At the beginning of PR Pubs, I was intimated by the applications that we were instructed to use. At the time, I had never used things like PhotoShop or InDesign, but because I had seen people use them, I thought that they looked extremely difficult. I knew that I had design ideas, but I didn’t think that I could create them and see them come to life. I think that the first time I turned a corner was creating Direct Mailers. I became much more confident with the applications that we were using and felt that I could create an idea in my head and apply it to a project. Although I was still uncertain of my ability at the time, I take pride in my Business Card and Letterhead. I’m very passionate about the organization that I chose to design for, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, and I was able to channel that passion into a design. I loved using color to evoke a feeling and convey a brand. Looking back, one of my projects that I don’t take as much pride in is the Newsletter. Although it was a recent assignment, I wish that I had given it more effort. I wasn’t ever completely confident with my placement of the various aspects that go into a newsletter, and I wasn’t as happy with the outcome as I would have liked to have been. After completing PR Pubs, I’m able to pick up on designing for specific target audiences. Now, when I look at designs I’m able to see these design aspects working. This semester, I grew as a public relations practitioner in several ways. I gained a lot of confidence in my design ability which has helped me in all aspects of public relations. I learned new skills by becoming comfortable with things like PhotoShop and InDesign and feel that this makes me much marketable as I look for internships and future employment opportunities. I’ve also learned a lot about designing for specific target audiences. This course has helped me to design for people other than myself, but keep true to my design style. I’ve become more creative and able to think outside of the box which again, has helped me grow significantly as a public relations practitioner.
