DAY IN MY LIFE

Hey everyone, I wanted to treat this blog post a little differently from my past ones and give a glimpse into life as a design student in college. I feel like this is one of the best ways to share my experiences and to give prospective design students an idea of what to expect when entering an art or design program.

CLASSES

Each school structures its studio classes differently; however, my design classes are typically three hours long. This longer class length allows you time to work on your projects and get feedback from your peers and professors. I’m currently in two studio classes this semester, a web design class and a portfolio/thesis course. In my web design course, I have been working on concept sketches for a cover design contest within our local area. Beyond that, I have also been learning HTML, CSS, and the basics of front-end website development in DreamWeaver. In my senior thesis class, I’m working on my personal branding identity and preparing my portfolio to enter the workforce. At this point, I am around halfway through my second-to-last semester, so preparing all of these materials is very important to prepare myself for graduation. Additionally, I am also working on preparing my senior thesis project. For this project, I have to create a design project that tackles a project I am passionate about, to present a substantial solution. I’m currently in the brainstorming and research stage, trying to solidify how I want to approach this project for the rest of the academic year.

This semester, compared to others, is lighter on work as I am only in two studio classes and two gen-eds; however, there are times in previous terms that I have been enrolled in 5 courses, 3 or 4 being design courses. It definitely can be a lot sometimes, navigating deadlines and ensuring I am putting my best effort into all assignments; however, it is preparation for how the design industry truly is at times. Although the studio classes are long, they are beneficial as they give you ample amounts of time for lecture, working time, and to get feedback from your professors and peers. I know that many schools and professors treat their studio classes differently, but speaking from experience, I feel that this setup has benefited me greatly.

WORK

I’m also fortunate to work on my campus within graphic design and marketing. Through this, I can hone my skills and promote events across campus. In a typical day of work, I usually prepare graphics for print and social media, manage social media platforms, and create engaging ways to promote engagement across campus. 

FREE TIME

When I’m not in class, working, or doing homework, I’m either spending time with my dogs, helping out with design work for the extracurriculars I’m a member of, or unwinding with TV or YouTube. Occasionally, I create comics for my college's newspaper, a nice homage to where my design roots began: digital art. It also allows me to creatively explore my art style beyond school assignments or work tasks. 

I hope you enjoyed this insight into the life of a graphic design student. Obviously, everything differs program to program and the amount of involvement you have within your school community or career, but it gives an idea of the types of projects or responsibilities you can expect.