Compulsory Question #2 - Expand knowledge on the connections between design for social engagement OR design for tradition.
While there are certain skills that I would retain, for instance “painting” and “sketchy style” , I feel these are what makes me unique since I have an interest in animation. There are certain design principles I have yet to master entirely, such as “user-centric” and “abstraction”. I plan to create user-centric designs for practicality and designing for a better good. If possible, I would like to incorporate design skills into my piano-teaching career and vice versa. I find some CTS B topics relatable as I used them when liaising with my piano students and parents. I would like to find my voice in the design industry and create a ground-breaking design that makes life easier for all my users. I will manage my time well as I have two jobs to handle and regulate my stress for a better version of myself.
To add on to my initial artistic statement, I realized that despite having design skills and the ability to solve problems, one must be able to work with others and collaborate with others. Many jobs require working with others and it is an imperative skill to adopt. I think as a designer, we are bound to meet with clients and colleagues from all walks of life. Communication and collaboration can be hard for me because I feel that working alone is a lot easier but comes with a number of limitations. Design is more than just aesthetics, it is a real business of solving problems for different stakeholders (Odeh, 2025).Together, with collaborative skills, my design will expand and evolve exponentially.
One work of design that truly resonates with me in social engagement is Tactical Urbanism. According to Arauna Studio, many places in Barcelona are plagued by the heavy air and noise pollution (Arauna Studio, 2023). It has surpassed toxic levels deemed acceptable by the World Health Organisation (WHO). It has also minimized spaces for people to interact and relax and also to foster a sense of community and wellness. To tackle this, Arauna Studio has come up with an inexpensive way to revamp the space and created their own set of typography and elements to help pedestrians navigate better, while still caring and sustaining the environment.
I find this project truly meaningful and a way of putting design into a good use for the public. It is very user-centric. Also, to pay tribute to Barcelona's culture, they incorporate Panots from Barcelona design motifs, effectively bringing a sense of belonging to pedestrians. This project resonates with my manifesto for CTS B. Also, the use of abstraction used for the Panots designs is a style that I am trying to emulate. In connection to CTS B topics, this project is also an example of how artistic lineages and traditions are embedded and how personal identification in turn affects our art practice, on top of enhancing social engagement.
(Word Count: 475 words)
Resources in MLA 9th edition:
Studio, Arauna. “A Graphic Intervention Transforms Streets of Barcelona for a More Inclusive Cityscape.” Edited by Ravail Khan, Designboom, 13 June 2023, www.designboom.com/design/graphic-intervention-barcelona-inclusive-cityscape-arauna-studio-tactical-urbanism-06-12-2023/.
Odeh, Evergreen. “The Power of Collaboration: How Designers Can Work Better with Teams.” LinkedIn, 26 Mar. 2025, www.linkedin.com/pulse/power-collaboration-how-designers-can-work-better-teams-odeh-cl6mf.












