2019
I've seen so much in just 8 months!
The last time I checked in I was getting ready for another school semester and preparing for big plans in the winter. Now I'm wayyyy on the other side of those plans and reflecting on all the time spent bouncing around the world, exploring, meeting people, and making work.
Fall semester of 2018 was a very different academic experience than I ever had in the past. I was in a collaborative studio course called Speculative City which focused on casting future visions of urban life that simultaneously reflect our current struggles, concerns, and values. Every week we would read a series of papers and chapters in books and then write short reviews/opinions on the pieces to then discuss in class. It was an intense 6 weeks of research, output, and discussion to then inform our final design directions. I ended up collaborated with my friend Luke and we wrapped up the semester with an extremely successful project we called Denuclearized Family. It was a narrative and suite of products that revolved around the future of AI and smart technologies in the home. Our research, story-telling, and designs have since been recognized and presented at the 2019 AIGA National Design Conference and the 2019 Primer International Conference, the only design conference dedicated to speculative design.
Aside from that studio I was focussed on preparing for a month-long ceramic workshop in Jingdezhen, China. The workshop had a structured syllabus that I worked towards throughout the semester, but nothing really prepared us for the experience my class and I felt living in Pottery Workshop, Jingdezhen for a month. Everyday in that month of December was an opportunity to learn from the city and the people of Jingdezhen. My time there instilled in me a sense of work ethic that I still doubt I could find anywhere else. Work is for the self by oneself, it can be meditative if you allow it, it can test you and hurt you, but it is process that realizes and produces the outcome. There is a level of chaos that happens within the plan, it’s both controlled and rampant and the only way to succeed is to be aware of it and to go with the flow. We trust the process and it leads us to beautiful things. A year and a half ago I would’ve never imagined having the memories I do now of Jingdezhen. Looking back, it was one spontaneous moment of saying “I think I’m going to China this year” that stumbled into the following months of work to get me there.
We left Jingdezhen on December 22nd in time to celebrate Christmas with family in America. I saw my parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins and felt so appreciative of familial-familiarity. The ease of conversation that comes form knowing a person for your whole life. The holiday felt short but rich with love! After the New Year I drove back to Cincinnati to see my other family (my friends) to say proper hellos and goodbyes before moving to Los Angeles for the Spring Semester. Again, I felt refreshed by reconnecting with people I care about so much. I've realized that this sort reconnection is essential to my character. Nurturing relationships through conversation and appreciating the network of people that support me is my way of recharging my own energy to put into the world. I left for LA ready to meet new people, try a new job, explore my self a little bit, but ultimately find inspiration in a city I'd only heard of in movies.
LA was good for me. I ended up spending a significant amount of time by myself; it gave me a lot of time to reflect on my goals and my relationship to design as a whole. I learned that creative work is an important aspect of my character and life, but what is more crucial to my happiness is work/life balance and allotting time for myself to step away from the computer and walk around museums or in nature, to make trips to the beach, or visit friends in other cities, or even just sit in my room and play music, draw in my sketchbook, or do yoga. I also learned how to radiate confidence in a new social environments. The anxiety and awkwardness I felt for certain social situations went away with this overwhelming realization that nothing interesting would happen if I kept my head down and mouth shut and even more so - I had nothing to lose! It was an incredible release of self that I hadn't felt before. I met some genuinely beautiful people while working at MKG that I still keep in touch with. The internship itself had its ups and downs, but my life outside of work made up for the lows. In terms of work, I learned I like active participation through conversation or brainstorming, and that I appreciate critical feedback.
I came back to Cincinnati this May refreshed and ready to take on another semester. Thus far it's been an extremely reflective academic experience. We've spent a lot of time thinking about where we come from as people and as designers, what sort of work do we love to see/be a part of, and how we can focus our passions towards a thesis for capstone. I'd like to spend the other half of this year following the pull of research and more importantly figure out my "WHY"! (Why do I get up in the morning? Why design? etc.) I would also like to speculate on life after graduation a little bit too. If I'll stay or go, If I'll work fulltime or freelance, who I can connect with from this community, how I can give back to this community after it has been so good to me over the years.
The last time I checked in I was getting ready for another school semester and preparing for big plans in the winter. Now I'm wayyyy on the other side of those plans and reflecting on all the time spent bouncing around the world, exploring, meeting people, and making work.
Fall semester of 2018 was a very different academic experience than I ever had in the past. I was in a collaborative studio course called Speculative City which focused on casting future visions of urban life that simultaneously reflect our current struggles, concerns, and values. Every week we would read a series of papers and chapters in books and then write short reviews/opinions on the pieces to then discuss in class. It was an intense 6 weeks of research, output, and discussion to then inform our final design directions. I ended up collaborated with my friend Luke and we wrapped up the semester with an extremely successful project we called Denuclearized Family. It was a narrative and suite of products that revolved around the future of AI and smart technologies in the home. Our research, story-telling, and designs have since been recognized and presented at the 2019 AIGA National Design Conference and the 2019 Primer International Conference, the only design conference dedicated to speculative design.
Aside from that studio I was focussed on preparing for a month-long ceramic workshop in Jingdezhen, China. The workshop had a structured syllabus that I worked towards throughout the semester, but nothing really prepared us for the experience my class and I felt living in Pottery Workshop, Jingdezhen for a month. Everyday in that month of December was an opportunity to learn from the city and the people of Jingdezhen. My time there instilled in me a sense of work ethic that I still doubt I could find anywhere else. Work is for the self by oneself, it can be meditative if you allow it, it can test you and hurt you, but it is process that realizes and produces the outcome. There is a level of chaos that happens within the plan, it’s both controlled and rampant and the only way to succeed is to be aware of it and to go with the flow. We trust the process and it leads us to beautiful things. A year and a half ago I would’ve never imagined having the memories I do now of Jingdezhen. Looking back, it was one spontaneous moment of saying “I think I’m going to China this year” that stumbled into the following months of work to get me there.
We left Jingdezhen on December 22nd in time to celebrate Christmas with family in America. I saw my parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins and felt so appreciative of familial-familiarity. The ease of conversation that comes form knowing a person for your whole life. The holiday felt short but rich with love! After the New Year I drove back to Cincinnati to see my other family (my friends) to say proper hellos and goodbyes before moving to Los Angeles for the Spring Semester. Again, I felt refreshed by reconnecting with people I care about so much. I've realized that this sort reconnection is essential to my character. Nurturing relationships through conversation and appreciating the network of people that support me is my way of recharging my own energy to put into the world. I left for LA ready to meet new people, try a new job, explore my self a little bit, but ultimately find inspiration in a city I'd only heard of in movies.
LA was good for me. I ended up spending a significant amount of time by myself; it gave me a lot of time to reflect on my goals and my relationship to design as a whole. I learned that creative work is an important aspect of my character and life, but what is more crucial to my happiness is work/life balance and allotting time for myself to step away from the computer and walk around museums or in nature, to make trips to the beach, or visit friends in other cities, or even just sit in my room and play music, draw in my sketchbook, or do yoga. I also learned how to radiate confidence in a new social environments. The anxiety and awkwardness I felt for certain social situations went away with this overwhelming realization that nothing interesting would happen if I kept my head down and mouth shut and even more so - I had nothing to lose! It was an incredible release of self that I hadn't felt before. I met some genuinely beautiful people while working at MKG that I still keep in touch with. The internship itself had its ups and downs, but my life outside of work made up for the lows. In terms of work, I learned I like active participation through conversation or brainstorming, and that I appreciate critical feedback.
I came back to Cincinnati this May refreshed and ready to take on another semester. Thus far it's been an extremely reflective academic experience. We've spent a lot of time thinking about where we come from as people and as designers, what sort of work do we love to see/be a part of, and how we can focus our passions towards a thesis for capstone. I'd like to spend the other half of this year following the pull of research and more importantly figure out my "WHY"! (Why do I get up in the morning? Why design? etc.) I would also like to speculate on life after graduation a little bit too. If I'll stay or go, If I'll work fulltime or freelance, who I can connect with from this community, how I can give back to this community after it has been so good to me over the years.
2018
This year has brought a lot of personal growth and learning. It has made me more appreciative of my time, my friends and family, and the kind of work I'm creating. I ended 2017 by traveling across the country with three of my best friends. We drove from Portland, OR down the coast to San Francisco, CA and cut in through the middle of the country to Fairfield, Iowa. This two week trip stuffed in a car with my friends completely changed my opinions of the world and what is valuable in life. The West is HUGE, expansive beauty. It has so much to offer in terms of landscape and history. Our goal throughout the whole trip was to make it to Fairfield by December 22nd. We had to keep moving forward, living out of a small sedan, taking care of each other, and keeping true to our dates. Those days felt so long, I experienced all 24 hours of a day and fully appreciated each minute. Yet, making it to Iowa I couldn't believe it was over. The drive made it feel like time had stopped and we had our whole lives to travel with each other, but we could see the end and were mourning.
But the trip had lasting effects, I felt different. I flew from Fairfield to Toronto, ON to see family for Christmas. It was the same holiday experience as every other year, same family, same events, but I was different. I was asking more questions about my mom's childhood, I was connecting with my little cousins on a deeper level, I appreciated my family history more so than ever before. All my life I had taken for granted where my parents came from and what they had gone through at my age. I felt this sudden urge to LEARN and GROW and truly KNOW the people around me. It kick-started 2018 as a year of GROWTH and LOVE and HONESTY.
Come January I went to school with a fresh perspective, excited to make things I was proud of. I was balancing creative personal work with creative school work, pushing myself in every direction, giving a lot of myself for the people around me. It made me feel really good. Throughout the spring I created the most work I ever have. Designed books, made work for a gallery exhibition, and worked with a team that drove me to be the best version of myself. I made a lot of connections, got jobs helping creatives around me, and ended up getting a co-op for the upcoming Summer semester at a place and in a city I had only ever dreamed of working in. I ended the semester feeling physically and mentally exhausted, but my heart was full & warm. I overworked myself in a lot of areas of my life, but it was so worth it. It just worked out really well. It was happening all at once and it was overwhelmingly beautiful.
Summer in New York.
Working at MKG.
Hanging out with my sisters.
Making new, old-friends.
I still catch myself daydreaming about the summer. It taught me a lot about my independence - how to stay entertained even when alone. I spent my weeks working in the heart of the city, my weekends at Fort Tilden/Jacob Reese park - beach days. It was a crazy contrast going from city to what looked like the Middle of Nowhere soft paradise. The beach was my saving grace at times, it grounded me in the same way the West did (in nature and the passing of time).
The end of Summer was bitter sweet. I was leaving a city I fell in love with, but going back to my home and friends/family.
I've come back to Cinci with the intention to learn and take in as much as possible. This is the first semester where I don't need to make a portfolio and so the pressure to make content for it is off my shoulders. I've been reading and writing a lot and trying to take better care of my body and mind.
I'm going on a month long trip to China this December to participate in a ceramic workshop in China's porcelain capitol, Jingdezhen. I'm focusing my energy into preparing for that.
This life is wild! I feel so fortunate.
But the trip had lasting effects, I felt different. I flew from Fairfield to Toronto, ON to see family for Christmas. It was the same holiday experience as every other year, same family, same events, but I was different. I was asking more questions about my mom's childhood, I was connecting with my little cousins on a deeper level, I appreciated my family history more so than ever before. All my life I had taken for granted where my parents came from and what they had gone through at my age. I felt this sudden urge to LEARN and GROW and truly KNOW the people around me. It kick-started 2018 as a year of GROWTH and LOVE and HONESTY.
Come January I went to school with a fresh perspective, excited to make things I was proud of. I was balancing creative personal work with creative school work, pushing myself in every direction, giving a lot of myself for the people around me. It made me feel really good. Throughout the spring I created the most work I ever have. Designed books, made work for a gallery exhibition, and worked with a team that drove me to be the best version of myself. I made a lot of connections, got jobs helping creatives around me, and ended up getting a co-op for the upcoming Summer semester at a place and in a city I had only ever dreamed of working in. I ended the semester feeling physically and mentally exhausted, but my heart was full & warm. I overworked myself in a lot of areas of my life, but it was so worth it. It just worked out really well. It was happening all at once and it was overwhelmingly beautiful.
Summer in New York.
Working at MKG.
Hanging out with my sisters.
Making new, old-friends.
I still catch myself daydreaming about the summer. It taught me a lot about my independence - how to stay entertained even when alone. I spent my weeks working in the heart of the city, my weekends at Fort Tilden/Jacob Reese park - beach days. It was a crazy contrast going from city to what looked like the Middle of Nowhere soft paradise. The beach was my saving grace at times, it grounded me in the same way the West did (in nature and the passing of time).
The end of Summer was bitter sweet. I was leaving a city I fell in love with, but going back to my home and friends/family.
I've come back to Cinci with the intention to learn and take in as much as possible. This is the first semester where I don't need to make a portfolio and so the pressure to make content for it is off my shoulders. I've been reading and writing a lot and trying to take better care of my body and mind.
I'm going on a month long trip to China this December to participate in a ceramic workshop in China's porcelain capitol, Jingdezhen. I'm focusing my energy into preparing for that.
This life is wild! I feel so fortunate.
2017
I started this year off by doing my first Co-Op at Frontgate, a furniture and home-goods company, in Cincinnati, OH. It was the first time that I would be working in my field, in a corporate environment. Also the first time that I was living in Cincinnati full-time without having to worry about school work.
I felt more curious than I had in a while, I was meeting so many new people, people I admire. I was on the cusp of a lot of realizations, but didn’t know it yet. January was the month I fell in love with life. I felt creative, I felt refreshed. It all felt very new, and good. I started appreciating my position in life, the people around me, my family. It was a point of inspiration for me, I think I was stretching my arm out a window waiting for something to fall into my hand. I felt that very strongly, that some sort of epiphany was going to hit me like a brick wall. That the epiphany would be so sudden and bold, that I would see it and know it and cherish it.
I think that I did come to this epiphany i wanted, but in a way i was not expecting. it came slowly, steadily. nurtured by those around me and other influences (books especially). I kept getting this same hints from all these different places. the hints were worded differently but all carried the same general idea: most things (epiphanies) don’t hit you like brick walls, they take a lot of hard work, commitment, passion, etc. The answer comes in pieces, and begs for you to assemble it. To be aware, wide eyed for anything that could bring you closer to your answer. But it also takes recognition on my part to know when the hints are relevant. putting all these pieces together is tough, but i can’t force it. it will come in time if i am watching for it, if i’m concentrate.
Moving forward I want to recognize the things that are important to me and work to keep those things alive and well. I also want to start taking my work more seriously and prioritizing my time better. I think this upcoming year will get me closer to my interests and will test my will power and work ethic.
I felt more curious than I had in a while, I was meeting so many new people, people I admire. I was on the cusp of a lot of realizations, but didn’t know it yet. January was the month I fell in love with life. I felt creative, I felt refreshed. It all felt very new, and good. I started appreciating my position in life, the people around me, my family. It was a point of inspiration for me, I think I was stretching my arm out a window waiting for something to fall into my hand. I felt that very strongly, that some sort of epiphany was going to hit me like a brick wall. That the epiphany would be so sudden and bold, that I would see it and know it and cherish it.
I think that I did come to this epiphany i wanted, but in a way i was not expecting. it came slowly, steadily. nurtured by those around me and other influences (books especially). I kept getting this same hints from all these different places. the hints were worded differently but all carried the same general idea: most things (epiphanies) don’t hit you like brick walls, they take a lot of hard work, commitment, passion, etc. The answer comes in pieces, and begs for you to assemble it. To be aware, wide eyed for anything that could bring you closer to your answer. But it also takes recognition on my part to know when the hints are relevant. putting all these pieces together is tough, but i can’t force it. it will come in time if i am watching for it, if i’m concentrate.
Moving forward I want to recognize the things that are important to me and work to keep those things alive and well. I also want to start taking my work more seriously and prioritizing my time better. I think this upcoming year will get me closer to my interests and will test my will power and work ethic.