Professional Identity
My role within the design process is one that I would best describe as supportive. As an individual I am not the most out spoken or confident, hence why I often fall into this role. Though this does not mean that my impact on a project is hidden behind other people's work, instead it is imbued across all the elements of the design enhancing everyone’s individual qualities. I make sure to push my peers further through constructive and critical feedback, all the while working alongside them to deliver a result which we can all be proud of.
I am a firm believer that one can do anything they put their mind to, given enough time to do so. This is my most vital strength as a designer, as I constantly strive for something which always tries to meet my personal expectations. I am not someone who is put off by the amount of expected hours needed to complete a project, instead I view it as a framework to operate within and make the most out of each minute.
I would argue my current pitfall as a designer would be my lack of realism within my end product. By realism I mean, making the design marketable or figuring out the cost to produce. Though this sort of goes against my vision, in terms of developing further into speculative design, I still believe rooting a design in some reality allows it to be more critical and effective at expressing its values.
Vision
To summarize my vision the best I always use the analogy of books, which are all physically the same, a collection of pages held by a cover that contain a message for the reader. It is a product whose emotional value surpasses its physical significance, all the while using the simple method of communication of written language. It sets each one apart displaying the norms and beliefs of the authors who composed them. Even if two people were to read the same story, their connection to the narrative can vastly differ hence creating unique experiences. Moreover, books are not only made to be read but to also keep upon a bookshelf, and display its cracked spines that retain moments to be revisited by the individual or others.
This is what my designs should achieve, a simple yet effective experience that allows the user to directly connect to values integrated. They should not be thrown away after they are no longer needed, on the contrary they should be displayed and savoured for what they have done. Convert to what is just a collection of papers held by a cover, to a narrative that inspires and surpasses its physical significance