Meg Strunk: Design Student
Meg Strunk NKU ‘21
Megan Strunk is a Graphic Designer from and based in the Northern Kentucky area.
Megan is attending Northern Kentucky University and is expected to graduate December 2021, with a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts within the Visual Communication Design Major.
Megan has a love for all that design encompasses, however, she likes to focus in brand identity, publication and ux/ui design.
What is the biggest effect COVID-19 has had on you, as a designer?
Covid-19 has effected my focus and motivation the most. My focus and motivation comes and goes. I find that I’m most productive early in the morning and late at night but struggle to focus during the day when I have class. I always have been the type of person to have multiple thoughts going on in my head, but since Covid-19, it feels like I have 10 tabs open on a web browser. When I do find moments of focus and motivation, my work is great! Which is why I have been focusing on finding ways to duplicate the settings around me when I am focused. One of my favorite tools to focus is a playlist by Apple Music called “Pure Focus.” I definitely recommend it to anyone that struggles with focusing or mind wandering.
What is the biggest effect COVID-19 has had on you, that doesn’t relate to you as a designer?
I was considered an essential employee which allowed me to work during the virus. Although I am grateful to still have my job, Covid-19 has brought out the best and worst in people and I see it all working in retail. Seeing how rude and disrespectful people have become towards retail employees is disgusting. It really has changed my view on people, friendships and my future plans.
Has it affected you, being a design student? Do you believe you’re still learning as much as you should?
I don’t believe Covid-19 has affected me as much being a design student. I prefer online learning in most cases because it allows me to have my own place to focus. However, certain classes with software that are new to me, I’d really prefer to have in person classes because you don't always get emailed responses to your questions for a few days.
In most of my classes I believe I am learning as much as I could. However, I do have a few professors that seem to be taking the easy way out of teaching but then grading very strictly. Which definitely causes some frustrations for me.
If and when, we go back to normal, do think things will change within the design world?
100% the design world will change. Companies are realizing that working remote is fairly easy in the design world and I don’t think that remote jobs will ever go away.
How has COVID-19 changed you as a designer?
On a positive note Covid-19 has allowed me to dive deep into design and surround myself with good quality design and check out what everyone else is doing currently!
Fern: The Typeface & Bud Magazine
Does it differ your perspective at all, as a practicing creative?
I have realized how important it is to be confident and comfortable in yourself and your work. The sense of community and giving others good quality feedback ill never take for granted again
Has COVID-19 opened you up to other artistic practices or hobbies, other than design, like it has for others?
Most definitely! I started a small business with my boyfriend making custom hand tuffed rugs. Finding something that both my boyfriend and I enjoy doing together that also occupies our minds is so much fun.
Has COVID-19 helped you or hurt you as a designer? Explain.
I’d say it’s been a good mix of both. Good in the sense that I have been able to find myself and really sort out what I love to do. However, bad in the sense that I don’t receive that same connections and feed back from other fellow designers and classmates.
What is something positive that you can say about this journey of COVID-19? Related to design, or not.
Covid-19 has and forever will affect us. However, for me personally I have been focusing on the positives and trying not to let myself drown in the negatives. Covid-19 has brought me closer to myself, my morals and goals. It has brought me closer to the Earth and our oceans through hobbies I have found like gardening and keeping salt water aquariums.
If you could give one piece of advice to an art student right now what would it be?
Keep pushing, I know it's hard to be creative in a world that's not doing so well but instead of focusing on the negatives - use them to motivate you. Use them to fuel your want or need to create.