When looking back at my original definition of graphic design during Unit 1, not much has changed. I still define it as the way I communicate with others. However, what has changed is my view on design thinking. To be honest, I hadn’t given it much thought before this class, and hadn’t really even thought much about the term. After going through the Bootcamp Bootleg writings and exercises, design thinking became a term that meant a lot to me. Prior to reading it I would just think of things as “creative blocks” or I would just brainstorm in my head. Now I realize that design thinking is about more than just brainstorming ideas, it’s also about making exploring opportunities between unseen connections. Typically someone would ask for a business card design, or a website and I would say “ok, what should I do?” I didn’t really take the time to explore connections between design items that may never occur to me; I totally jumped into the obvious and thought I’d make it original by doing some new design element. Now I realize that it’s valuable to take that time before working on a piece to “think outside the box.”
Another element that has evolved since the beginning of this class is understanding I do have heuristic bias’ within the way I design. I always thought I didn’t and that I was pretty open to all things. But, after exploring our discussions, talking with classmates, and again reading through the Bootcamp Bootleg I realized I am guilty of many of the patterns a designer can fall prey to: jumping to the obvious solution, making the surface connection and not really challenging myself. So, while my definition of graphic design remains in tact, I do interpret elements within graphic design differently.