ahh..no bitching.

Lupton's article was interesting because they touched on a few points that i have discussed with some grad students here--and some that have left the program. This is the only master's program i have been a part of, so i have no frame of reference of what we are supposed to "learn." And last semester, i talked to a guy that had been in a two of my classes about the upcoming semester. "I don't know if I'm gonna stay" he says to me "I may transfer...I'm not learning anything." I couldn't argue with him. Now, don't get me wrong--I have learned--but i feel it was more self taught. The point of the teacher in the masters program class is to kind of say "ok, this is what you should know," and then points me in a general direction, pats me on the butt, and pushes me in. I learn because i force my self to google every technique i dont get, look up all the designers i can run across, and read anything design related i can get my hands on. pardon my circa 1992 phrase, but it makes me feel like a poser. The only reason i keep going is because i see my improvement and i am starting to feel comfortable with some of what i do. But i understand the friends i have that have dropped. Crits are great--but i wouldnt mind a advanced creative suite classes to execute my ideas so i feel like im getting critiqued on my design and not my lack of design because it took me three hours to figure out how to do X. that is a common complaint with a lot of people i know..great ideas and clumsy skills. Was I supposed to learn all that in undergrad? i was an english major. i even think sometimes i should go get a ba in graphic design after this to catch up sometimes. doubt that will happen though. it would feel like going backwards.

We watched some shorts on great designers in my designer survival guide class. They just did what they wanted and people loved them. it inspired me to draw my next project in that class instead of using stock or clip art--which ive always disliked. the result? i had fun. i really have a fear of illustration, but for my first real one, i think i did pretty good. and it's mine. i sharpened my pen tool skills. that rocks.

Since my last semester is in the spring, all these things have been plaguing me. I'll have a grad degree. so then what?