As surprising as it may sound, I am actually starting to feel really sad about leaving school. As this chapter comes to an end, I wanted to take time to reflect on this semester’s project and everything that came with it, both the good and the challenging moments. DFX 452 allowed me to express my creativity in a way that truly represents how I want to present myself in the professional world as a creative specialist. When I first entered this program, I was told that I would need to become a strong generalist, and over time I feel that I have truly grown into someone who can do just that while also developing specialized creative skills in photography, design, video, and 3D.

This semester was not an easy task. I was balancing school, a full time job, sports, and still trying to maintain a personal life outside of everything else. Throughout this project, I learned so much more than technical skills. I learned customer service skills, how to be observant, how to be honest with myself and others, how to accept changes without frustration, and how to properly manage my time on projects. Most importantly, I learned what it truly means to be a good designer.

I gained tremendous experience working with the three brands I developed throughout this semester. The critiques also gave me valuable insight because they helped me understand that the work I was creating had meaning, strong context, and purpose behind it. The feedback reassured me that I was moving in the right direction and pushed me to think deeper about my creative decisions.

Throughout the semester, I consistently researched what it means to be a UX and UI designer and everything that goes into those roles. Doing this made me realize how much these experiences have prepared me to become a stronger project manager in the future. I now understand what it takes to work in every role on a creative team, whether that is the 3D artist, the photographer, the product lead, or the designer. My project strengthened those skills and helped me understand how important collaboration and communication are within creative work.

Throughout my blogs, I focused heavily on the idea of unique markups and building a strong photography section that supported Brenna’s identity. The overall purpose of this project was not only to help build a brand but also to help myself discover my own brand identity while working with others. I truly feel like I accomplished that goal.

In my last blog, my next steps involved continuing revisions and improving my rough drafts so I could create two strong and consistent brand standards that fully felt like developed brands. Looking back now, I finally feel like I achieved that vision. I am so glad that I took this class seriously and pushed myself to use every software and resource available to me before my NKU email disappears forever. Even though I joke about it, it really is bittersweet.

It has been such a pleasure being part of the DFX program, and I know I will always stay connected to it in some way. More than anything, I wanted this final blog to serve as my reflection and evaluation of myself throughout this semester. When I think about the work I put in, I can honestly say that I was consistent. I showed up for myself, my work, and my future every single time, and that is something I will always be proud of as I graduate and move into the next chapter of my life.

NEXT UP!!! LIVING LIFE