An Urge to Purge
Creative people are generally born with an urge to channel their creativity and satisfy a compulsion. And the avenue through which they purge this urge is completely fluid. It may be through painting, writing, sculpture or design, and to some it doesn’t really matter where it comes out, as long as they manage to do something creative. The beauty of a creative leaning is that there is a litany of choices to express these ideas, and it is a constant learning curve towards self-improvement.
Odrina Patsali is one of those natural born creatives who always knew she needed somewhere to put her ideas, but she is also open enough to recognise when it is not quite right. She understands her creative needs and has the courage to listen to her instinct.
At first Odrina set her sights on Interior Design and pursued her studies in RMIT, but as a true creative, she is also constantly curious. During her time studying interiors, she noticed how she was always more interested in the visual and graphic elements of design. And so, she made the move from interior design to graphic design. And while this may seem like a brave enough move, Odrina also understands that to be a professional, you must know the business.
“During my research, I also completed a short business course and worked part time as an interior consultant to gain a better understanding of whether I wanted to continue in that field. Throughout this experience, I realised that my strengths and interests were more aligned with graphic design.”
The road to the Academy
And so began Odrina’s path to the Academy.
“Discovering the Academy gave me the opportunity to take that interest further and refine my skills, while gaining a clearer understanding of where my strengths lie creatively.”
And how the course is delivered has also benefitted her.
“In my experience, I learn most effectively from gaining feedback and collecting inspiration online.”
While value still exists in the traditional methods of learning, today’s online campus offers a world of opportunities for those unable to attend classes in person. Gone are the days where a student’s physical access is an obstacle. For Odrina, commuting was just too much of a challenge. Embarking on a high-level learning path is never easy, even for those with the privilege of access and so Odrina is embracing the ease and comfort that learning from home can offer.
“The Academy appealed to me because it felt practical and easy to work on at home. I found traveling to do my studies to be extremely challenging, so I wanted to find something that would be easier to work with.”
And this also means that she can focus on the important stuff! Her future in graphic design.
“I was interested in the way the course focused on industry relevant learning and hands-on projects rather than only theory.”
Art is a craft and a skill
There is a common misconception that in order to be artistic you must be good at drawing. Firstly, art by its very nature, is a subjective field so what is “good” to one person is very different to another. But more importantly, drawing is a skill that can be taught. As Odrina progresses though her graphic design studies, she is discovering some unexpected surprises.
“During this course, I discovered that I am capable of drawing and that I am more creative than I initially thought I was!”
But drawing is only the beginning. Odrina’s love for colour and her fascination with geometric shapes and forms is finding an outlet in graphics. She is learning to bring her ideas to life and to explore idea generation through her course work. The Academy is a nurturing space where students are encouraged to find their own design voice and follow their own path. Every design tells a story and as she works through logo design and branding, these stories are informing Odrina’s creative process.
“Coming up with a new idea is like a puzzle. You might have ten ideas that feel 'okay,' but the challenge is finding the one that feels original. I spent a lot of time during the course learning how to dig deeper and researching other ideas, so my designs didn't look like everything else already out there.”
A colourful future in design
And the more she practises, the better Odrina will become. Design is like a muscle and the more weight that is added, over time it grows stronger and more independent. Already she can see how her work is developing and this is truly encouraging. Learning the value of preparation, feedback and iteration is a powerful injection of confidence in new designers. At first, everything new can feel overwhelming but as you learn, you realise you are building both your skills, and yourself as a person.
Odrina is looking ahead and wants to “eventually work in a studio or agency where I can learn from other designers and be part of a creative team. I am still exploring different areas of design, but I would love to share my design style with others as well. In the future, I’d also like the option to work for myself and take on projects I feel really passionate about.”
And with her growing skills, self-awareness and creative maturity, there is no stopping her!
