Graphic Design and Self
Guest Lecture by Martin Hosken, The Self
The lecture covered various aspects of “The Self” theory through history until the digital transformation time. Our core values define the guiding principles that dictate our behavior and help us understand the difference between right or wrong. I rather name them as personal values. They define who you are and what you stand for as an individual. I grew up in various regions, countries, and was surrounded by various religions. Two important personal values I respect are compassion and inclusiveness. Compassion is meeting people where they are and treating them with kindness and empathy. While inclusiveness is fully accepting and supporting the ones we work with and serve. It is fully accepting and respecting others for who they are without questioning anything. I truly believe in this.
Another interesting debate discussed is Nature versus Nurture. Nature is influenced by genetic inheritance and other biological factors. Nurture is the influence of external factors after being born, e.g., the product of exposure, life experiences and learning. The nature-nurture debate is concerned with the relative contribution that both influences make to human behavior, such as personality, cognitive traits, temperament and psychopathology. Given that heredity and environment both influence the person we become, which is the more important?
The lecturer then mentioned the “Nudge Theory”. “Nudge is a concept in behavioral science, political theory and behavioral economics which proposes positive reinforcement and indirect suggestions as ways to influence the behavior and decision making of groups or individuals”. In other words, it helps people make better choices for themselves without restricting their freedom of choice. A good example would be organ donation. In Spain, every citizen is registered for organ donation unless he/she opted out of it. Most of the citizen want to donate their organs once they die, however, they never take the time to register for the cause.
The Freud’s Iceberg Model described the mind’s structure and function. Freud used the analogy of an iceberg to describe the three levels of the mind. Like an iceberg, the most important part of the mind is the part you cannot see. The third and most significant region is the unconscious. Here lie the processes that are the real cause of most behavior.
The most interesting part of the lecture was about the Branding and Advertising industry, where the book “The Hero and the Outlaw: Building Extraordinary Brands Through the Power of Archetypes” was covered briefly. A brand’s meaning is how customers think and feel about what that business or product delivers across the board. As such, a brand is built from the customer’s entire experience with a company, its products, and its services. And if everyone in the organization helps bring the brand’s promise to life, it’s a sure way to market success. Nowadays, many big brands rely on influencers to elevate their brand experience and gain more followers. Hence, influencer marketing has emerged as per of digital marketing.
Another interesting terminology discussed was “The Digital Self”. “The digital self is the persona you use when you’re online. Some people maintain one or more online identifies that are distinct from their “real world” selves; others have a single online self-that’s more or less the same as the one they inhabit in the real world”. It’s basically your personal brand conveyed online. It is an important part of our identity these days to the extent that all companies have an online background check on all potential candidates who shall join their companies. It is your online avatar and it should be the reality as authenticity is key here.
In “The Trajectory of the Self” reference material, the chapter highlighted covers the topic of Self-Therapy. I think its very interesting as the trend of coaches and mentors has emerged nowadays. With personal or life coaches, individuals are asked and challenged about their work and life experiences and issues. They are guided to come up with solutions to their issues either by directing them or by providing them with multiple solutions. Keeping a journal is important to note down all ideas, thoughts and reflect upon them later at the end of the day. An individual need to take charge of his/her life. Many successful people, such as CEOs and celebrities, have personal coaches or mentors that meet with them regularly. They need to talk to someone and open about their personal issues. All the efforts are done for the clients to reach self-actualization and take charge of their lives again. For self-growth, one must take risks in life. It is scary but its also liberating and challenging.
Studio Practice
As a graphic designer by practice and as per my character, my values are extremely important and define me as an individual. I have earned respect in my practice due to my values which I stand by every day. Below are the 20 initial words that are chosen to define me:
After further consideration, I have chosen to shortlist the five top values as per the below:
Fun: I use humor at work to be more productive, less stressed and happier. It makes me think of the positive sides of things rather than being negative plus it creates an air of humor with my colleagues.
Accountability is the core of reliability and personal responsibility. I honor my commitments to others and strive to take ownership of my actions and work.
Curiosity: my unending desire to learn and improve every single day. I am always curious about what something is and WHY something is the way it is. I want to know more and get into the nitty-gritty details.
Agility is my ability to adapt quickly and effectively. I harness change for my competitive advantage. I deliver outcomes frequently, from a couple of hours to a couple of days, with the pressure of short deadlines.
Love is the dedication and devotion I have towards my family, friends, interest, work, and life. It fills my heart and nourishes the soul. It provides me with the strength to continue every day.
I would consider agility as my main value. Agility is the ability to detect, assess and respond to unexpected and threatening events (which may also be an opportunity) both quickly and appropriately.
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF AN AGILE PERSON…
Omar Mal
February 18, 2020
Omar Mal 