Design is in the eye of the beholder

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, just as design is.

Within the contexts of this class, I have not only been influenced by new experiences, but I have also been able to look at the concept of design in an entirely different light. McCloud's article in some ways helped me realize that. I particularly enjoyed his point about the human brain and our ability to form connections and impressions and I think that's the key to design and the visual element: the openness of a mind and its subjective experience.

In some ways both this course and it supplements -- such as McCloud's reading -- has allowed me to think about my own experience with visual elements, how this shapes my perception, and thus be impacted by the beauty that is design and art. I also think this has much to do with the visual person I am by nature. I hold this belief, as cliche and as beat into the ground as it is, that having an open heart and mind allows a single person to be exposed to the most wonderful elements the world has to offer. I also believe the beauty of design also parallels some of the beauty of the real world: that anyone and anything can teach you anything at any time, and the only way that process can be functional and successful is if one opens the means through which perception happens. It's like nature and nurture at work; the psychology of the brain we are born with and how we are nurtured by outside influences and participate in society and how these two coincide. 

In this way, our design and projects also take on a certain uniqueness. Of the various project that we've completed throughout the quarter so far -- even podcasting -- I have learned much about myself as a designer. When I was younger, I basically lived for making collages of anything I enjoyed, and during middle school, that was either basketball and soccer, or my favorite television show at the time: One Tree Hill. When I entered high school, I tried my hand in a few different graphic design classes and still have the desire to expand that knowledge base. But from reading about McCloud's icons to Williams' view of design, and Ginger and Spiekermann's notion of fonts, I have realized design comes in so many different forms. Yes, there are many commonalities and widely accepted ideas of what it means to be a designer and design, but there also exists such variety in even these notions. Anyone can be a designer. Shoot, the colorful smoothie I made for breakfast, before blended up, was very aesthetically pleasing, just as the words on this page are in some way. 

It's effort and thought and rawness. It's a form of a expression we make our own. And I think it's safe to say that's the most beautiful realization I've had all week. 

Text to audio -- where does podcasting come in?

The horizon of this picture symbolized many things to me -- the growth I have felt in this class thus far, the expansion of knowledge, and sincerely how fulfilling that feels. 

Initially, I wanted to see what others were saying about podcasting, so I read an article on UPenn's website about the medium of podcasting and if it will continue to generate money in the years to come with other forms of newly developed technology. What is important to remember, though, is that because of this new technology, a relationship has been formed. This relationship is defined by the accessibility of the content of a podcast on smart phones, iPads, iPods, laptops and essentially any other technologically savvy device. The article, entitled "Podcasting: Can This New Medium Make Money?" states, "Podcasting is also different from traditional media in that the means of production and distribution are readily available to anyone. The technology required to produce podcast content is relatively simple and, unlike the scarce radio broadcast spectrum, the distribution channel -- the Internet -- is available to all." I think in this way, podcasting, beyond just the concern of generating income, can be like any other form of artistic expression and sees the same freedoms as these modes of expression because of its accessibility. 

Audio in some sense brings to life the words in a script, but that also depends largely on the medium through which the audio is being perceived. It also depends on the individual perception of a person -- someone may interpret a message differently if they are more visual versus kinesthetic, or more hands on versus not. Personally, I am visual, but my audacity piece discusses music, which is a medium of audio that affects me on an intensely emotional level. However, I think that is due to the passive act of listening to music; we may not always actively be paying attention to what it is we are listening to, but we know that it impacts us in some form. However, a podcast requires much more attentiveness and extraction of crucial information, even despite the designated subject matter. For example, I was able to preview Whitney's podcast script earlier this week, and while I was thoroughly excited even to read it on the page, I am just as excited, if not more, to hear it recorded, and for the emotional signals indicated in her script to come to life. I know it will take on an entirely different form once I actually hear her enthusiasm for the recipe she is describing, and the passion she feels for sharing that with others. 

Though I have not worked on my own piece much, I found that I am just as thrilled for that process to occur. I have never made a podcast before, and although I have written in many different forms, I have found it to be very difficult even to compose a script that will be very fun to record and thus, listen to. I very much appreciate the slowed process of composition, however. Reading your writing in your head versus out loud makes even a small difference, but recording it for others to listen to adds additional pressure I can't help but feel. Nevertheless, although I have not started recording, familiarizing myself with the workings of audacity, a program entirely new and unique to me, has been thrilling. A feeling I know will increase from here on out as I work on and complete my very first podcast! 

I am beyond enthused to hear all of your projects, because what I have gathered is that all of us are fairly avid podcasters with little to no experience, and I think that makes this process much more exciting because we're all learning something together, yet will all produce something unique to us. Happy podcasting!  

The Initial Choice

As my colleague Whitney mentioned, Anne Lamott's piece "Shitty First Drafts" was extremely refreshing. I find myself consistently comforted by individuals who experience similar struggles as I do when I write, but as Anne explains, in their own personalized way. I love that the writing process does not take the same form for everyone, just as it would boring as if all the people in the world were the same, or if we ate the same food everyday, and so on.

That being said, there is something so powerful about the togetherness everyone, to some degree, can feel about their personal writing progress in relation to others. This is precisely what lead me to feel comforted by Anne's theory that shitty first drafts are an essential component of the writing process. "Every artist was first an amateur"-type thinking. Even the best write first drafts and because I am, too, interested in writing, and supported by even more advanced writers, as Anne herself probably is, I feel my shitty first drafts are now solidified and absolutely necessary.

When I think about how strenuous writing can be, I feel one and only one thing can ever reassure me: that the craft of writing is beautiful and unique all the same because it is in fact strenuous and makes you want to pull your hair out. And first drafts are an essential part of that process. It reminds me of my training off-court for tennis: it is just as important as actually hitting the ball, if not more. It gives substance to the core, to the main course, to the first draft. It also reminds me of the simple life fact that one must always learn somewhere and must also start somewhere. First drafts are likely difficult to come to terms with because they are the absolute raw beginning: the hardest part of anything. Once you are immersed in the craft and you have three drafts to your name, it's not so hard. But that all started with a beginning, a choice, and an action to do so. 

Maybe this example is completely irrelevant, but I feel the need to go forth with it. In the past half year I have been really into inspirational quotes and writing. It's like my whole world is suddenly colored and alive when I am inspired, and others probably have a similar experience, as they are meant to. I have also been very into developing thoughts I find inspiring, and hopefully thoughts that in turn inspire others as well. The process looks like this: I am on a run, in the shower, driving, listening to heart wrenching music, or anything else on autopilot, and it strikes me. Inspiration, a thought I wish to develop within myself, and then share with others. But see, that's not how I write my academic work. My academic work is much more professional and frankly, boring.

The audience is different. The intent is different. Yet, I couldn't have one without the other. In academia, I learn structure and the craft, the language, and so on. Then I use that skill to artistically express myself. My point is that I appreciate both immensely for how they function within their own purposes and thus how they serve to function for each other. Suddenly, limitation loses all meaning within the context of composition and writing.

I like to think that's what Anne is saying. Anyone can do and be anything they wish, but it all starts with a choice to begin. And that is something everyone can attest to. The initial step. The initial choice. And perhaps the most important.

Have a wonderful long weekend, everyone!

--Megan

Megan Carter, more commonly known as Meeg Cartier

Hello, friends! My name is Megan Carter and I am from the beautiful Pacific Northwest in the little but growing town of Vancouver, Washington. I am a St. Patrick's Day baby and I, to this very day, credit that for many instances of luck in my life that have lead me to meet incredible people and experience incredible things.  

I love Santa Barbara for numerous reasons, but mostly because I crave sunshine and the endless activity it offers outside. A huge part of my life has been spent being active; I tried my hand in many different sports as a child, but primarily played soccer and basketball competitively growing up. However, when I was thirteen I attended a tennis camp and ultimately found my passion. I have now been playing competitive tennis for seven years and have competed at the collegiate level for UCSB. I also very much enjoy running, swimming, skating, biking, playing pickup sports, frolicking on the beach, adventuring, hiking, and my personal favorite: anything that qualifies as spontaneity. 

More recently, I have found a passion for traveling. I have an extremely intense desire to see all parts of the world, especially those with great hiking and especially those with amazingly tropical atmospheres. I like to think I have a pretty keen eye for photography, but would also love to learn so much more about that art so I am able to take awesome photos of my future travels.

My greatest passion lies with humanity. Beyond simply being in the presence of other people being, I love listening to them, conversing, and finding out what it is I can learn from them. I very much believe in the goodness of people and I highly value an open heart and mind. I have met so many wonderful individuals in my lifetime and I credit them largely for giving me belief in the universe. That's why my dream career is a life coach. I am a big believer in holism and the notion that emphasis on all parts of the whole, ideally with none being neglected, is what constitutes a full life and a full heart. If something is important to someone else, chances are it's important to me. 

I am a diehard music fan and have been for as long as I can remember. Rarely is there an instance I am not listening to music. I certainly listen to almost all genres and I am consistently stunned at its raw emotional impact. Music is truly a gift to the world and something that has given so much light to my life.

I am most proud of being a daughter. I share a very close relationship with my parents. In totality, they are my everything, and there is simply not a day that goes by that I don't see, feel, or hear traces of their  fun-loving and extremely supportive guidance. There is something so beautiful about sacrifice -- what blood will do for blood. My parents believed in me enough to sacrifice their whole lives essentially, so that I could be a first generation college student. I simply cannot think of a brighter, more selfless love. They are heroes in my eyes.

Writing is something I have always enjoyed immensely and lately I have really taken a liking to inspirational quotes and videos. Though writing in so many ways has always impacted me, my fondness for the craft has only grown in recent years as I have tried different types and grown as a writer and scholar. I hope to continue that growth within the context of, and beyond, this classroom with all of you. 

Because truthfully, absolutely nothing makes me happier than living and learning in an encouraging environment, seeing my peers succeed and develop and grow and plan and chase their passions like there's no tomorrow. That is the kind of beauty and strength that transcends life's greatest adversity and makes this one happy place to coexist and thrive in. 

I wish you all a very happy winter quarter. :)

--Megan