This competency is defined as the ability to “identify and respond to needs based upon an understanding of situational context and logical analysis of relevant information,” by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). It is a skill comprised of the ability to make effective decisions using sound rationale and judgment. It also requires the individual to proactively anticipate needs, determine action steps based on interpreted data, and effectively communicate these decisions and their rationale (NACE, 2024). This is considered one of the most important skills for career readiness by NACE and reflects many of the mentality reinforced by the Media Design program.

​

While I had a foundation in this, I previously only worked on a single-asset basis. It was different if I was working on a comic or a storyboard, but that was a singular campaign, something never meant to go further than that. This program forced me to expand my view of projects and consider how they affect the overall branding and the project itself – how a single project can impact an entire brand and vice versa.

​

The program forced me to consider not just my own personal design tastes, but what would benefit the client and what their audience’s tastes were. While this was something I knew I would have to consider for various projects, the only range I ever thought about was what art style, color palette, etc. for an individual piece would work the best – even if it does not reflect my personal tastes (and trust me, there were MANY times where I questioned the style sensibilities of others, but had to set this aside to focus on the bigger picture). In the end, the program helped open my eyes to the new possibilities of visual organization and design strategy.