Reflection

 Over these past several months, I’ve learned a lot more about different multimodal designs. Although I already have experience creating my own website and running my business through multimodal designs, I found this class to teach me about the “Why” in creating these designs. For me, I applied most of the skills from class in brainstorming better ways to convey my style language to my customers. As a freelance videographer, making it easy to understand to potential clients is a must. Whether I like it or not, if I don’t generate enough interest through my design via website or social media, I will have a struggling business. Thankfully, my design style works very fluently with how I like to share my work and process them.

            Around the middle of the semester, I started analyzing different websites I love to go on and bulleted different elements that I liked. This helped me with finding new ways to freshen up my website but also learn why they were designed that way. I also checked out websites I didn’t like and saw that web design can be very outdated to audience focus, company focus, or just honest subjective agreement. Overall, this class has helped me learn to not just breeze through websites and take them for what they are but understand why they are designed that way. As a film major, I appreciate that new form understanding, as we love to analyze films differently than regular viewers.

            With that being said, the skill that I am most proud of learning this semester is design continuity. When I started making my website, I would design in a way that just looks cool to my eye. Sometimes it would bee too much or too little. So now that I understand that every little element must cohesively work together for a great design. I took that skill and improved my website over the semester, and it looks much better than at the start of the year. I will carry this skill in the future as I know I will get tired of my designs sooner than later. I love to create new and fresh styles while also working with the trends of the time. This can be applied not only to web design but also in video and photo works as well! We did focus on a lot of literary magazines but, they are just physical versions of websites. So not too many things are different and thus using time and tested magazines from the past can be very beneficial for new and trendy designs.

            All in all, I do plan on practicing my digital design skills as it is my focus to improve my business. I’m currently exploring different options in scaling my YouTube channel as well and web design has been one of my focuses for this. I can try to make a merch store or post exclusive blogs on my website. Overall, this class has been very beneficial and I will take all the skills with me in the future!

WORK FROM THE SEMESTER

Topia

https://topia.io/waynesworld-free-p8f9igbr2

ENG 256 GALLERY

LITERARY WORK

CREATIVE SHORT POEM

The Miner

by Wayne Banga

In a dark black hole, a man hacking away at the stone,

his body dialing in with the motion,

in hopes of drowning out the sharp rhythm of iron-piercing stone.

The smell of cigarettes echo through the cavern,

headlamps flickering to each hit

signal a crack coming from within the stone.

Stone that was propped up by timber shook from every strike

which motions a heavier crest every time

he picks up the pick though his elbows do not waver.

The pressure steaming from the miner’s helmet

making the stone smell like burnt butts

but finally, with one breaking stroke, he saw black.

Black as the cavern will be the longer he stays

inhaling the joys of the world for one moment

until exhaustion finally settles in.

The timber finally gives way to the determination of the few

for the cavern has now collapsed

leaving only silt dust, stone, and the helmet of the miner.