Final Review Statement

Last semester I concluded my presentation by saying that one major lesson I learned, was how much more I had to learn.
I don’t think I realized it would be this much, this quick.

Over the course of this semester, I’ve developed a new perspective on graphic design, and I feel like I’ve solidified my definition of the profession.
I understand design to be the art of clear visual communication. I see this as a recurrent theme from last semester, and through projects like my icon system and the seven deadly sins project I learned that design digresses into art if it’s not easily understandable.

I’ve also learned the power of design as a system. Over the evolution of my semiotic scrapbook to icons to infographic, and finally to placards, I learned how to build a cohesive semiotic identity that is visually and conceptually intertwined, and represented in a variety of ways.

Through the scrapbook project, I gained a valuable understanding of semiotics, the study of signs, and the construction of meaning. In understanding each icon’s denotations and connotations, I was able to establish a rich visual language that acted as a style guide for the rest of the semester.
Though I’ve learned a lot, I feel like there’s so much more to work on. My biggest weakness, I think, is my tendency to focus on the aesthetic of the project without deeply considering the meaning. Though I feel like I’ve improved from last semester, I understand now the power of design as a carefully constructed and planned set of ideas, and that the visual aspects of the work are much like letters – only abstract symbols until fit together in a calculated way to create meaning.

So, in closing, I can only hope that next year is as enlightening as this one was. Thanks to my professors for your patience, your guidance, and your passion for design.