my recent interest

What caught your attention this year? What are you interested in at the moment? This can be a story, an event, a hobby, skill, relationship...anything. Focus on one thing only and try to write as clearly and concisely as possible.

Topic: Figma

During the summer I spent one week doing an internship at the company, Oqton, where I was introduced to the web-based app Figma. Specifically it is a "web-based graphics editing and user interface design app" (Theme Junkie). This app is what I have found interesting this year and has led to becoming a new hobby and skill I am acquiring. When using Figma you can "use it to do all kinds of graphic design work from wire framing websites, designing mobile app interfaces, prototyping designs, crafting social media posts, and everything in between." (Theme Junkie) I was introduced to this app because it will help me develop as a designer and teach me skills necessary for when I will study product design in the future. Although I am using the app for educational purposes, I also use it as a form of entertainment. I enjoy spending long periods of time coming up with ways to solve challenges and faults in my design attempts.

Recently, while using Figma, I have been working on a design for an app which would display all my university options, their pros and cons, and other relevant information. To start, some factors need to be taken into consideration, such as; your audience (this effects, for example, your color choices) and your app's purpose (this effects, for example, your layout choices). And although I haven't studied design these are things I take into consideration from what I have experienced so far when learning in school. Brainstorming these concepts are a form of entertainment to me and isn't something I do because I have too. When starting to brainstorm, you realise how even a change in font size can completely alter the way your design looks. So does a differing color, shape, or font, even if it is a minimal change. This makes the design thinking process very entertaining. Experiencing this process before going to study design will have an important and impactful process on my education and on my performance.

When reflecting back on the experience I had during the internship, I can conclude that I have learned many new skills and have been introduced to a new way of viewing design and how to approach design. And that through using Figma, I am approaching a deeper level of understanding and ways to acquire knowledge which I wouldn't have understood before the interview. Something I enjoyed during this time was understanding the basic functions of Figma. Figma is a blank slate that needs to be filled, but starting off with nothing in an endless sheet makes it difficult to start, definitely in the early stages of understanding how to use the app. Therefore, I had to watch many videos explaining this process, which is an aspect I unknowingly enjoyed.

To conclude, I have been introduced to a new design app called Figma which has been a stepping stone for teaching me more about design and how to approach the process. This experience will help me develop as a designer and help me prepare for university. Therefore, this experience has had a positive influence on me.

Sources:
- https://www.theme-junkie.com/what-is-figma/