When it comes to design, truly who are we? Are we just creative brains sitting inside squishy human bodies, or are we something greater? 

 

Frank Chimero begins his lecture on the "Shape of Design" with a similar questions... 

 

Who are we? What are we doing? and finally.. Where are we going? 

 

When Chimero begins to lecture on these things, he brings up the point of us "not being visual communicators, which I am not sure I agree with. Later, he mentions that we are more like"gift givers" and I can completely agree with that. 

 

To answer the question of, "What does success in design look like for you?" I believe it is the great purpose of not only being that "visual communicator", but also having the ability to become that "gift giver". I agree when Chimero mentions being able to have the ability to delight people with your design. I believe many times we get caught up in our efforts to perform better and our work becomes less thoughtful and delightful. 

 

Bringing delight to someone, whether it is a client or not, is something I definitely want to learn to accomplish every time I present an idea. There is not a greater feeling than when someone delights in your work and is excited in what you have created. Chimero also mentions that this is a designer's "Super Power", which I definitely feel like when someone loves my work. 

 

An "academic" goal I would love to accomplish in design would be the ability to tell a story with everything I create. Stories are in our bones and when a person understands the story we are trying to communicate, it just makes sense in their brains. 

 

I want to conclude by saying I can definitely agree when Chimero mentions we should be vulnerable in design and to also be human. By having these traits, we can communicate with the world what our design and art is trying to say.