Last spring, I took Studio 1. I had no idea what a "studio" class would be or what it
should be. Nevertheless, I managed to get through it without knowing Illustrator and while taking Photoshop. In hindsight, I should have focused on learning the programs before taking Studio...well, maybe. I also was exposed to theory, inspiring personalities, concepts and some simple production skills that have only made my other classwork stronger.
This semester I enrolled in Studio 2 and Studio 3 at the same time. I'm sure there are schools where this would not be allowed or advised upon. BUT...our school defines the classes by their focuses, not their level of skill so I thought it'd be fine. Studio 2's main focus is on branding and identity. Studio 3 is split between packaging and advertising. All are necessary areas of study for any graphic designer and I personally think they might even be reversed in their hierarchy of their names (the content in Studio 3 should be studied before the content in Studio 2)...but I'm no curriculum planner.
In taking Studio 3 right after Studio 1, I was incredibly nervous. I thought I might have made a mistake, that my work would appear underdeveloped. But it didn't take long before I realized that I would be fine. The hardest part of taking Studio 3 has turned out to be that I don't know many of my classmates and my friends from Studio 1 are now only in Studio 2.
I mention the sociological aspect of these groups because this experience has given me a chance to witness new truths about studying design and how class populations effect me and my work. These truths become most evident during the crits that take place in every studio class. Being an outsider in Studio 3 gave me new perspective on my participation in Studio 2, where some of my classmates have known me and my work since I started in February.
Students who know each other are more likely to compliment each other's work. In Studio 2, I felt like a rock star pretty much from day 1. My classmates were complimentary and my teacher followed suit. Critiques were always upbeat. I felt I could joke and make silly references and my class all got it. Studio 3 was the polar opposite. I would get up to present and the teacher would ask for feedback and it would be crickets for me. A couple of weeks in, one student started warming up to me which lead to others. Fortunately, I'd had the teacher for another class and he always gave me feedback and direction. The strangest thing was that I was so desperate for student feedback, I would have listened to even the worst designers and probably would have tried what they said. Once I realized I was feeling this way, I knew I needed to step back and just trust myself and do what I thought was best.
Outspoken/obnoxious students are more likely to be complimented by other students in fear of potential criticism received from outspoken students. This was true in my Studio 2 and Studio 3 classes. The interesting difference was that the most outspoken student in Studio 2 was a very strong designer and the outspoken student in Studio 3 was a bad designer. Yet the outcome was the same. This is a situation where I think the teacher should step in and regulate commentary. The outspoken student is often monopolizing the class with their solitary design sense (which might be awful!). In turn, the compliments the outspoken student receives are not really helping the student become a better designer.
Being an outsider often requires public teacher approval before receiving approval from classmates.
Trading compliments is like Valentine's day in elementary school. Once, in Studio 3, a classmate of mine was getting hammered by the teacher and the class was starting to follow suit. But I honestly saw her point of view, her direction. So, I spoke up and told them I was with her and basically they were all wrong. (but I also secretly worried she was plagiarizing...) Predictably, the next week, instead of crickets, I got her with feedback. I guess she felt like she had to. And the minute she started to speak, I recognized why she was doing this - b/c I'd backed her up when she felt vulnerable.
I've experienced the same thing in my fashion class, as well. The fashion student population is predominantly female and I would guess skews younger than the graphic design students. Most of the students, I learned, are interested in the industry but not the aesthetic illustration aspect (which is the main reason I took the class). The class is on the main campus whereas the graphic design classes are on a separate secluded smaller campus creating a community feeling. In my fashion class, my teacher has been more interested in my watercolors than my merchandising interests and I'm fine with that.
And at the end of the day, I feel that I present stronger work and more innovative solutions to prompts when I'm in classes that make me uncomfortable, where I feel like I don't fit in. I guess when you feel like you've got something to prove, you're more likely to push yourself.
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