As a young designer, I have a world of career options to explore. My time at Grand Valley State University, located in Grand Rapids, MI, has inspired me to look beyond the life I grew up in and see where my design skills can be put to use. Although I am not sure where my career will take me, I know that I will not be fulfilled until I use my skills to promote messages of bettering the environment that we all live in.
Growing up, I would create fictional small businesses in my room, such as a dog adoption store, consignment shops, and an outdoor adventure camp. I would make logos, slogans, price tags, flyers, and whatever else my young mind could think of to support these businesses that only existed in my head. I eventually lost touch with this phase and had no idea what career path I wanted to take until my senior year of high school, when I enrolled in a graphics communications course. This was when the design spark reignited.
Throughout college and my early career, I tried to figure out what I can do with design that truly speaks to me. I referred back to the businesses I manifested as a kid, and there is one common thread — they all relate to nature and our local environments. I will carry these values with me wherever I go, and use my passions as fuel for creating meaningful and effective designs.
