Meet Dana: Creative Lead and MA Graphic Design student

Hey Dana! Why did you choose to study a Master's?

I think I reached a point where I needed to step back and reflect on my practice a little more critically. After years of working, especially in fast-paced environments, I found myself missing working on something that was for me, and not for a client. I was craving to learn again, to think, question, and explore ideas that don’t usually fit within my everyday commercial practice.

The course felt like a good reason to reconnect with why I got into design in the first place while also expanding how I see its role beyond just delivering outcomes. It’s easy to forget and get lost in the game after so long.

How would you describe your experience so far in three words?

Reflective. Challenging. Exciting.

How is the course supporting your career development so far?

It has helped change the way I think about my role as a designer. My role has become more than just providing a service - the course has helped me see design more as a way to contribute to conversations and communities. It has also pushed me to focus more on process and context, not just outcomes, which I’m starting to bring more into my professional work and my portfolio.

What’s something you care deeply about that shows up in your work?

I care a lot about how design affects people, whether that’s making information more accessible, representing different cultures or groups of people thoughtfully, or even creating space for different voices. My work tends to be quite human-centred. I’m always thinking about who the design is for, how it will be experienced, and whether it's actually helping communicate something clearly and respectfully.

Can you tell us about your favourite project from unit one?

I enjoyed all three projects in the first unit! In the first project, I looked at tatreez - a traditional Palestinian embroidery practice. The project started with a focus on Gaza, but through research, I realised how widely the practice is shared across different regions of Palestine. I became really interested in how certain motifs, like the cypress tree, carry meaning while being interpreted differently across regions. The outcome is a series of stickers aimed to raise awareness of tatreez.

This project has really taught me the responsibility of representing cultural practices with care and context.

How do you balance studying online around work and life?

Honestly, it was a bit of a juggle at the beginning. Setting reasonable deadlines at the beginning of each week has been really helpful in sticking to a schedule. It has taught me to be more intentional with my time and energy. Some weeks are more focused on my job, other weeks on my studies. Life happens, so it’s always going to be an ongoing adjustment.

What’s something you can do now that you couldn’t do before starting the course?

I’m much more comfortable embracing ambiguity and letting research take the lead. Before, I would focus on solving the brief as efficiently as possible. Now, I’m more interested in asking better questions and exploring multiple directions before landing on a direction or solution.

What advice would you give to someone considering the course?

Be open to slowing down and questioning how you work. It’s easy to get lost in client work and the need to produce polished outcomes, but the real value of the course is in the thinking, the process, and the conversations you have along the way.

Don’t worry if your path isn’t linear. Some of the most interesting ideas come from going back and forth and letting things evolve.