Today’s reading is all about design. Why was God involved to the very detail and what each color, measurement and material meant? Yet, today I kept thinking of the purposefulness of God in what He does. So I thought I might do a little field trip and interview one of God’s beautiful creations on the topic of design: a modern day young designer called Cheryl :) God is the ultimate Creator of everything, yet amazingly He also gave the ability to create to his very own creation, one made in His image: people. We constantly see in these chapters that God used everyone according to the skills He gave them... So here is my conversation with Cheryl:
Q: What is your professional title?
A: Senior graphic designer.
Q: How would you describe your role?
A: Clients come to our company with a business problem, and I work off of our marketing department’s strategy to create a solution for them. The designs we create for the clients can be anywhere from company logos, printed materials and websites to creating a whole new brand system for a client. Elements we design need to look as part of a system representing their business.
Q: What is the definition of a designer?
A: Designer is a problem solver, thinking of both the big picture and all small details. There is nothing like a detail that does not matter in a design. Nothing is extraneous to the design. A designer has the ability to tell a story: you want to engage people to listen to what you are trying to communicate.
Q: To what extent do materials, measurements and tools matter in your job?
A: Very important. Measurements communicate to other people how to build something (vendors, developers, etc.) Materials will specifically indicate the type of result I want. You need to oversee the materials used so that you can achieve the right quality. If you want to produce something professionally you need to use the most current tools. The best tools used also indicate that you produced something well.
Q: To what extend does creativity matter in your job?
A: Extremely important. You have to question whatever the status quo is and come up with something new. You don't want to be limited by what everyone else does. There could be a better way to do things.
Q: What skills are necessary for your job?
A: You need to be educated in visual art, specifically design; you need to be able to express graphical communication in the simplest way to make it clear to the most amount of people. Also, you need computer skills, drawing ability. You need to also have general knowledge of culture, and how different things would be perceived.
Q: Does the client know or understand all the details or the details’ purpose in your design?
A: General person will not notice the details. They will get the communication but not necessarily the specifics.
Q: Why do you think is that?
A: The only people who actually are looking for the details are the designers. The average person won't think about how it is helping them. You just accept the design and take for granted how it works.
Q: How do you draw the line between a product your client’s need and unleashing your full creativity?
A: I don't feel constrained in my creativity. I am working towards a goal to meet the client's problem and I think of the best solution for the client.
Q: Why do you do what you do?
A: I enjoy the challenge of thinking of new things. I like fixing things. (Giggles)
Q: I really enjoyed what you said about the importance of details.
A: Yes, ultimately nothing is arbitrary. There is a reason behind everything.
I wanted to get transported via the phone radio waves and hug Cheryl! Of course this conversation is purely from a human perspective and some of it applies only to the job position discussed, but I believe our creativity (in any calling) mimics to an extent The Grand Designer. So much of what Cheryl said reminded me of how God works: out of pure passion and love for us (his children), with a purpose, with a grand plan, to the minor detail, solving our problems, loving his creation, and producing a great product: a relationship for us with Him. I hope when we read and try to understand all these details in Exodus and in the following books of the Bible, as numerous and perplexing as they may seem, that we’ll remember that every instruction of God has a good purpose for our lives. (Remember what was said on the blog about the tabernacle pointing to Christ?) I believe what Cheryl said about graphic design is true of God's instructions to us: "ultimately nothing is arbitrary. There is a reason behind everything."
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