Design is more than just the process of creation. It shapes how we navigate the modern world, influencing everything from the digital world to the physical spaces around us. Think about how we use our smartphones every day. Swiping your finger across your phone isn’t just a random design choice it was created to make everything feel effortless. When it comes to finding a new song on Spotify or getting directions on Google Maps, their design makes it easy to go exactly where we want without even thinking about it. In the physical world, design is everywhere. Digital design plays a role in countless spaces we encounter daily. Every business uses logos to set itself apart. On a bigger scale, places like the Broadway Theater District in New York thrive because of the intentional design of the space. The walkway where people take pictures, and the billboards used for advertisements are carefully crafted to draw people in. Unlike the Broadway Theater District, College Park, Georgia, isn’t where design is nurtured. Opportunities for artists are scarce; the only things my community often offers are incarceration, gentrification, and poverty. But despite these obstacles, I found my way to design and photography not because it was encouraged, but because I had to create my own opportunities. What I love about design is that it brings a unique experience to my life, allowing me to be emotionally vulnerable. Some may call my work therapeutic, but for me, it’s more than that. It blends self-determination, community uplift, and love. I believe those are essential parts of a meaningful design process. Like design, photography gives me something deeply personal, validation. It allows me to frame the world through my perspective, capturing moments that reflect my reality, my culture, and the beauty in overlooked places. Every photo I take feels like proof that my voice, my ideas, and my story are worth sharing. Of all the design processes, the projects that excite me most are my graphic design pieces because of the freedom they give me to create without limitations. Whether I’m designing posters or collages, graphic design lets me bring my vision to life in a way people can feel and interpret. There’s something powerful about creating something from nothing, and graphic design gives me that kind of control. In photography, I’m most excited by projects where I develop a concept entirely from my imagination. I love shaping everything from the mood and color palette to the story behind the image. It’s not just about taking a picture; it’s about creating a moment that means something. In the future, I plan to use my digital design skills to make art that stands out in my community. I want to create work that not only looks good but says something. I want my art to speak about the possibilities of the future, the joy in life, and the stories that often go untold. My goal is to show others that art is a powerful way to express yourself and be heard. Design and photography are more than tools for me they’re how I plan to leave my imprint on the world.

Having skill and being creative is one of the most competitive and beautiful things a person can have, especially while living in Atlanta. Art is everywhere, from how the buildings are built to how the streets are decorated. In Atlanta, murals are everywhere, people are constantly creating, and people are always networking. Growing up in Atlanta, Georgia, in the 21st century, everyone wants to be somebody, whether a rapper, streamer, or stylist. Unlike everyone else, I want to stand out and be known as someone who did remarkable work. Instead of rapping or being a fashion designer, I want to be a graphic designer and filmmaker. I chose to pursue art because it allows me to express my emotions, thoughts, and dreams. In addition, it gives me a purpose in life. During my preteen era, I always thought I did not belong in certain areas because I did not fit the stereotype of a black male. I wasn't good at sports, did not talk much, and didn't have friends. Rather than playing sports, I dedicated my time to extracurricular activities, career classes, and art opportunities. In the present day, art has opened many doors for me and even taken me to places I've never thought of or heard of. In 2022, I was part of a documentary that won Georgia's film festival. Within the same year, while attending SCAD, two of my projects were nominated as the best project of the class. One project was a film about the lifestyle and mindset of two photographers. The other was a graphic depicting the black community thriving from a third person's point of view. What inspires me the most is not the artwork itself but the process of creating and the mindset a person goes through from start to finish. Although an artist's work is a sight to see, people are still determining what an artist is mentally going through to make that piece. The concept is called "Creating Through Emotion." An artist can start a project for a specific reason; however, when you break down that reason, emotion controls the thoughts and process of a project. A Finished piece can have overlooked details like symbolism, what emotions are invoked, color schemes, textures, and why certain aspects were used. Artists with different mindsets create different work. A happy artist uses bright colors, and a sad artist uses tinted, monochromatic, or neutral colors.

My strong-willed, hard-working, and family-oriented father is the most significant influence in my life. My father put all his efforts into raising and teaching me how to be a black man in America. Born in D.C., my father had to grow up fast, being the only boy of four children and growing up in poverty. As my father got older, he grew tired of seeing the harmful environment he was born and raised in. When his time came, he left for Atlanta, Georgia, to start a new life. In 2008, my father realized money in the South differed from the North. In the South, everything is less expensive, and jobs pay less. From 2009-2016 my father became a military contractor to renovate military bases. While my father was overseas, he led the operation and combined various building materials, such as marble, tile, and sometimes wood, to make the bases more modern. I am twenty years old and understand the risk and commitment my father upheld. Throughout my father's challenges in life, he has never backed down, always looked them in the face, and continued to push forward with his head high, no matter the circumstances. His passion and desire to see others in a good position ignited a fire in me to create generational wealth in my family by creating both beautiful abstract and meaningful works of Art. In a world with people that have different stories and experiences, I want individuals to see the beauty, joy, and reality of the world that comes with life. In addition, I will highlight people's characteristics and what makes them and their cultures unique. Although I am a year into my craft, I'm Interested in abstract paintings like acrylic pouring and graphic design, which range from portraits to Images from a third-person perspective. My artwork differs from others, not because I made it but because it's an original idea that I put into motion and made something that no one else can create. In addition to this, I also work in two mediums, digital and traditional paint. I enjoy working in both mediums because they allow me to express myself differently than only using one medium. While working digitally, I want to illustrate the different experiences and lifestyles that not only one group of people have but everyone. To ensure this, I add themes that resonate with specific cultures in my work. On the creative side, I sketch and refine images throughout my process from beginning to end. Although this seems quick, I often change my images to make them more realistic. I consider essential points, like the time of day, where the area is, how objects are placed, how they are facing, and what type of weather there is. Unlike graphic design, my painting process is instantaneous. While working with paint, I use a color wheel to see what colors I am combining and mix them. After I mixed my colors, I began to pour them on a canvas. Although I have two skills that I am currently pursuing, in the future, I plan on pursuing graphic design and business at savannah college of Art and Design, where I can expand on my skills and create a legacy for my family.

Growing up with low-income parents, I was never taught about being financially stable. I always believed that if you worked hard enough, you would be able to care for yourself. At the age of 11, I began to cut grass for twenty dollars and mainly spent that money on video games because that's all I cared about. In my high school years, my thoughts shifted from wanting to buy video games to buying clothes and hanging out with friends. Shortly after, my goals and spending habits moved from hanging out to college prep. At this time, I committed to going to SCAD for a bachelor's in film and began trying to find ways to generate funds for school. What I didn't know was that all of this would change. Within my junior and senior years of high school, I began contributing to bills because my mother was returning to nursing school. In addition, the United States was affected by Covid-19, and the disease slowed the flow of money throughout the nation. Since I did not know how long the pandemic would last and had no college money saved, I looked into ways to help generate money in the long run. My first tactic is investing in stocks. Second, Is saving money from my income. Third, is using scholarships. Fourth, is corporation opportunities. When speaking about stocks, we must acknowledge that they are less reliable in the present than in the future because they move daily and most commonly fluctuate in change. Since stocks are shares or investments in a company, anyone can invest in any company they want. I use stocks by investing in companies that provide a need for the average individual. Specifically, I invest in companies that desire to make cleaning materials, like Clorox and Charmin Toilet Paper Ultra. You can use many websites and apps to trade and finance your money. However, the one that I use is robin hood. The second tactic that I use is to save money. Saving money is easy; however, it can be a challenge with bills and other unexpected expenses. When trying to save, remember to be responsible with your money and not burn through all of it. One way is the way you eat. Rather than going out to eat, you should cook at home. When I save money, I typically save it for unexpected fees or things I need. With my savings account, I have also added interest to make the money I have saved multiply. My third tactic is scholarships. Scholarships can range from any subject with any dollar amount and are considered highly competitive. However, winning a single scholarship can still eliminate a significant portion of financial debt. When applying, I apply for small and large amounts of money. I typically apply in general unless their specifics don't match my criteria. My last tactic is to work under corporations. While researching ways to help pay for college, I have found that some major corporations like lowes and chipotle pay for college tuition. Depending on your major and trade, the amount of money you get fluctuates. Because I am an art major, the amount of money that I receive is $2,500 a year. In closing, I am a sophomore at SCAD and still use these tactics. However, the most effective tactic I used was working under a corporation because they will take care of their employees. The least effective tactic that I still invest in is scholarships. Although I have never won a scholarship, I believe it is possible, and I will continue my journey.

Growing up in Atlanta has inspired me to not only be a product of my environment but to learn and speak about interesting topics with others. Although Atlanta is known for its deeply rooted culture in hip-hop, I have been surrounded by creators in various fields ranging from muralist artists, filmmakers and renaissance artists. These creators alone have inspired me to venture out and create work I can call mine. That said, I classify myself as an established storyteller. Rather than shooting films, I tell stories through pictures. As photographers, our primary job is to document important moments in life that will never be the same. In society today, photographers are used for social media and entertainment and are rarely used for life-altering events. I want to add the element of storytelling to my work so that my audience can understand the theme, mood, and message I am conveying in my work. The work that I will produce will revolve around the element of storytelling. Rather than reporting on war and politics, I will photograph different societies, issues, achievements, and special people in other cultures. I believe it is essential for everyone in the world to understand each other so that we may achieve an understanding between cultures. I want to do this work because many people today are wrapped around stereotypes and other biases of each race and do not know each other's backstories. In addition to this, I believe that acknowledging our differences will bring different races together or will at least inform many people to invest in new cultures.

Hello, my name is Paul Yates, and I am an undergraduate at scad Atlanta. Rather than drawing or printmaking like Pablo Picasso, my passion is photography. I have been taking pictures for three years and have a lot of images; The attached photo is my favorite photo. The image is about an artist named "Nathan addly," who created an iconic pieced Inspired by the movie "Queen and Slim." The reason why this image is my favorite picture is that the image conveys a powerful topic. Secondly, the image has multiple symbols. Lastly, the composition of the image is unique. What inspired me to take this picture is the message of the photograph. As young creators, Nathan and I acknowledge that we have to put forth the effort to find opportunities because they won't find us. Producing work or volunteering is one of the many things we have to do to mean something in the art world. The main point of Nathans' work is to highlight the reality and struggle that the African American community faces, dealing with police brutality. Upon further inspection of the piece, you will find the symbolism in minor elements of the image. Firstly, the man's shirt is mainly painted with cool colors, referring to the "cool" that African Americans must maintain in high danger situations like racism, segregation, and even now with systemic oppression. Secondly, The woman painted in yellow also has a meaning. She represents the idea of beauty. Not only that, but she can be conveyed as a light for a dark situation. Nathan's experiences with black women can be depicted as life-changing. They were his backbone, and whenever he needed them, they were always there for him. Next, the man's eyes look at the viewer, making them feel uncomfortable staring at the dress. This is an example of the staring males do across species as a means of "protection." Lastly, the inside of the vehicle is kept with primarily warm tones for a feeling of warmth and safety opposed to the background painted with mainly cool colors representing the "cold" world and danger lurking right outside. As a photographer, I like to challenge myself with different compositions. In addition to this, I also want to find ways to make my work have one or more focus points. The image's composition is important because it makes the picture seem natural. Natural images generally make the images look cleaner, sometimes as if they were reminiscing. Another reason why the composition is important to me is because the work can be seen with who it associates with.

The Way that I practice self-care is by using a variety of tactics. One of the most common practices that I use is music. Since music controls the listener's energy, I play upbeat music or music with light harmony and base to improve my mood and work ethic. Another strategy that I use is journaling or conversing with myself. I started doing this task a year ago, and I still do it because it helps me organize my thoughts. Also, It shows how far as a person I have grown. Another self-care practice that I do is investing in my future carers. In total, I have four careers that I want to uphold. The first career is being a graphic designer, the second being a photographer, next, I want to be involved in film; lastly, I want to be an entrepreneur. I want to uphold these creative careers because they give me a chance to be myself and be creative with them without having any pressure. Looking back, before I started my self-care process. I would always feel anxious; I would wake up with little or no energy or be angry that Im not advancing toward my goals. The first day I woke up listening to music, my energy changed, and people were informing me about it, and I felt the urge to smile more. When I worked on goals, I felt proud of myself for the first time, and people cheered me on.

On my 17th birthday, my father asked me what I wanted to be once I finished high school. I did not have an answer for him until July of 2020. Being isolated for so long had encouraged me to go out of my comfort zone and experience life. I told my father that I wanted to be a jack of all trades in the art industry. I wanted to be a photographer, graphic designer, work in film, and be an entrepreneur. In September, I began to start finding ways to work under these career paths. On September 12th, 2021, I started my passion for graphic design. Within a month, I had created over eighteen graphics inspired by movies and the pandemic. In October, I started my first e-commerce store, selling t-shirts, hoodies, and hats. After building my foundation, nine months have passed. During that time, I received tips on improving my designs, and I began to create all my t-shirts and hoodies. In addition, I also managed to gain an internship with a production company named "EMEF." Currently, It is October of 2021, and I have internships dealing with production and fashion lined up for January. I am thankful.

Here is more of my work if you would like to see more Portfolio: http://paulyates.myportfolio.com Write about a time when you experienced the arts in your community. How did it impact you? 1. The time that I experienced art in the community was during a food drive. In the food drive, I was gathering photos of the people who needed the goods. In addition to me taking pictures of the event, I was also recording the event. The event was sponsored by a local church in Atlanta, Ga, who wanted to fix food insecurity. Write about your favorite teacher from high school. What class did they teach, and what was the most important lesson you learned from them? 2. My favorite teacher in high school was my film teacher. My teacher's name was Mrs. Marrero. One of the most important lessons that she taught was to keep going despite setbacks. She told me in life, I will be fired, and people will try to knock me down, but as long as I persevere, I will be able to reach my goals. How do you think the arts help communities? Give one example of an event, installation, or program you might try to create for your own community as a way to share the arts and enrich those who participate in it. 3. I believe art helps communities, by allowing people to see things creatively and through a new perspective. If I were to create an event for a community, I would create a space for an artist to share their work and make connections. This event would happen on a monthly basis, the artist's best work will be showcased. Describe a time when you failed and write about the impact it had on you. 4. A time that I failed myself, was when I didn't meet my mentor's deadline. To me it made me want to try even harder to get the right result. I am a person who hates to disappoint but gives results. What I took away from that moment was to keep pushing myself and honing my skills.

I am a freshman at savannah college of art and design. The skills that I currently possess are graphic design and photography. While attending savannah college of art and design, I would like to study film and television. What Influenced me to go down these paths is the culture in Atlanta. Here I am surrounded by performers, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, and many more occupations. My vision for my future is to become a diverse artist between film, photography, and graphic design. I chose these three fields because I love making skits, I love taking pictures, and I also like making designs.

Hello, to whom may concern Design is one of the essential skills that one person can uphold. The element of "design" can be dated back to Egyptian hieroglyphics. Besides the fact that each hieroglyphic tells its own story, the figures also have a specific look. In modern society, we have managed to combine the aspect of design with other elements like geometry. In film, there is a geometric device called the rule of thirds to center or equally balance the main subject. To me, design means being able to be creative through century adaptations. Every century new artwork is made, and new tools are created to assist the process. In 1907 the cubism movement swept through the world, showing everyone art could be formed with cubes. In 1916, the dada movement would begin utilizing the same tools with different concepts, creating an emphasis on war. Shortly after this period ended, surrealism began. If I had a job in design, I would be ecstatic. My work as an artist would be great. I have unrestricted control of what I would like to create. In addition to this, I will continuously be improving due to technological advancements and modifications. More of my work is here : https://paulyates.myportfolio.com

Hello, my name is Paul Yates. I am a freshman at "Savannah College Of Art and Design." In their world, there is currently an indescribable amount of artwork. Some work has been around for centuries. One example is Gustav Klimt, "The Kiss," created in 1907, symbolizing romance and affection. In addition, art is being produced daily. In 1996 A woman named Louise Bourgeois started her giant spider collection, creating the spiders out of bronze and granite. On this note, It is hard for me to decide what piece inspires me the most. However, if I had to pick a work of art, it would be "the pillars of creation." This is a photo taken by NASA's space telescope Hubble. The reason why this picture is the chosen picture is that it has imagery, it has vibrance to it, and depending on your field, it has different meanings. The imagery of the pillars has a very calming esthetic. The way the stardust is shaped helps convey how much and how big the dust is, gaining the seeker's attention. In addition to this, the background shows the rest of the space with stars seeming as they're extremely far, and creating an emphasis on how big space truly is. The vibrance of the image is extremely beautiful. The color of the stardust illuminates the build-up and the blending of space and dust. The background space and stars glow with green and gold, showing off the beauty of the universe. The different meanings of the work depend on the field of study you are in. If you are an astronomer, you will be interested in the elements that make up the pillars. However, If you are an Artist, you will notice the color scheme, vibrance, and line weight. My inspired work is attached

I love everything that makes up me. From the smallest atom all the way to the powerhouse in my brain. I couldn’t be me without all these features. The part about me that I love the most is my creativity. My creative side is all over the place and I love it. I have done graphic design, photography, and film. In addition I am working towards getting my own official business.