Why Graphic Design Was the Best “Compromise” I Ever Made

I grew up rearranging my grandmother's house, sneaking around while she played piano. I'd open up all of her cabinets, taking out candle holders, metal watering cans, and glass dishware, and placing them around the house until everything was decorated beautifully. Then, I'd wait for my grandma to finish her song, or not, and drag her around giving her a tour of her own house. After that, I would leave to go home, and she'd put everything back so I could do it again.

I wanted to be an interior designer.

I fell in love with science, how things work, and why. In middle school, I went to an engineering camp every summer. Granted, it was only a day long. But, science classes had always been my favorite. Until I reached chemistry, that is... I never enjoyed math.

I wanted to be an engineer.

I became enthralled with the arts. Ever since I could walk, I was known as the girl who couldn't stop moving. I spent my time doing cartwheels around the house or climbing up doorways Spiderman-style. My parents remedied this by putting me in gymnastics, which I eventually became rather good at.

Final bow as a lead in "Back to the 80's"

Other than tricks becoming useful during various recess activities, my mobility assisted my sudden interest in dance. More specifically, dancing + singing. From choir to acapella, and show choir to dance team, my overall focus had shifted completely from school to the arts. I also adopted just about every art-related hobby I could muster, though they didn't always last long: drawing, painting, Rainbow Loom(of course), polymer clay, shrinky dinks, crochet, etc. The longest lasting one, though, was calligraphy. It became remarkably useful throughout school.

Whatever art it may have been, I wanted to be a star.

But I was scared.

I liked art - loved it even. But, I couldn't rationalize going to school for something 'like that'. So, to stay close to the arts, to choose a career that felt financially secure, and to pursue something others might respect, I chose graphic design. I had never taken a graphic design class, and I truly had no idea what it entailed - other than that it was a digital form of art; something that had never previously interested me.

But choosing graphic design felt like choosing safety. It was the practical choice. I wasn't brave enough to pursue the scarier dream. So, I chose the path that felt like a compromise.

What I didn't know was that graphic design is truly a glorified art degree - especially as an underclassman. During my freshman year, I was thrown into drawing, 2D and 3D art, and painful art history classes, as well as "Physics in the Arts" (that one was extra horrifying, as previously mentioned; math and I are not friends). So, the only graphic design I had experienced was thanks to a graduate student TA who played YouTube tutorial videos for the class. She was a screenprinter.

I felt excruciatingly lost. I tried out for the best campus a cappella group, quite badly, I may add. I began pursuing a dance studies minor, so I could keep dancing. I would tell people it was just for "shits and giggles", but it wasn't. Later, I also pursued an entrepreneurship minor to go alongside the graphic design. For practicality, yes, but also for purpose.

My next graphic design class was "Introduction to Digital Forms," which was taught by another graduate student TA. His name was Tony, and we called him "Surfer Tony". He had a laid-back, Californian, surfer-dude accent and a chaotic persona. He was an abstract painter. I don't think I learned a single thing from his teachings. But I finally had access to the ever-glorified Adobe suite and the eagerness to learn.

Then I was gifted two real graphic design teachers - great ones. Mitchell taught me "Basic Graphic Design". Through my various regular and not-so-regular struggles, I cherished sitting down to work on my graphic design assignments. I procrastinated on my papers to spend more time on Adobe Illustrator. The insane amount of time I was spending to learn and complete assignments didn't seem so bad. My other graphic design teacher, Rachel, taught me the usefulness and true practicality of design, not as a profession for money, but as a skill that visualizes useful ideas.

I didn't realize how truly useful graphic design was until I grew better at it. It significantly improved my school presentations, helped my plan for other art projects, and improved my overall abilities to bring creative visions to life. A lot of critical thinking and psychology goes into successful designs. Unfortunately, just looking pretty won't get you too far.

But I loved learning new things. I'd watch my professor's fingers fly across the keyboard in awe of how efficient his keyboard commands were, and by senior year, I had learned a lot. I even taught Mitchell something, a design trick that he didn't know.

As a senior, my designs have finally been coming together. I've found a niche in text and detail-heavy design. I've especially enjoyed Branding Design: Strategically creating and redesigning brands.

Mockup for my Revlon Rebrand Project

Now, the fut

ure doesn't seem like as much of a jumbled mess. I was able to use what I learned to assist a 4th-of-July festival non-profit, completing maps for the city, a logo redesign, and lots(and lots) of banners. I helped a peer from high-school redesign his engineering portfolio to apply for grad-school. Most notably, I designed and painted a 13'x6' mural for the cafe I've been working at for years, titled "A Love Letter to Madison". I've since gotten two inquiries for more murals, which isn't exactly my dream. But, it's been a fascinating way to combine my digital and fine art interests, and...show them to people!

So, graphic design might not have been my childhood dream, but I love being able to bring visions to life. I used to think I had settled, and maybe I did in some ways, as graphic design was the safer, more practical choice.

But it ended fitting me like a glove.

It satisfied the organized creator who wanted to be an interior designer.

It fulfilled the critical problem solver who wanted to be an engineer.

And it gratified the artist who wanted to create, learn, and be seen.

It's not just practical; I have a purpose.