Written by Ava Casaus
Creative Member
As a student new in design, at times I feel like I should be drowning in never ending ideas, a youthful fountain of creativity. But the truth is, in class, I stare at my computer and sketchbook, stumped and at a loss for what to create. In a world of AI and technology, the world is at our fingertips, but what if that is the world we need to break free of? My lack of confidence is what makes me doubt the ideas that I originally developed in my mind. I always feel like I have to search for inspiration on the internet, and yes, at times that can be helpful, but how do we unlock the creative potential we have within ourselves? Every student in design or art has a mind that is worthy of creating innovation and beauty; we just have to trust ourselves.
The relationship between self-confidence and learning achievement in students is very relative. Research shows there is a significant positive correlation between self-confidence and learning achievement, indicating that higher self-confidence corresponds to higher learning achievement. This suggests the importance of nurturing our own self confidence to enhance not only academic but also creative success. In the past, I've often sought validation and confidence boosts from teachers or professors. However, I've come to realize that true self-confidence must come from within myself. It's now my responsibility to cultivate and nurture my sense of worth and belief in my abilities.
I am still on the journey of developing self-confidence, but the surer of my abilities, the better my work comes out and the more creativity I seem to have. Throwing myself into creative projects and letting go of any doubts I have is something I am continuously working on. I find that my confidence builds when I receive constructive criticism, experiment constantly, and embrace what makes me different in design. In an interview with my favorite designer, Paula Scher, partner at Pentagram, she states, “It’s through mistakes that you actually can grow. You have to get bad in order to get good.” I resonate with this so much, even as scary as it sounds.
The creativity we seek resides within all of us to design for the future, while artificial intelligence only designs for today. To reach our fullest potential, we must push ourselves to make mistakes and constantly experiment, even if it results in failure. No matter the experience you have with certain programs or other artistic skills, you are capable of designing beauty, innovation, and the future, shaping the world around us through your unique vision and creativity. Just trust yourself!
Comments