentionally realising the faults and successes of the old. This is my reflection and change in framework during this global reset, fear has affected my creative practice, the fear of committing to a specific industry, of not being good enough, the fear of change. If you said I was procrastinating that would be a compliment, initially I was doing nothing, and I only had myself to blame. Putting pen to paper, towards the end of the first lockdown, I realised that drawing was what started my journey as a designer and is something I have always enjoyed doing. I still have the same doubts and fears, but this is something I am passionate about, that should be what matters and if I let myself be overwhelmed by my fears it will become my reality. Currently I am improving my animations and learning to code to grow within what I relish; this process has humbled me. Patience and effort are powerful, nothing comes easy and just because I think I know something does not mean I cannot learn more. Joining a collective, brief me, and seeing my peer’s unique illustrations has further motivated me to grow in my creative practice. Everyone has their own style, learning to appreciate and detach the need to compare your work to others is something I keep having to remind myself. Instead of thinking I need to change my style, I have the mindset of what can I do to improve, this is particularly relevant with social media. I have taken on a few briefs, working for various clients, the aim is to create stronger pieces of work to add to my portfolio, alongside adapting to the clients’ needs whilst remaining true to my style. Going back to the metaphor, when you step off that rollercoaster all other rides will seem less intimidating, the same can be said for this global reset. Change is inevitable and despite everyone’s unique struggle during this rough period I believe that something positive will emerge from this experience. For me, I now view this global reset as a lesson that I can learn from rather than a punishment. So, what newfound agency comes from a global reset? I am not talking about businesses but rather what I define as power in chaotic times. You and I have the right to feel sad, down or discouraged, it is ok and normal to feel that way, but I will not let that define me. Have hope, as generic and cringe as that sounds, having hope can act as a catalyst for action and that is what I deem to be powerful, my new agency.
The idea of defining your purpose - blog post 2My purpose as a designer is to create a positive atmosphere for viewers through my creativity and designs, whether it be making them smile through storytelling, unifying communities through social design or pleasing a client. Design is a strong form of communication, the act of creating, connecting, and communicating through design work is a passion that feeds into my purpose. Within my practice, I hope to develop my storytelling through moving image, creating work that stimulates emotions. I started designing because it was my escape route, it makes me feel and I hope to create the same experience for others vimeo.com/452525386
Ran Tai [email protected] Graphic and Media Design @rt_depictions vimeo.com/ranimatioon
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