#passioninwork

WEEK 11 - COMPULSORY QUESTION 1

For an artist, a manifesto expresses their beliefs, goals, and unique style, helping them connect with their audience. It clarifies their artistic direction and can also convey social messages, using art to inspire change. My group’s manifesto captures the free and creative vibe we were aiming for. The mix of colours, organic lines, and uneven layout help us express our individuality and originality without being confined to any rules. The combination of handwritten text and drawings gives it a casual feel, while the different styles and sizes of text create a visual rhythm that naturally catches the eye.

My manifesto is "STORYTELLING, NOT SELLING." This idea was inspired by a training article from NASP (National Association of Sales Professionals). I’ve always prioritised results over process when it comes to design, but after reading their article, I realised that storytelling sparks curiosity and attracts attention. I’ve often been someone who focuses on the outcome rather than the process, but through this manifesto, I now believe that by focusing on a solid process, I can create designs that will naturally succeed and sell themselves.

Even if a movie has a sad ending, if the process is good, the audience will still like it.

My second manifesto is "Curiosity didn’t kill the designers". If I look into the famous saying "Curiosity killed the cat," I realise that it actually originated from something quite different. It was originally "Care killed the cat," where "care" meant "worry". I approach this saying from a different perspective: curiosity is, in fact, care. As a designer, I often worry that I might end up creating generic designs. However, as long as I have curiosity and interest, finding my unique style becomes much easier. When I attend studios, workshops, or digital, I don’t engage with subjects I’m not interested in. Of course, I’ll complete the assignments, but those areas don’t spark much interest in me. This way, I can easily identify what I’m genuinely passionate about. In my recent digital class, I learned app design and video design. I had to use Premiere Pro for video design, which didn’t excite me as much, but I enjoyed app design because it involved using Figma, a tool I love. In this way, curiosity leads to interest, and that helps me grow as a designer.

Through CTS-B, my perspective on other classes and assignments has changed. While I was feeling lost, I found motivation through the manifesto, which encouraged me to approach my work with more detailed research and interest. I was thinking about how to create my zine, and then I decided to focus on the project that I had spent the most time on recently—my work about the Korean military. The project came together very quickly. I guess people really do need to work on what they love.

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