Reflection

This past week we have been in a design bootcamp – learning the ins and outs about the programs we will be using this semester and beyond. First, we completed a typesetting assignment using InDesign. I was nervous about this assignment at first because it seemed tedious. I carefully read through the instructions and, actually, the assignment turned out to be easier than I thought.

In order to learn these programs, like Photoshop, in a hands-on fashion, we were asked to watch videos that incorporated exercises along the way on Lynda.com. This allowed a lot of interaction and better helped me familiarize myself with the programs because I was actually doing the processes along with the guy narrating the videos.

At first I thought the videos would be dull and wasn’t looking forward to watching and completing exercises but I clicked on the video during class because I knew it was required and I’d have to learn the material at some point. As soon as I started watching the videos I was focused and intrigued because I knew I was learning something that would be important. There were a lot of videos to watch but the content of the videos moved smoothly from one aspect of photoshop to the other. As I progressed through the list of videos I could feel myself becoming more skilled – I would use the shortcuts and know what I was doing before he gave me the instructions to do so. I felt proud when I knew what to do next or what keys to press.

I think all the components of this design bootcamp helped me gain confidence in my abilities to create something new. As I said, I felt a sense of pride after completing steps. I think I had pride because it was me, individually, that was figuring something out – like putting a puzzle together.