I’m Abby, and I’m a designer inspired by people, everyday life, my faith, and the great outdoors. To me, the world is full of wonder and discovery, and design is one of the tools I use most often to help me chart my adventures through it.
Abby McDonaldBFA Graphic DesignSimpsonville, SC
In essence, I believe design is a lot like a set of glasses. It’s a tool used to strengthen the kind of outlook I have on life rather than simply being an action or practice. They allow me to practice the perception of depth and wonder in the world. Viewing people, opportunities, and everyday events through design lenses gives me eyes to see those things in a new and better way. I believe that design is an imitation of God’s heart towards His creation: creating beauty and excellence, empathizing, and restoring. It’s the practice of calling out the value I recognize around me and bringing life to it. Design is the agent that brings possibility into reality and carries inherent beauty into a place where it’s finally visible.
Looking back, what advice would you give yourself?
Let yourself grow at your own pace. You're going to get where you need to when you need to– enjoy the process of growing into who you're made to be at each stage and don't focus so much on getting the end result right away.
What's your favorite A+D memory?
I have a lot, but studio time in Foundations and Ivy Leaves are some of my favorites! The best one, though, was probably when a few of us took a spontaneous weekend roadtrip to New York after getting the idea from an Adv 1 brief last semester. That was one of the coolest and most random things I've gotten to do in college.
What was your favorite A+D class?
I have two– Brand Identity Design and Advanced 2!
What moment, project, and/or critique in your Art + Design career at AU has been pivotal to who you are as an artist or creator?
The self-assigned projects in Advanced 2 helped me discover who I truly am and want to be as a designer. Looking back through them and writing my design philosophy helped me realize the set of gifts I bring to the table and how to leverage them in the future.
What's next for you?
I hope to be a freelance designer while working with people in hands-on ministry or altruism contexts.
How do you hope your work makes an impact?
I hope that my work helps people see themselves as their Creator sees them– with value, dignity, and a unique and precious identity– regardless of the work's topic or subject. I hope that whenever someone comes in contact with my work, they are moved to see something beyond just colors and type. I want them to see value and beauty and to be moved to seek out those themes in their own lives.