Design Statement of Purpose, Essay Example

When as a child I spent an entire summer coloring picture books and making jewelries, it was apparent my passion lies in design. I would also spend countless hours on Windows Paint Shop and still vividly remember the joy I would experience at successfully translating an idea into a digital creation. I am also lucky to have been born in a family that has always had a special relationship with arts, with my father playing music and my brother being a photographer. My family always encouraged me to do what I want rather than what the society expects from me.

My desire to enhance my skills and creative potential in design is almost as old as my interest in the field. I would jump at every opportunity to showcase my potential whether it involved designing water bottles for family friends, decorating food items, or even designing formal business cards for my father and brother. I even designed a restaurant logo for a family friend and submitted a design to a local daycare that had just opened. The daycare accepted my design among over 100 entries even though I was still in high school at the time.

My first formal education in design happened at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia-based Dar Al-Hekam College where I completed a foundation year in graphic design with the Art Department. The courses in fashion, architecture, interior and graphic design really opened up my mind and expanded my perspectives that design is in itself a whole field to discover. Jeddah has only one college that offers a major in graphic design and even then it has a limited curriculum. It was clear I had no choice but to move to the U.S if I wanted to truly polish my art and realize my potential. I moved to Queens University in North Carolina in 2011, without having any idea whether my credits will be transferred because the only thing that mattered to me was to learn more about design no matter what the time and financial costs may be.

Being in the U.S. exposed me to the tremendous progress that has been taking place in the design field, thanks to technological advancements. I wasted no time in acquainting myself with all the technological resources at the university including the latest design software. I also received encouragement from the professors who didn’t only acknowledge my passion but also my potential, especially having a good eye composition and creative imagination.

I have decided to pursue my Masters in Graphic Design at SCAD because I have ana amzing opportunity to acquire education in the U.S. and that, too at a reputation institution like SKAD where students learn from and work under the guidance of some of the finest design instructors in the world. This is why I do not want to stop after completing my undergraduate degree because Masters will provide me a strong foundation for future career ambitions that include promoting the design profession in Saudi Arabia. SKAD is solely focused on design, thus, students learn in an ideal environment and regularly interact with fellow students who have the same passion for the field.

The concepts about design are extremely outdated in Saudi Arabia and many actually believe that all one needs to have a career in design is to learn Photoshop. I want to expand the perspectives of my country mates regarding design and I want to introduce them to the possibilities in design I myself didn’t know before coming to the U.S. even though I already had formal education in design. I have seen tremendous potential in many people n Saudi Arabia but the potential is wasted without proper guidance and access to opportunities to nourish one’s talent.