MY LIFE AS A DESIGN PROBLEM .
By Nishita sree (22396)
For Elements of Design (PD201)
An obedient kid, I always was. Molding myself to make my parents proud. First in class, first in arts, always hardworking and always smiling. Pleasing guests and family members. Little did I know they will love me no matter what. My world was not my canvas to paint, yet.
It was in high school that I started making decisions, decisions that started to change my life. After successfully convincing my parents to let me join a boarding school, I started meeting new people. A thought to get out of my little comfort zone and explore the world on my own, gave a new dimension to my life. It gave me an opportunity to explore myself. After an year, I was asked to decide again, Math or Biology. My thoughts were still two-dimensional but then I had a feeling that I am made to solve problems. Math was always my favorite subject.
Bounded by the walls of competition, my intermediate schooling was a race to score high and get into one of the prestigious institutions in India. That was not something that I planned for while choosing the stream. Math, Physics, Chemistry and repeat. And then at the end of two years, another dimension added, DESIGN, another way to solve problems. It added curves to my thought process. But I still was planar enough to see buildings as the only design field. I fought for what I wanted though “it is not a most chosen path” in my circle.
After joining Architecture, life became colorful. I enjoyed designing all day, all night. Scribbling on papers and drafting on sheets, making little models and simulating them, going out in the name of site studies and Locking myself in room for days. Imagining people interacting with those spaces was the best dream I had. Sometimes I came up with great ideas, sometimes with stupid ones, both were my favorite. It was extreme and I liked going through those extremes to get my idea to life. And I graduated.
Reality was not something I dreamt off. Getting a job itself was hard and pandemic hit harder. This dimension was too practical to handle. All I wished was for a stable work life. That determination got me stuck for years when I knew I had to shift my flow. My work life was mostly on screen. I was in the design team where we do layouts and presentations to pitch projects for an year. Another year was handling Authority drawings. Although I was developing good skills and upgrading my knowledge in the field, the field as it is, has a long process to go from pitching to production. I could not see my ideas in life anymore. I was not creating anymore.
When a good friend introduced me to product design, I knew what I had to do next. After attending multiple workshops and online courses, joining a masters course was my take to make my reality more lively. Step by step I got more aligned to what I want. I now see a future where my ideas are live. An organization which can support my creative freedom at times.
There may be other dimensions that add in my path. But this is something I chose to do and I will continue to listen to myself. This is my design for my life.
