My style and subject matter has changed considerably as I’ve developed as a graphic designer. Early in my graphic design career I focused heavily on the more traditional, corporate aspect of graphic design and did not explore any topics of personal interest. Because I was still learning graphic design theory and technology, I hesitated to approach subjects of social change. Soon after I became more comfortable with my skills as a designer I started to become motivated by various social issues such as women’s rights, the agricultural situation in Africa, and sex education in America. By combining various social concerns with my design aesthetic of handmade and nontraditional formats, I am able to explore myself as a designer and as a social activist. As a result, my current portfolio directly represents this influence of global and national concerns.

As I’ve developed as a designer and activist, I’ve also developed new way of thinking about design. The Savannah College of Art and Design has been an important tool in shaping my non-linear design thinking which has made tremendous improvements in the way I approach design. Through prompting to look further into a design problem and research the topic to a full understanding before beginning any formal design has made significant changes in the way I approach design. This way of thinking has allowed me to discover so many opportunities for outside influences and utilize them in my design work. Going beyond the surface of a topic creates a deeper understanding of the problem and therefore multiple solutions can be explored.

Utilizing the skills of non-linear creative thinking, my empathy for social issues, and applying design theory in my work, makes this point in my graphic design career pivotal. Using these skills and abilities gives me the opportunity to create effective social awareness pieces that will have an effect on our national and global situation.