As a child, I had always resented the life we lived. I resented calling hospitals, insurance companies, translating bills I didn’t fully comprehend, while my parents stood quietly beside me. I once wondered why my parents chose to suffer in a country where they couldn’t order a simple McDonald’s Happy Meal, where their silence was mistaken for ignorance. I was angry—but mostly, I was sad. For them, for me, and for the life they left behind. As I grew older, I realized my parents weren’t invincible. They were simply people, immigrants, first-generation, scared and trying their best. And slowly, my resentment turned into gratitude. My parents carry shame for their broken English, their financial struggle, but they’ve given me everything: strength, resilience, and boundless love. With my father's low-income salary of less than $30K, I dared to dream a dream that costs over $120K. And though I attend with a determined yet heavy heart, my father smiles because he has never been more proud. Maryland Institute College of Art ‘26; I am carving a path my parents never got to walk. I dream of a future where they no longer feel small. So I’ll grow big…for them, and for every family who’s ever felt like outsiders. I belong here. So I ask you today to invest in me. The price of this dream is high, but I am prepared and driven to see it through. With your generosity, I’ll turn every ounce of their sacrifice into something beautiful.

I feel most creative in moments of tension, when there is a disconnect between what is and what could be. Creativity, for me, is not just an outlet but a means of navigation. It becomes the bridge between my lived experiences and the broader systems I hope to influence. I think the way I’ve lived my life informs everything I create. My identity is deeply reflected in the very core of why I create. I’ve always lived a life in poverty but never without love and support from my parents who immigrated to the U.S. to provide for my brother and I. My work stems from childhood memories: sitting in hospital rooms translating for my parents since I was in elementary school, or watching them navigate applications or websites that felt like puzzles because they weren’t designed with us in mind. I grew up with the sense that the world wasn’t built for us. That design wasn’t for people like us. That luxury, access, and ease were reserved for others. Now, as an artist and designer, I create with that awareness. Ultimately, I design for people, for connection, for warmth, for those who often go unseen. My lived experiences are inseparable from my practice. With every project, I find myself naturally incorporating people. All of their needs, their stories, their struggles. Everywhere in between because people have always been at the center of mine. My art includes my thoughts, my views, and the world I grew up navigating, but it’s also for the little girl I used to be. The one who felt small who wondered if the world was built for her at all. I want my work to remind her, and others like her, that maybe the world isn’t as cruel or cold as it sometimes seems. That there is space for softness, for dignity, for understanding. I hope my design can one day be used for good, to open doors, to lighten burdens, to make someone feel seen, even for a moment. I feel most creatively energized when I’m working on projects that have real-world implications, especially ones rooted in accessibility and storytelling. Whether I’m designing a product that makes a daily task easier or a visual narrative that reframes how someone sees themselves, I’m most alive when I can connect deeply with others through design. That spark comes not just from the act of making, but from understanding how design can serve as a quiet form of justice, of being thoughtful enough to include, to anticipate, to make space. Receiving this scholarship would mean more than financial support, it would be an affirmation that the values I bring into my art practice matter. I am deeply honored to be considered in memory of Bayli Lake, whose passion and potential were so vibrant. This scholarship personally tugs at me because I see Bayli in so many of the people I admire, creatives who are brave enough to dream, to care deeply, to make meaning through their work. Some of my closest friends attend SCAD, and I know firsthand how much heart, grit, and vision artists carry. I thank you for your consideration and for giving me the courage to continue to pursue my dream in the arts, and for continuous reassurance that there are good people in my community who are always willing to lend a helping hand in times of need. I hope to honor Bayli's legacy by continuing to create with care, curiosity, and courage.

Design is everywhere. It is the packaging that informs, the signage that directs, the app that includes, the spoon that fits comfortably in every hand. These interactions, these decisions may seem invisible, but they are all deeply human, shaped by decisions that guide how we move through the world. As I navigate this creative world as a fourth-year student pursuing graphic and product design, my philosophy and sense of purpose has only grown clearer: connection. I design for people. Design is not just visual, it is an exchange of ideas, empathy, and intention. Over the past year, I have had the privilege of connecting with designers from Pentagram, Adidas, and Under Armour, whose advice echoed one truth: it is the people around you who give your work meaning. That belief has become foundational to me. Design is not only about garnering attention but also about seamlessness. Pursuing user experience design with an emphasis on accessibility, I strive to create experiences that are not just beautiful, but equitable and inclusive. I have been exploring how interface design can better serve multilingual and neurodivergent users. By integrating clarity and empathy into digital spaces, I hope to build tools that support autonomy and ease. Design has not always been made for everyone but I hope to be one of many working to change that, designing for the extremes. I often return to the philosophy of “Supernormal” design, pioneered by Jasper Morrison and Naoto Fukasawa: creating designs so ordinary, they become extraordinary. Design that blends into our lives, meeting our needs quietly and elegantly. That is the kind of impact I hope to have. Receiving this scholarship last year gave me more than financial relief, it gave me affirmation. It allowed me to pursue this path with conviction. As I enter my final year of study, it would be a true privilege to receive this scholarship once more to not only help fund my education, but to continue growing as a designer committed to making meaningful, inclusive work. I do not fear for my future, because I have learned that design thrives in collaboration. Community is where it finds purpose. This scholarship is the beginning. I hope to pay it forward, not just by creating useful things, but by building systems, products, and environments that speak to everyone. Positive impact starts with listening, then designing.

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.