By Emmett Steele | 3rd year Journalism student
Creativity is a driving passion for many young artists, and a spark of creativity can be found in everyone. Shaista ‘Shay’ Obaidullah has found a way to harness her creativity and use it to pursue a career where she can let it thrive. How did she do it? The Graphic Design program at Mohawk College.
“I was really lost and wondering what I wanted to study when decided I would go with something that I know I enjoy,” says Shay. “A program where I could be creative, but also develop a useful and professional skill set. The Graphic Design program has been exactly that for me.”
Through the Graphic Design program, Shay has been able to add to her creative portfolio and develop skills that will help her in many aspects of her career. “The Autotelic Shift Design Studio brand identity was created for the branding class in second year,” says Shay. “It was one of my favourite projects since we got to create something that really represented ourselves. Autotelic Shift is the name I chose for my studio to represent design being a journey and having to tune into the experience of that journey.”
Shaista ‘Shay’ Obaidullah sample work from their Brand Identify project
Shay feels that she’s well prepared to start that journey. “The program is great because it really does set you up to be successful in the industry,” says Shay. “The skills you learn range from the obvious technical skillset, as well as the soft skills of communication, and professionalism.”
While Shay has enjoyed expanding her skillset and letting her creativity thrive, she’s found learning from industry professionals has been the most valuable experience.
“My favourite part about the program has honestly been the teachers,” says Shay. “So many have inspired and motivated me to dive deeper into design and find true passion for the work.”
Developing her graphic design skills has been Shay’s goal through the program, but that’s not the only skill she’s learned. She’s also learned to recognize when to step back and take a break – and she encourages other graphic design students to learn how to do so as well.
“Really spend the time in class taking in as much as you can, but at the same time, know when you need to rest,” says Shay. “It’s an exhausting field to be in and a lot of people experience burnout if they don’t manage themselves correctly. Just make sure to balance and find what you love to do in your work, and it will become easier.”
As she prepares to graduate, Shay reminisces about the time she’s spent in the program, but she’s ready to take her first step into the industry as a graphic designer. “I hope to continue to grow and learn from co-workers and in my own time, and eventually get to a position where I can mentor and lead a team of designers,” says Shay. “Once I’m in a position to do so, it would be incredible to help others find what they are passionate about in their careers and help them to pursue what they enjoy working on.”
As she prepares to step into her future, Shay can’t help but reflect on her time as a student. “Being in my last semester and now looking back, my experience throughout the program was very rewarding,” says Shay. “I can see improvements in all areas of my work as well as overall productivity and professionalism. I’ve really grown as an artist and designer in the last three years.”
