Every morning begins with the ringing of my alarm clock, the weather app, the eye-catching packaging of the breakfast cereal, and the various products that await usage. It is within these infinite decisions made by teams of creatives that contributed to the everyday conveniences of our lives that we find graphic design and it is a craft that I find myself enthusiastically pursuing. My name is Sun Mun, a third-year student studying at the Maryland Institute College of Art and I aspire to be a graphic and product designer, striving to make a positive contribution to our creative world. Great design, when executed correctly, is to go unnoticed. Great design should simply integrate with one’s routine effortlessly, regardless of age, size, or ability. It revolves around the framework of problem-solving, collaboration, iteration, and creativity. I fell in love with this field’s strong emphasis on accessibility and the opportunity to put yourself in the shoes of those who live in the extremes whether that be physical differences or disabilities to be inclusive to all. Design is a universal language and a pivotal creative tool to communicate ideas, influence action, and evoke emotions. I enjoy the collaborative aspect of design and its natural capacity to foster an environment that encourages creativity and communication between diverse groups of people from all backgrounds. Due to the modularity of design, I had the privilege to both work and meet with talented designers who have already made positive contributions such as Google Creative Labs designers, the creative director of Under Armour in Baltimore, the creative director of the Atlantic, the Senior Industrial Designer at Smart Design, and many more. These exchanges in creative conversation have deeply influenced my own art practice and passion to make a positive impact on the world. Hence, I wish to continue down this path to meet fellow amazing designers and individuals who I can help, not just through creating simple day-to-day products or designs but systems and new structures that can aid in universal spaces whether it be workplaces, classrooms, or in the comfort of homes. The endless possibilities and prospects in my art is what fuels my ambition for this field of design and it is one I am proud to pursue.

I have always found solace in the way in which video games made reality seemingly fade away, replaced by a thrumming luminescence that enveloped my senses and drew me in like a siren with all of her enchanting allure. Unlike the physical world, I was no longer bound by its laws of physics or constraints, free to explore this vibrantly pixelated and wondrous musical sandbox. As someone who has continuously indulged in the immersive narratives and intricacies that go behind the fabrication of video games from an early age, I can confidently say that it has had a profoundly positive impact on my life and the career I am pursuing. Video games have served as an invaluable creative outlet for me. I am awed by its ability to attain complete interaction by a user. It screams for attention and obtains it through its complex world-building, captivating graphics, and the ebb and flow of action. Games have been a vessel for exploration and imagination, sparking inspiration for my artistic endeavors in graphics and interest in the interactive arts of game design. One of the positive ways in which games have influenced my life in a technical sense is by honing my problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. Oftentimes, we are presented with obstacles and challenges in a narrative that calls for wit, compromise, and decision-making. This interaction aspect of choice and action that goes into the construction of video games has helped encourage the sharpening of my analytical skills and aptitude for thinking outside of the box. These abilities have been found undeniably crucial in my academic and professional growth in the arts. Games are designed to be a work of creative expression. I have always been inspired and motivated by the collaborative nature of creating video games as it can only be done with a team of people who come from diverse backgrounds: graphics, audio, narrative, and gameplay. This nuanced combination of interactive action, cacophony of audio, and graphic arts that simulates a feeling of realism is what makes this medium so unique. Video games have provided me with a positive sense of community and connection with others that transcend the identities or social barriers that we oftentimes label ourselves with. We are simply humans connecting with other humans. The sentiment of camaraderie and teamwork that I have experienced has expanded my capacity to collaborate and communicate with others. In addition to the cognitive and social benefits, video games have also positively impacted my mental health. It has provided me with a channel to escape from reality with qualities of resilience and confidence obtained through feelings of accomplishment and satisfaction of achieving challenging objectives. The positive and enriching impact that video games have had on me is a testament to the diverse and multifaceted benefits that this form of expression can offer. It is one of many reasons that I am pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design/user experience at the Maryland Institute College of Art. I am extremely ambitious when it comes to my education as it is my passion to foster creativity and imagination accessible to numerous communities of people who find joy in various mediums of art and entertainment. The price of this dream is costly with my family who has constantly faced financial hardships but I am prepared and driven to commit to my dreams with the generosity of those willing to help. As I continue to navigate through life, I am grateful for the positive influence that video games have had on me, and look forward to how it will continue to shape my future.