I am trying to write an SOP to get into the Graphic Design Graduate program offered by SCAD. I can't decide on the points I should retain in the essay, and the ones I should edit. I was also doubtful about the tone of voice of the essay. Should the essay sound more formal? Please help me figure out. Thank you.
SOP
These lines uttered by my boss on the first day of work as a junior Graphic Designer have stuck with me ever since. Design is not just a piece of art, but a piece of effective communication. My undergraduate study in Graphic Design has equipped me with the essential design skills. However, I now wish to hone the art of effective communication. It is largely for this reason that I intend to pursue graduate studies from the University of....
Ever since I remember, I have been fascinated by the fact that the use of specific colours, typography and graphical elements can permanently alter or influence a human psyche. Be it our choice of a cell phone or a car, our choices define who we are; and my love for scrutinising those decisions has in turn, shaped my life too. Determined to become a 'Mind Bender' myself, I enrolled into an Undergraduate Graphic Design course at Maeer's MIT Institute of Design, India.
Apart from creative skills, the course sharpened my cognitive skills too. I could now filter the innumerable ideas floating around in my head and boil down to a few plausible solutions with the aid of mind mapping and other tools.
One of the most challenging projects undertaken in college was to use the power of design to help Indian women stand up against domestic violence. Since there is a vast sea of differences in the lifestyle, literacy, culture and beliefs of women residing in urban and rural India, one solution would not cater to both. As I worked, I realized that the problem solving and analytical thinking skills I developed due to my love for maths in school will help me greatly in future design work. A series of posters combining visuals and type spoke out to the literate yet vulnerable urban women, whereas, the ones for rural women were strictly devoid of any written word to create an equal impact. My understanding of the Indian culture coupled with an ability to empathise with people proved to be strong tools in my kit. Now increasingly aware of the moral responsibility vested in my hands as a designer, I volunteered for a few NGOs along with school.
My internship with DY Works provided me hands on experience after school. Even at an intern level, seniors were always appreciative of my ideas and gave my suggestions weight. Resultantly, I thrived, and also realised the importance of maintaining a positive environment to foster creativity; a practice, I would like to carry forward in my professional design life.
After being offered a permanent position at the company, I had the opportunity to work with big consumer brands like Reckitt Benckiser, Unilever and Godrej, very early in my career. One of the key takeaways from this experience was that good design skills, alone are not enough. It is also important to have management and leadership capabilities, as well as an awareness of how to best sell and market the designs to the client.
Small or big, every experience in my life as a Graphic designer has unleashed my hidden creative potential, and fueled the curiosity I've always had as a little girl. Pursuing Graduate studies from the University of...is the next logical step in satiating my ever expanding curious mind. Acquaintance with international cultures, markets, design methods and practices will equip me to communicate with an audience beyond the boundaries of my own country. Consequently, it will help me realise my goal of becoming, not just a successful artist, but a successful communicator, acting as a catalyst for change; a 'Mind-Bender.'
SOP
These lines uttered by my boss on the first day of work as a junior Graphic Designer have stuck with me ever since. Design is not just a piece of art, but a piece of effective communication. My undergraduate study in Graphic Design has equipped me with the essential design skills. However, I now wish to hone the art of effective communication. It is largely for this reason that I intend to pursue graduate studies from the University of....
Ever since I remember, I have been fascinated by the fact that the use of specific colours, typography and graphical elements can permanently alter or influence a human psyche. Be it our choice of a cell phone or a car, our choices define who we are; and my love for scrutinising those decisions has in turn, shaped my life too. Determined to become a 'Mind Bender' myself, I enrolled into an Undergraduate Graphic Design course at Maeer's MIT Institute of Design, India.
Apart from creative skills, the course sharpened my cognitive skills too. I could now filter the innumerable ideas floating around in my head and boil down to a few plausible solutions with the aid of mind mapping and other tools.
One of the most challenging projects undertaken in college was to use the power of design to help Indian women stand up against domestic violence. Since there is a vast sea of differences in the lifestyle, literacy, culture and beliefs of women residing in urban and rural India, one solution would not cater to both. As I worked, I realized that the problem solving and analytical thinking skills I developed due to my love for maths in school will help me greatly in future design work. A series of posters combining visuals and type spoke out to the literate yet vulnerable urban women, whereas, the ones for rural women were strictly devoid of any written word to create an equal impact. My understanding of the Indian culture coupled with an ability to empathise with people proved to be strong tools in my kit. Now increasingly aware of the moral responsibility vested in my hands as a designer, I volunteered for a few NGOs along with school.
My internship with DY Works provided me hands on experience after school. Even at an intern level, seniors were always appreciative of my ideas and gave my suggestions weight. Resultantly, I thrived, and also realised the importance of maintaining a positive environment to foster creativity; a practice, I would like to carry forward in my professional design life.
After being offered a permanent position at the company, I had the opportunity to work with big consumer brands like Reckitt Benckiser, Unilever and Godrej, very early in my career. One of the key takeaways from this experience was that good design skills, alone are not enough. It is also important to have management and leadership capabilities, as well as an awareness of how to best sell and market the designs to the client.
Small or big, every experience in my life as a Graphic designer has unleashed my hidden creative potential, and fueled the curiosity I've always had as a little girl. Pursuing Graduate studies from the University of...is the next logical step in satiating my ever expanding curious mind. Acquaintance with international cultures, markets, design methods and practices will equip me to communicate with an audience beyond the boundaries of my own country. Consequently, it will help me realise my goal of becoming, not just a successful artist, but a successful communicator, acting as a catalyst for change; a 'Mind-Bender.'
