Hi,
I am applying to several MFA programs in Graphic Design/Visual Communications. I have a standard statement that I intend to tailor to each individual school. I would really appreciate any feedback you may have, especially regarding grammar and spelling (I'm not to world's best speller by any means!). I have inserted blank spaces for very specific information to protect the innocent. :-)
Thanks!
Maria
__________________________________________________
Personal Statement, 11.30.08
No one can achieve greatness on her own-this is what I have come to realize during my unpredictable route from undergraduate to professional artist. I am a long way from my preconceived path and, not long ago, I saw this deviation as a failure. Now I understand the variances in my course as a discovery of where my true brilliance resides, and it has been the people along the way who have helped me shape this journey. As a graduate graphic design student at [the school], my expectation is to encounter more individuals who will contribute to my potential.
My original direction was towards illustration and I built a great foundation from my undergraduate education, thanks to illustrators ___ and ___ and letterpress guru ___. My attraction to pieces from the Arts & Crafts and Art Nouveau movements and native cultures began to translate into my art. In Italy, I had the extraordinary opportunity to see the work of illustrators from around the world at the Bologna Children's Book Fair. Six months after receiving my BFA, I took an intensive weeklong trip to New York City, full of informational meetings, portfolio drop-offs, and even an interview with ___. By the end of my visit, I was confident that I would soon be living in New York as an illustrator.
I returned to ___ only to find my family broken by miscommunication and mistrust. It was difficult to concentrate on my own pursuits and by January, I just wanted to find work outside the house so I could regain focus. The part-time jobs I would soon acquire proved to be invaluable experiences. As a sales person at ___, I rekindled my fondness for handmade art and was even encouraged by the manager, ___, to teach classes. My job at ___ became my first stride into professional design. Presentations director ___, supportive of my background in illustration, ensured that I received projects that utilized my talents and improved my skills.
At the end of 2007, I moved more towards graphic design as I accepted a position at ___. In such a rigorous studio environment, I have been pushed to the next level as a visual communicator. I have been trusted to conceptualize and execute the advertisements, promotions, and website for the citywide ___ event two years in a row. In addition, I have worked on smaller projects like the corporate identity for ___, which required comprehensive research of the client's native culture and business in order to deduce a successful representation of the company. All the while, the design director, ___, and my co-workers have helped me become proficient in all aspects of advertising and marketing design.
All these personal interactions and experiences-the delightful and the painful-have brought me to the next step: advanced studies in graphic design. My initial hope is to expand on explorations of art, design, and crafts, ultimately developing a style that is more in tune with my worldviews. I know that at [the school] I will receive an education tailored to my interest-I can mesh design with printmaking and other art forms. With the faculty headed by [director 1] and [director 2], I expect to be enlightened by avant-garde graphic design and innovative typography. In particular, I look forward to learning from [professor]: I associate with her sense of design and want to hear more about her involvement in design education.
Additionally, [the school] attracts some of the most talented and fervent artists in the world, as students and as visiting faculty, and I am excited to meet them and make connections within the design field. Coupled with the surrounding communities of [the city], the individuals will create a diverse atmosphere where I can learn to mold my designs to reach broader audiences.
Most important to me is paying it forward: I believe it is pivotal to take all that I have gained and use them to help the next generation of designers. I could not ask for a better opportunity to do so than through the [community program] at [the school]. I am thrilled by the prospect of helping younger students uncover future goals while working towards my own.
At [the school], I look forward to being challenged: to be pressed to explore new avenues as an artist, to create work that is relevant to the advancement of the design field, and practice educating a young, diverse group of up-and-coming artists. To me, all begins with people.
I am applying to several MFA programs in Graphic Design/Visual Communications. I have a standard statement that I intend to tailor to each individual school. I would really appreciate any feedback you may have, especially regarding grammar and spelling (I'm not to world's best speller by any means!). I have inserted blank spaces for very specific information to protect the innocent. :-)
Thanks!
Maria
__________________________________________________
Personal Statement, 11.30.08
No one can achieve greatness on her own-this is what I have come to realize during my unpredictable route from undergraduate to professional artist. I am a long way from my preconceived path and, not long ago, I saw this deviation as a failure. Now I understand the variances in my course as a discovery of where my true brilliance resides, and it has been the people along the way who have helped me shape this journey. As a graduate graphic design student at [the school], my expectation is to encounter more individuals who will contribute to my potential.
My original direction was towards illustration and I built a great foundation from my undergraduate education, thanks to illustrators ___ and ___ and letterpress guru ___. My attraction to pieces from the Arts & Crafts and Art Nouveau movements and native cultures began to translate into my art. In Italy, I had the extraordinary opportunity to see the work of illustrators from around the world at the Bologna Children's Book Fair. Six months after receiving my BFA, I took an intensive weeklong trip to New York City, full of informational meetings, portfolio drop-offs, and even an interview with ___. By the end of my visit, I was confident that I would soon be living in New York as an illustrator.
I returned to ___ only to find my family broken by miscommunication and mistrust. It was difficult to concentrate on my own pursuits and by January, I just wanted to find work outside the house so I could regain focus. The part-time jobs I would soon acquire proved to be invaluable experiences. As a sales person at ___, I rekindled my fondness for handmade art and was even encouraged by the manager, ___, to teach classes. My job at ___ became my first stride into professional design. Presentations director ___, supportive of my background in illustration, ensured that I received projects that utilized my talents and improved my skills.
At the end of 2007, I moved more towards graphic design as I accepted a position at ___. In such a rigorous studio environment, I have been pushed to the next level as a visual communicator. I have been trusted to conceptualize and execute the advertisements, promotions, and website for the citywide ___ event two years in a row. In addition, I have worked on smaller projects like the corporate identity for ___, which required comprehensive research of the client's native culture and business in order to deduce a successful representation of the company. All the while, the design director, ___, and my co-workers have helped me become proficient in all aspects of advertising and marketing design.
All these personal interactions and experiences-the delightful and the painful-have brought me to the next step: advanced studies in graphic design. My initial hope is to expand on explorations of art, design, and crafts, ultimately developing a style that is more in tune with my worldviews. I know that at [the school] I will receive an education tailored to my interest-I can mesh design with printmaking and other art forms. With the faculty headed by [director 1] and [director 2], I expect to be enlightened by avant-garde graphic design and innovative typography. In particular, I look forward to learning from [professor]: I associate with her sense of design and want to hear more about her involvement in design education.
Additionally, [the school] attracts some of the most talented and fervent artists in the world, as students and as visiting faculty, and I am excited to meet them and make connections within the design field. Coupled with the surrounding communities of [the city], the individuals will create a diverse atmosphere where I can learn to mold my designs to reach broader audiences.
Most important to me is paying it forward: I believe it is pivotal to take all that I have gained and use them to help the next generation of designers. I could not ask for a better opportunity to do so than through the [community program] at [the school]. I am thrilled by the prospect of helping younger students uncover future goals while working towards my own.
At [the school], I look forward to being challenged: to be pressed to explore new avenues as an artist, to create work that is relevant to the advancement of the design field, and practice educating a young, diverse group of up-and-coming artists. To me, all begins with people.
